Page 76 of Swept Away

“It just happens that he is one, and he has the money to fund our next adventure.”

“Which is?”

“We’re going on a cruise. I just told you.”

“Didn’t you just come from one?”

She laughs at how naive I am.

“That’s why I was calling you. So you know where I am. Everything is fine, more than fine. And I’m not alone. He’s taking good care of me. What about you? What’s new with you?”

The sudden shift in our conversation makes me stumble through a few words that make no sense.

“Me? I’m good. More than good. I’m actually pretty fine.”

She chuckles.

“Okay. I got that.”

“I found a cat, and I want to keep it,” I say to distract her.

“A cat? Where did you find the cat?”

“In a tree.”

I start talking about Gizmo while trying to make sense of what she just said.

This would be my mother’s third year overseas.

What she initially considered a random idea about spending her time in her first years of retirement has become a way of life and has now turned into a marriage proposal.

I’ll be damned.

This is my mother, the woman who worked in a bank her whole life, retired early, wanted to start a knitting club, and bought her first cruise as a birthday gift, having no intention to repeat that experience.

Although she’s never seriously considered remarrying, she’s about to tie the knot for the third time.

I don’t know how I feel about having a stepdad. One who is younger than my mother and a millionaire to boot.

I guess there are worse things in life than this.

“Have you talked to Charlize about it?” she asks.

“No, but she loves cats.”

“She does, but maybe you should talk to her about it. Perhaps she can find a home for the little guy.”

“What's wrong with this place?”

“Nothing, nothing.’

She sighs.

“I only hoped you’d say something about finding a boyfriend. There’s enough time for cats later.”

Her joke doesn’t quite land.

“I can have both.”