Page 61 of Afternoon Delight

Meg

Zak told me he couldn’t get away until Saturday, when Dale was in his respite group.

Our conversation had been awkward. He said Zara was struggling and asked me for advice on helping with her audit. I could tell he was reluctant to ask, though. I sensed a withdrawal of sorts. It was subtle, but it was there and it scared me. It hurt .

I almost told him I was planning to move there, but I had second thoughts. Was I, yet again, trying to rush in and fix things for other people? Was I trying to be needed to prove to myself that I was lovable? Did I want the reassurance of knowing he wanted me before I made such a big move?

I did want to be a support for him, though. That’s what love was. And, in the end, I channeled my inner Georgia. If Victoria didn’t work out, I would move somewhere else. It was okay to try something and change my mind later.

I flew with Mom on Tuesday. Roddie had gone on Joel’s honeymoon with him.

He and Wanda were visiting an all-inclusive in Aruba with Joel’s brother, his wife, and all the kids.

School was finished for the year and Roddie would have fun with his cousins.

I had no qualms about him leaving the country with his father.

Having said that, my mommy radar went on high alert when Joel called me as I was putting on my shoes to meet the real estate agent on Wednesday.

“What’s wrong? Is Roddie okay?” I asked Joel.

“Totally fine,” he said briskly. “But he told me you’re taking him to Victoria?”

“I’m not taking him. I’m moving here?—”

“You’re there now? With that guy?”

“His name is Zak, and he’s not here, but what if he was?” Did he remember the wedding last week when he married someone else?

“You’re not taking our son across the fucking country.”

“It’s his choice, Joel. He wants to try it, and if he doesn’t like it, he’ll come live with you. It’s right there in our custody agreement that Roddie is old enough to decide who he lives with. But go ahead and run up the lawyer fees if it makes you feel better.”

Joel hissed out an impatient breath. “Wanda is taking it personally that he doesn’t want to live with us.”

“Oh. I’ll stay in Toronto then. I couldn’t bear for Wanda’s feelings to be hurt.” I sent up a prayer that he’d recognize that was sarcasm.

“Why are you even doing this? It’s the fucking Island . We both couldn’t wait to get away from there. How well do you even know this Zak?”

“How well did I know you, Joel?” I sat down on the stairs and listened to the silence ripen with twenty-plus years of history that had to be rewritten after clerical errors had been discovered.

Was that what this was really about, though? I wondered if the reason Wanda was stung was because Roddie liked Zak.

“Joel, this isn’t about you,” I said as gently as I could. “You and I had a good run. Now we’re doing different things. Roddie’s caught in the middle, but I swear I’m not trying to pull him away from you. If he decides to live with you, I will accept that.” I would hate it, but I would suck it up.

“No—” He swore under his breath. “It’s probably better that he lives with you. Things are really complicated right now. I think Wanda’s mom is going to come live with us.”

“Is she sick? I’m so sorry.” My sympathy receptors went to max level.

“No, her mom’s fine. Everyone’s fine. But yeah, uh... Wanda’s having twins, so...”

She was. Not we . Oh, Wanda.

I bit my lips and actually had to cover my mouth to hold back my laughter. It was mean. I know it was. Babies are a blessing, not a joke, but come on. That was some serious karma for both of them, right?

“I’ll be there in a sec,” Joel said to someone, then sighed. “Either we have to move so Wanda’s mom has her own suite, or she has to take Roddie’s room. Wanda thinks I’m blaming her for him not living with us. At least if he was with you in Toronto, it wouldn’t be as bad.”

“Joel.” I strained for my kindest possible tone. “I’m not going to fix this for you. Talk to your son. Talk to your wife . Figure it out. I’m late for an appointment. But congratulations.”

I meant it, but he took it as sarcasm and choked out a cynical, “Fine. Bye.”

He ended the call.

I rolled my eyes and dropped my phone in my purse, then yelled, “Mom! Guess what ?”