Page 98 of Devil in Disguise

“What’s wrong, sweetie?” Jennifer asked.

Dyma would have banged her head on the table, but she was holding Nick. “Nothing’s wrong. So Grandpa gets a point. Ooh, maybe we should get a piece of paper and write down the points! Oh, wait. We can probably all count to three or whatever.”

“Yes,” Jennifer said, “but look how much we’ve already shared.”

“Yeah, Mom,” Dyma said. “My point?”

“Quit yapping,” Grandpa Oscar said. “I’m waiting for Harlan to tell me who I’ve learned the most from. You’re not going to get this one,” he told Harlan.

“Somebody taught you something about fishing,” Harlan said. “Because the girls have been gone for most of the year, and you’ve spent more time with your buddies. Nope. Don’t tell me. I’m thinking.” He snapped his fingers. “Dakota’s stepdad. What’s his name. You said something about him.”

Oscar said, “Nice try. But nope. Not Russell. You saying he knows more about fishing than me? Ha. He wishes. But Elaine Marks and I’ve been taking the casino bus together every Tuesday, and she’s taught me to play blackjack. And you thought I couldn’t learn from a woman. Let me tell you, Elaine Marks knows things.”

Dyma said, “Grandpa. Do not tell us what. Don’t say anything about getting her to come over and sample your meatloaf. I’m still scarred from last time.”

Oscar said, “Who, me? I don’t kiss and tell.” And sat there looking smug.

“Right,” Harlan said. “Backing hastily away. Your turn, Dyma. Tell me who I’ve learned from.”

She eyed him warily. “It’s going to be something super sappy. You don’t need to tell us all the beautiful things you’ve learned about love from Mom. You already gave her a new suitcase. With tickets inside toAustralia.”

“Yep. I sure did. Told her I’d take her to the Great Barrier Reef on the first day I met her, and I keep my promises.”

“I’m going to learn how to scuba dive,” Jennifer said. “I’m going to have anadventure.I never in mylifethought this wouldbemy life. I’m just …” She waved a hand. “Give me my baby, Dyma. If I’m going to be this emotional, I need to snuggle Nick.”

“Also,” Harlan said, “you don’t get a point, Dyma, because the person I learned the most from this year is my mom.”

“Yep,” Oscar said. “Sometimes, the lessons are sitting right there all along.”

Harlan’s cheeks had gone a tiny bit darker, but his voice was steady when he said, “Once I let myself remember all the things my mom taught me, they all kind of came rushing back. Mainly, she taught me how to appreciate the good stuff around me, and how to love somebody with your whole heart. And that I was a good person who could be a good dad.”

“Of course you could,” Jennifer said. “I knew that from the beginning.”

“Yeah,” Harlan said, “but I didn’t. Your turn, Owen. You get to guess Dyma.”

“Hmm,” he said, “I’m not going to guess that she’s learned from me, because …”

“Because family-friendly,” she said.

He laughed. “Nope. I’m the one you’ve had fun with, and maybe the support system, but I’m betting you’re thinking your mom. Or your grandma, but I think your mom.”

“How do youknowthat?” she asked.

He shrugged. “I love you. In case I haven’t mentioned it.”

“Really?” Jennifer asked. “Me? That’s nice, but … why? I haven’t evenbeenthere!”

“Uh …” Dyma did not want to say this. “I’ve realized more about what you went through, that’s all. And how hard it can be to keep going, but you did anyway. I’ve realized that.”

“Baby,” Jennifer said. “What?” Her eyes seeing too much. And everybody looking.

“The show,” Owen said.

“What show?” Jennifer said.

“Owen,” Dyma said. “Could younot?”

“Sorry,” he said. “Didn’t realize it was a secret.”