doubted it was the latter. Three times a night at her age did have its repercussions. She was sore in places she had forgotten existed. Ida hadn’t been bold enough to ask Sammy if his pecker felt as though it had been skinned like the fur off a rabbit. No, breakfast was the last thing on her mind, but she had to keep up appearances. A long soak in a hot tub would have been luxurious just then, but it would have to wait.
“That would be great. It seems like it’s been days since we were in the same room together.”
Mavis stopped and looked over her shoulder. “You look tired. Are you getting any rest?” she asked, while arranging sliced fruit on a plate.
“Not really. That mirror on the ceiling above my bed gives me the willies. As a matter of fact, I plan to remove it today no matter what Toots says. See if she can sleep with her own reflection staring down at her,” Ida said as she located a large mug for her morning coffee.
“I’m sure Toots won’t mind. She told me herself the place reminded her of a fun house, I believe her exact words were ‘an ugly fucked-up fun house.’” Mavis giggled.
Ida laughed, too. “I’ve never heard you use the F word before. Losing all that weight and gaining a dirty mouth to boot. I love it,” Ida said, as she poured her coffee.
“We’ve all changed since our move to Los Angeles. I’ve been thinking about renting my house out and living here in LA part-time, maybe even spending a few months a year with Toots when she returns to Charleston. Summers in Maine are always so busy, I’m sure I wouldn’t have any trouble finding vacationers willing to rent my house. Though I’d have to remove all my personal items, Toots assured me she’d help out if I decide to do it. I do love living with you girls. It’s almost like high school again, minus the nuns and curfews.”
If Mavis only knew. Ida was still sneaking in and out to meet “boys” just like she had in high school. “Yes, I like being together, but I still wish Sophie would learn to curb her tongue. If she isn’t careful, one of these days, someone might knock her socks right off her feet because of that smart mouth of hers.”
“If that was going to happen, it would’ve happened years ago. Sophie knows when enough is enough,” Mavis said, her tone instantly serious.
Ida shot Mavis a killer look. “I find that hard to believe. She’s been nothing but mean and hateful to me since we arrived in LA.”
Mavis brought a plate of sliced strawberries, oranges, grapefruit, and bananas to the table. “I’ll admit she was a bit rough on you, but look at where you are now. If it were me, and please don’t take this the wrong way, I would thank Sophie. You’re you again, not some germ-killing fearful old woman who was afraid of her own shadow. You’re better now than you’ve been in years.” Mavis added the extra compliment, knowing Ida needed to hear one.
Ida considered Mavis’s assessment of Sophie’s treatment. Mavis was right. Even though Sophie could be the bitch from hell, she had done Ida a favor when she’d dragged her to Dr. Sameer’s clinic. Never in a zillion years had Ida imagined finding a cure for her obsessive-compulsive disorder, let alone falling in love again with a foreign and somewhat mysterious, handsome doctor, who just so happened to have the sex drive of a horny teenager or an endless supply of those new hard-on drugs.
“I suppose you’re right. I just hate to admit to Sophie when she’s right about anything, she’s such a know-it-all to begin with. Or at least thinks she is. She’d never let me hear the end of it if I did. Her and that big New York mouth of hers.”
“She means no harm, Ida. She’s been boisterous and out-spoken since seventh grade. I wouldn’t take it too personally. Sophie just wants you to be happy like the rest of us.”
In order to change the subject and get Mavis to shut up, Ida lied. “I know, and I’ll try to remember that. Now, how about
“That would be great. It seems like it’s been days since we were in the same room together.”
Mavis stopped and looked over her shoulder. “You look tired. Are you getting any rest?” she asked, while arranging sliced fruit on a plate.
“Not really. That mirror on the ceiling above my bed gives me the willies. As a matter of fact, I plan to remove it today no matter what Toots says. See if she can sleep with her own reflection staring down at her,” Ida said as she located a large mug for her morning coffee.
“I’m sure Toots won’t mind. She told me herself the place reminded her of a fun house, I believe her exact words were ‘an ugly fucked-up fun house.’” Mavis giggled.
Ida laughed, too. “I’ve never heard you use the F word before. Losing all that weight and gaining a dirty mouth to boot. I love it,” Ida said, as she poured her coffee.
“We’ve all changed since our move to Los Angeles. I’ve been thinking about renting my house out and living here in LA part-time, maybe even spending a few months a year with Toots when she returns to Charleston. Summers in Maine are always so busy, I’m sure I wouldn’t have any trouble finding vacationers willing to rent my house. Though I’d have to remove all my personal items, Toots assured me she’d help out if I decide to do it. I do love living with you girls. It’s almost like high school again, minus the nuns and curfews.”
If Mavis only knew. Ida was still sneaking in and out to meet “boys” just like she had in high school. “Yes, I like being together, but I still wish Sophie would learn to curb her tongue. If she isn’t careful, one of these days, someone might knock her socks right off her feet because of that smart mouth of hers.”
“If that was going to happen, it would’ve happened years ago. Sophie knows when enough is enough,” Mavis said, her tone instantly serious.
Ida shot Mavis a killer look. “I find that hard to believe. She’s been nothing but mean and hateful to me since we arrived in LA.”
Mavis brought a plate of sliced strawberries, oranges, grapefruit, and bananas to the table. “I’ll admit she was a bit rough on you, but look at where you are now. If it were me, and please don’t take this the wrong way, I would thank Sophie. You’re you again, not some germ-killing fearful old woman who was afraid of her own shadow. You’re better now than you’ve been in years.” Mavis added the extra compliment, knowing Ida needed to hear one.
Ida considered Mavis’s assessment of Sophie’s treatment. Mavis was right. Even though Sophie could be the bitch from hell, she had done Ida a favor when she’d dragged her to Dr. Sameer’s clinic. Never in a zillion years had Ida imagined finding a cure for her obsessive-compulsive disorder, let alone falling in love again with a foreign and somewhat mysterious, handsome doctor, who just so happened to have the sex drive of a horny teenager or an endless supply of those new hard-on drugs.
“I suppose you’re right. I just hate to admit to Sophie when she’s right about anything, she’s such a know-it-all to begin with. Or at least thinks she is. She’d never let me hear the end of it if I did. Her and that big New York mouth of hers.”
“She means no harm, Ida. She’s been boisterous and out-spoken since seventh grade. I wouldn’t take it too personally. Sophie just wants you to be happy like the rest of us.”
In order to change the subject and get Mavis to shut up, Ida lied. “I know, and I’ll try to remember that. Now, how about
Similar Books
