Page 10 of September

“No, I am.” Gwen let out an exasperated sigh. “I’m busy right now, but you insisted that I couldn’t call you back.”

“Your brother is a successful doctor with his own practice, and he’s offered to cook us dinner tomorrow night.”

“Archibald hasn’t cooked a meal in his entire life.” She laughed. “He has a new housekeeper who will be doing the cooking.”

“He can at least afford a housekeeper. You’re living in a shack.”

“I live in an apartment.”

“A one-bedroom.”

“So? Thereisonly one of me.”

“Where will my grandchildren sleep?”

“Well, I’d need to find a woman to have them with first, since I don’t want to be a single parent.”

“You’re thirty-two years old, Gwen,” her mother noted. “It’s time to stop this nonsense. I have someone I want you to meet.”

“Mom, I don’t need you to set me up on dates.”

“It’s not a date. I wish it were a date, but you’ve made it abundantly clear that you’re only attracted to women, and he’s not a woman.”

“Will you just tell me what this is about?” Gwen asked. “Blaze, that’s a cigarette butt, not food.”

“Excuse me?” her mother exclaimed. “You’re smoking? Since when do you smoke?”

“Mom, I’m talking to the dog that I’m walking because, as mentioned, I am at work,” she said. “Now, what’s going on?”

“Your father has a friend who needs a new office manager. It’s a wealth management firm near here. They’ve got more than fifty employees now. He’s built it all from scratch, and they just lost the office manager they’ve had for more than ten years. I told him you needed a job and invited him to dinner.”

She stopped when Blaze lifted his leg against a tree on the sidewalk and looked down at her feet, shaking her head becausethis wasn’t the first time, and unfortunately, Gwen knew that it wouldn’t be the last.

“Mom, I have a job.”

“You have a thing that you do that gives you money sometimes.”

“No, I have a job. Iearnenough money to pay all my bills, and that makes it a job.”

“Well, it’s not a career,” her mother replied.

“It is for me.”

“This is ridiculous. Will you just come to dinner tonight? He’s looking for someone to fill the job soon.”

“I live here, not there,” she reminded.

“I said it was near here, but it’s between here and there. It would be a commute for you, but not too long, and you could always move closer if you don’t like the drive. I’m sure the money would be worth it. He might even offer to help cover the moving expenses if you need it.”

“Now, you want me to move?”

“Gwendolyn, what are you going to do? Walk dogs for the rest of your life? Live in a one-bedroom apartment and bring home woman after woman?”

“I don’t bring home woman after–”

“Well, you’re not bringing homeonewoman to meet us and marry.”

“I haven’t met her yet,” she said. “I don’t need you to worry about me. Archie just got divorced. His kids are angry at him because he was a dick to their mother, and heisbringing home woman after woman pretty much in front of them. Go pick on him. He deserves it.”