Page 17 of Family Affair

“Thanks, I was afraid it overcooked.”

“No, it’s perfect. Are there leftovers for your lunch tomorrow? As for Chap’s food, I stocked his shelf in the pantry. Don’t forget to water the garden. And please eat the vegetables, don’t let them go bad.”

Coco smiled. “Mom, don’t worry, Chap and I will be just fine. I’m thirty. I’ve lived on my own before.”

“And see where it got you. A petty job and no husband.”

Coco wrinkled her nose. “Better no husband than a bad husband.”

“Well, maybe. And the job? By the way, your father called, said you aren’t answering your phone. Sweetie, are you avoiding him? He wants to speak with you regarding a job opening they have. He said it’s a great position, you’d be a perfect fit. Will you call him? I know it’s in New Mexico, but it’s a great job, and you’ll be right next to him.”

Coco was, indeed, ignoring her father’s calls having guessed that he, like Stella, would attempt to hook Coco up with another “decent” job.

“Does that job have anything to do with paints and brushes?”

Lucy sighed. “I don’t think so.”

“Then it’s a mute point. I can find another high-paying, stressful IT job here, in Atlanta. I know it may be hard for dad to imagine, but I’m not looking to make a killer career, not anymore. Or rather, not in IT. Did you tell him about my Sedona art award?”

“No. This is something you need to share with him.”

Coco waved her hand. “He never understood my painting.”

“He did, honey. As a hobby. What he can’t understand is why you can’t keep your hobby while working at a more prestigious job.”

“Because I didn’t have time for painting at my prestigious job! I worked twelve hour days. I was on call even on the weekends. Clients, deadlines, contracts… And then there was Mike and our domestic issues. I chewed antacids for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.” She took a large sip of wine.

“You don’t need to explain it to me.” Lucy took her by the hand. “You father means well. Talk to him.”

"Okay, okay, I will," she conceded. "Eventually."

Remarried decades ago and living in New Mexico, her father had rarely spent time with Coco when she was young. Combined with his aloof personality, their infrequent visits did little to advance their distant father-daughter relationship. Coco respected her father, but she didn’t miss him.

Still, most of her life she followed his advice on things like profession and career, Good, sound advice that led her exactly nowhere. She wasn’t what her father wanted her to be.

She hadn’t been what Mike had wanted her to be. Was she failing Dan’s expectations, too?

Coco speared a piece of tomato with her fork and chewed it with more force than necessary. Those were depressing thoughts. Resolving to chase them away, she produced a warm smile for her mother. “I hope you have a blast. I am so excited for you.”

Instead of smiling back, Lucy frowned. “I feel bad for leaving you behind. Maybe Stella can come for a sleepover, or the two of you can get away for a beach weekend?”

“I’ll be fine. Dan invited me to his family’s 4th of July party. I hear it’s the social event of the year. Stella already has plans. Did I tell you that she and Art split?”

“Oh, no! I didn’t know that. I hope she isn’t too crushed. He never seemed like a smart choice of man for her. So, you and Dan are serious?”

“I don’t know, mom, but there’s potential.” Coco shrugged, toying with her wine glass. She tried to inject more enthusiasm into her replies. “I’ll get to meet Dan’s parents, that seems like a serious relationship. His errant brother Cade is in town, and Dan wanted to introduce me.”

“Another brother?”

“Yes.”

“Good grief, what a prolific breed. By the way, I almost forgot. I found an interesting bit of information about their family when I worked in newspaper archives the other week.” Lucy got up and went to get a manila envelope that she dropped on the table by Coco. “I love working with archives, you never know what you can find there. Here, you can take a look later, I made copies for you.”

“What is it?” Coco took another sip of wine, looking at their neighbors’ yard with no real interest.

“Newspaper clippings. Nothing about Dan personally, and it all happened a long time ago. Apparently he hadanotherbrother named Frank who was considered a real black sheep of the family."

Coco stilled. The languid after dinner indifference vanished, chased away by the rapid beat of her pulse.