Page 12 of The Housekeeper

Chapter Six

“She actually saidthatweinterviewed a lot of women,” I grumbled to my husband that night at dinner. “She hasn’t done a damn thing.”

“And you’re surprised because . . ?”

“And then she tells my mother that she’ll come see her this weekend,” I continued, ignoring Harrison’s question, which I assumed was rhetorical, “when the only reason she’s going over there is to use the pool.”

“I want to go swimming,” Sam interrupted.

“Me, too,” Daphne shouted. “I want to go swimming.”

“And you will. Saturday,” I told them, knowing I was doing this as much to annoy Tracy, whose tolerance for children—even mine—was limited at best, as for the kids. I felt instantly guilty about my pettiness. “Care to join us?” I asked Harrison.

“I’ll pass, thank you,” he said. “My course starts in five weeks and I’ve got lots of work to do to get ready. I really appreciate you taking the kids on Saturday. It’ll be a big help.”

“Speaking of your course,” I began. “Did I tell you that Tracy is thinking of signing up for it?”

“What?” Nothing can adequately describe the look of horror on my husband’s face.

“I believe her exact words were‘How hard can it be to write a novel?’ ”

“Shit.”

Sam gasped. “Daddy said a bad word.”

“Shit,” Daphne said.

“Shit, shit, shit,” Sam repeated, laughing.

“Okay, kids. That’s enough,” Harrison snapped. “Please,” he said to me. “You can’t let that happen.”

“I don’t see what I can do about it.”

“She’syoursister.”

“Myoldersister, who doesn’t take too kindly to my suggestions,” I reminded him. “The more I say ‘black,’ the more she’ll say ‘white.’ The more I advise against it, the more she’ll think it’s a great idea.”

“Shit,” he said again.

“Shit,” Sam repeated.

“Shit, shit, shit,” Daphne said.

“Kids, I said enough!”

“Yousaid it,” Sam told him.

“Yes,” Harrison admitted. “And I shouldn’t have. Sorry,” he apologized, forcing a smile onto his handsome face. “Sorry,” he said again, this time to me. And then, to no one in particular, “Sorry.”

—

“Sorry,” he said, yet again, this time in bed, gently removing my hand from his naked torso. “I just don’t think it’s going to work tonight.”

“Are you okay?” I tried not to sound too disappointed. It had been over a week since we’d made love, and I’d been hoping tonight would be different. I’d even put on Harrison’s favorite red lace teddy and matching high heels.

I thought of my father’s earlier observation, and wondered if I might actually have gained a few pounds. Although my clothes still fit the way they always had, I told myself, trying not to takeHarrison’s rejection personally. He was just tired and preoccupied, the way he always got when he was preparing for the course he taught each summer. I knew it bothered him that he was teaching what he no longer seemed capable of producing himself.

“I’m fine,” he acknowledged. “Just…I don’t know…”