Page 29 of Badd Daddy

“I don’t know, Mom.”

“Well, this is your chance to find out and fix it. You can do whatever you want, but you wanted my advice and, well, this is it. Spend time with Poppy.”

“Why not Cassie, or Lexie, or Torie?”

“Because as far as I know, things are copacetic for them. So far.” I sighed. “God, now I’ve probably jinxed myself.” I laughed. “Point is, I know Poppy is going through something like you are because I just talked to her the other day—it was a very similar conversation, actually.”

She’s silent another moment or two. “I’ll think about it. I certainly could use some time away from Boston.”

“And she could use time away from New York,” I said.

“Fine, fine. I’ll call her.”

I smiled to myself. “Good. I really don’t think you’ll regret it—you’re just going to have to learn to give Poppy space to be…Poppy.”

“You make that sound easy.”

“No harder than it will be for her to give you space to be you,” I chided.

Another long pause. “You know, I’ve been talking about me this whole time. What’s going on with you, Mom?”

I was tempted to ask her how she’d feel if I was dating someone, but bit the words back. What I had with Lucas wasn’t that, and couldn’t be. And it was none of Charlie’s business, at this point at least.

“Mom?”

I held back a sigh. “Oh, you know. One day at a time.”

“That is the most vague and evasive answer I’ve ever heard in my life, Mother. Now I know where Poppy gets it from. Usually when I ask you that, you’re off a mile a minute like Cassie or Poppy, telling me all about what your neighbor said and who’s having an affair with whom in your paddle boarding group…”

“Well, maybe right now there’s just…” I trailed off, unsure what else to say.

“Something going on you’re not ready to talk about,” Charlie guessed. I remained silent, and Charlie correctly interpreted my silence. “What’s his name?”

I laughed. “Whose?”

“Whoever it is that’s the reason you’re not telling me what’s going on.”

I wiggled my toes into the thick shag pile of the rug under my bed. “I need some time before I’m ready to do that. But for now…yes, I’ve made a friend.”

“A friend, huh?”

“Charlie,” I warned. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?” She sounded amused. “I thought you didn’t want to talk about it?”

I snorted. “I have to go. I have a lunch meeting.”

“Eee-va-ding!” Charlie said in a sing-song.

“You’repushingit!” I sang back.

“I have to go too,” she answered. “My train is here.” I heard the sounds of a PA system announcing an incoming train, and the ambient noise on the other end increased until it was hard to hear her.

“Call Poppy!” I said. “I love you!”

“I will,” she said. “Love you, too.”

I tossed the cell phone onto my bed beside me and considered Charlie’s and Poppy’s plights. I wondered if Charlie would actually call her youngest sister, and if they’d be able to overcome their differences long enough to help each other through their hardships.