restricted her access to her daughter’s innermost secrets.
There was a possibility, Grace considered, that if Cathy had ever been physically attracted to another woman she might – perhaps keeping faith with her late, devoutly Catholic mother
– have felt uneasy with that. And if Cathy had feared that either coming out or even confiding any confusion might have caused her new family the slightest discomfort – surely not,
Grace hoped – then she might have chosen to suppress the truth altogether, to keep it buried, perhaps even from herself.
Something about Kez Flanagan had touched Grace. The way she had reacted to Woody, the sudden exposing of a fear some might translate as weakness. In a tough-shelled young athlete, that kind of
sensitivity might create insecurities.
Good match for Cathy, then, perhaps.
So long as Kez didn’t hurt her.
Getting way ahead of yourself, Grace.
It was her day for unexpected visitors.
Less than five minutes later, Terri Suarez arrived – so swiftly after the other two had left that Grace wondered for an instant if she might have been waiting for them to go.
‘What a lovely surprise,’ Grace told her. ‘Though you just missed Cathy and her friend. You probably saw them, heading off for a run.’
Terri shook her head. ‘I should have called first, but I was nearby and I wanted to talk to you, if that’s OK.’
‘Of course it is.’ Grace led the way to the kitchen, releasing Woody from the den as they passed, watching Terri enjoying his exuberant greeting. ‘So long as I’m not with
a patient, it’s open house here.’
She asked if Terri wanted to go out back, but the younger woman said she’d be glad to stay inside in the cool, so Grace poured them both some iced tea and they went into the den, made
themselves comfortable in the tranquil room – its walls covered with children’s paintings – that sometimes doubled as her consulting room.
Terri wasted no time.
‘I want to talk about the way Sam feels about me.’
‘In what way?’ Grace hid her dismay, had hoped their South Beach lunch might have eased the situation.
‘Sunday was fine,’ Terri said. ‘Nice food, getting to know each other.’
‘We enjoyed it,’ Grace said.
‘And you were great and kind, and everyone was cool. Sam, too, on the face of it.’
‘Sam tends not to hide his feelings.’ Grace tried not to sound prickly. ‘Especially with family and close friends.’
‘Thanks for that,’ Terri went on frankly. ‘I just feel that he still has reservations about me, or maybe just about Saul and me as a couple.’
‘Sam’s very much a big brother, Terri,’ Grace said. ‘Perhaps even more of a second dad, in some ways, because of the age difference. You’ll have worked all that out
for yourself.’
‘Sure.’
‘He may have had some reservations, but I honestly don’t think he has any more.’ Grace paused. ‘Sam just wants Saul to be happy and safe.’
‘That’s all I want too,’ Terri said.
Grace smiled at her. ‘Terri, I truly think you should stop stressing about what Sam or anyone else thinks, and enjoy your time with Saul.’
‘You don’t get it,’ Terri said. ‘Not really.’
‘Then why don’t you tell me what I’m not getting?’ Grace was gentle. ‘I’d so much like to help if I can.’
Terri got up, walked over to the window, and Grace felt a swift dart of envy looking at the curvy little breasts under the plain white T-shirt, the narrow waist and neat behind, all accentuated
by her tight blue jeans. Grace loved being pregnant but couldn’t quite imagine ever being slim again; she looked forward, once the baby was born, to feeling less clumsy and to seeing –
as pregnant women were always saying – her toes again.
‘I’ve thought about saying to hell with what Saul’s family thinks about me.’ Terri tossed her dark hair a little. ‘I know my own worth, I know Saul loves me and
that’s what matters most.’ She shook her head.
There was a possibility, Grace considered, that if Cathy had ever been physically attracted to another woman she might – perhaps keeping faith with her late, devoutly Catholic mother
– have felt uneasy with that. And if Cathy had feared that either coming out or even confiding any confusion might have caused her new family the slightest discomfort – surely not,
Grace hoped – then she might have chosen to suppress the truth altogether, to keep it buried, perhaps even from herself.
Something about Kez Flanagan had touched Grace. The way she had reacted to Woody, the sudden exposing of a fear some might translate as weakness. In a tough-shelled young athlete, that kind of
sensitivity might create insecurities.
Good match for Cathy, then, perhaps.
So long as Kez didn’t hurt her.
Getting way ahead of yourself, Grace.
It was her day for unexpected visitors.
Less than five minutes later, Terri Suarez arrived – so swiftly after the other two had left that Grace wondered for an instant if she might have been waiting for them to go.
‘What a lovely surprise,’ Grace told her. ‘Though you just missed Cathy and her friend. You probably saw them, heading off for a run.’
Terri shook her head. ‘I should have called first, but I was nearby and I wanted to talk to you, if that’s OK.’
‘Of course it is.’ Grace led the way to the kitchen, releasing Woody from the den as they passed, watching Terri enjoying his exuberant greeting. ‘So long as I’m not with
a patient, it’s open house here.’
She asked if Terri wanted to go out back, but the younger woman said she’d be glad to stay inside in the cool, so Grace poured them both some iced tea and they went into the den, made
themselves comfortable in the tranquil room – its walls covered with children’s paintings – that sometimes doubled as her consulting room.
Terri wasted no time.
‘I want to talk about the way Sam feels about me.’
‘In what way?’ Grace hid her dismay, had hoped their South Beach lunch might have eased the situation.
‘Sunday was fine,’ Terri said. ‘Nice food, getting to know each other.’
‘We enjoyed it,’ Grace said.
‘And you were great and kind, and everyone was cool. Sam, too, on the face of it.’
‘Sam tends not to hide his feelings.’ Grace tried not to sound prickly. ‘Especially with family and close friends.’
‘Thanks for that,’ Terri went on frankly. ‘I just feel that he still has reservations about me, or maybe just about Saul and me as a couple.’
‘Sam’s very much a big brother, Terri,’ Grace said. ‘Perhaps even more of a second dad, in some ways, because of the age difference. You’ll have worked all that out
for yourself.’
‘Sure.’
‘He may have had some reservations, but I honestly don’t think he has any more.’ Grace paused. ‘Sam just wants Saul to be happy and safe.’
‘That’s all I want too,’ Terri said.
Grace smiled at her. ‘Terri, I truly think you should stop stressing about what Sam or anyone else thinks, and enjoy your time with Saul.’
‘You don’t get it,’ Terri said. ‘Not really.’
‘Then why don’t you tell me what I’m not getting?’ Grace was gentle. ‘I’d so much like to help if I can.’
Terri got up, walked over to the window, and Grace felt a swift dart of envy looking at the curvy little breasts under the plain white T-shirt, the narrow waist and neat behind, all accentuated
by her tight blue jeans. Grace loved being pregnant but couldn’t quite imagine ever being slim again; she looked forward, once the baby was born, to feeling less clumsy and to seeing –
as pregnant women were always saying – her toes again.
‘I’ve thought about saying to hell with what Saul’s family thinks about me.’ Terri tossed her dark hair a little. ‘I know my own worth, I know Saul loves me and
that’s what matters most.’ She shook her head.
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