Page 100 of September

“AJ didn’t say anything to me about it. Adele did. You should’ve heard her telling me how aloof he was, not to even remember that she was dating Wendy and that she wasn’t ever going to cheat on her with some guy.”

“It’s sweet. They’re cute,” Gwen noted.

“They are. I get to see her soon. She’s bringing Wendy here for the weekend.”

“Here? With her girlfriend?”

“I told her it was okay.”

“They’re going to want to share the bed in her room. You know that, right?”

“Yes. And it’s not like I don’t know what they do when they’re on their own. I feel like I need to be a mature mother about this. And I’ve known Wendy since she was a kid. She’s respectful and loves my daughter. Adele loves her. If I say no now, Adele will feel like she can’t bring Wendy home when she wants to, and if they don’t work out and she falls in love withsomeone else one day, I want her to know that she can always come home.”

“How’s AJ?” Gwen asked, admiring Elisa’s parenting style.

“He’s good. His soccer is going well. He’s starting and playing full nineties whenever he doesn’t need to rest. The coach has been singing his praises and is going to work with him since AJ told him that his goal is to try to transfer to a Division-I school. He told me his grades are fine, too, but it’s still early. It’s weird not getting report cards and updates from their teachers like I used to, but they both promise me they’re working hard in classes. I never worry about Adele because she’s Adele, but we’ll see how AJ does come midterms, with soccer taking up a lot of his time. He seems to love it there, though, and he’s working hard. That’s all I can ask.”

“That’s great,” Gwen replied. “And how areyou?”

“I’m great.” Elisa smiled widely. “I’ve got an amazing girlfriend I see a future with, a happy dog currently chasing his own girlfriend around the yard, happy kids, and well, a new job.”

“What?” Gwen asked, turning to her.

“I got a job yesterday.”

“Where? What are you doing?”

“I’m going to work with Asher.”

“Asher? You’re going to plan weddings?”

“More assistant duties than anything. It’s just her and Linden there since she joined, and they need help with everything. They’re starting to get a few big clients, and it’s impossible for them to do it all themselves and not miss anything. It’s about thirty hours a week to start out, and we’ll see how it goes, but Asher said it can become full-time with benefits whenever I’m ready. She even has a real office now and isn’t working out of her apartment. It’s small, with just some space for her office and Linden’s and a little showroom of some wedding stuff, but there’s a desk in the front for me, and that’smore than I have now. Plus, she’s supportive of me going to school part-time online to get a degree.”

“You’re really doing that?”

“I think so. I want to work for a bit first to save up for tuition a little that way and adjust to one thing at a time, but yes. I don’t know what I want that degree in just yet. Maybe an associate’s degree in business or something, just to make work easier on me. We’ll see, but I’m excited.”

“Elisa, that’s great,” Gwen replied as Buster darted into the yard with Carly hot on his heels.

“How long is Juliet gone this time?” Elisa asked, nodding toward the running Carly.

“Oh, she’s not. She’s here. I just thought Carly would like to see Buster.”

“So, when isyourwedding?” Elisa teased.

“Ha ha,” she said sarcastically. “It’s only been a couple of weeks. Chill out.”

“But you really like her, and if your texts to me the other day are any indication, you’re verycompatible.”

Gwen lifted an eyebrow as she recalled just how compatible they really were and sighed.

“Yes, we are, but it’s more than that. She came home early from the trip to see me. Well, mainly Carly, probably, and there’s the whole hating work travel thing, but also me. She just showed up on my doorstep, didn’t even ask to take Carly home with her, and stayed over at my place.”

“She’s your girlfriend, so that makes sense.”

“Yes, but I know she wanted to go home. She probably wanted to sleep in her own bed.”

“Or, her home is with you. Well, you and Carly.” Elisa nodded toward the dog, who was now picking up random sticks, running with them in her mouth, and then dropping them justas Buster caught up with her. “She’s playing hard to get.” Elisa laughed at the dog’s antics.