Someone Like You by Susan Mallery Page B

keeping things in perspective.
    â€œTomorrow,” Jill whispered to herself and headed downstairs.
    She found her aunt in the kitchen, fixing a salad. “Let me help,” she said as she moved to the sink to wash her hands. “I smell lasagna, which means you worked hard this afternoon.”
    â€œGracie not home?”
    â€œNo. We’ll talk tomorrow. So what happened today with Emily? What’s she like?”
    â€œA sweet girl. A little unnerved by all the changes in her life.”
    Jill dried her hands on a dish towel, then crossed to the island and picked up a cucumber and a knife. “Mac’s worried about them bonding.”
    Bev nodded. “She’s been living with her mother for the past couple of months, so being with her father is strange.” She sighed. “There’s so much pain inside of her. I can feel it. She dresses monochromatically. Today was all purple. Shirt, shorts, socks, everything. And she’ll only eat the color she wears.”
    Jill stared at her. “What?”
    â€œI know. It’s a silly way to express her pain, but she’s eight. How many choices does she have? Mac wasn’t happy when he explained the problem to me, but I didn’t mind. It made making lunch much more interesting.”
    â€œWhat did you do?”
    Bev’s green eyes twinkled. “I cheated. I had some beef stew in the freezer, which I defrosted for lunch. While she was setting the table, I mixed a little of the liquid with beet juice and put it in a white bowl. Of course it looked completely purple. Then I asked Emily if the color was all right. She said it was. I served lunch in colored bowls so she couldn’t tell it wasn’t purple. We agreed that bread was neutral, so that was good. Oh, and we made sugar cookies with purple icing.”
    â€œSmooth move.” Jill sliced the cucumber. “Aside from the color thing, what was she like?”
    â€œFriendly. A little sad and confused, but good-hearted. Smart, too. We read some this afternoon and she’s a couple of grades ahead.”
    Jill dumped the cucumber into the salad bowl. “You didn’t do her cards or anything, did you?”
    â€œOf course not. She’s a child. Besides, I’d ask Mac first.”
    â€œGood idea.” She could only imagine what he would say if his baby-sitter wanted his permission to read his daughter’s future in tarot cards.
    â€œYou’ll meet Emily tonight. Mac’s dropping her off in a few minutes. He has a meeting with the social worker.” She sighed. “I hope he can handle it.”
    â€œMac? Why wouldn’t he?”
    â€œThere’s a lot of pain there,” Bev said as she shook the bottle of dressing. “That man needs to be loved.”
    â€œDon’t look at me. I’m not interested.” Jill smiled. “Okay, so maybe I’m a little interested, but not in something serious. Could we substitute sex for love? Be cause then I’d sign right up.”
    The phone rang before Bev could answer. Her aunt glanced at Jill. “It’s for you.”
    â€œYou just do that to creep me out, don’t you.” She walked to the phone and picked it up. “Hello?”
    â€œJill? What the hell do you think you’re playing at.”
    Lyle. She wrinkled her nose. “You never did see the value in common courtesy, did you, Lyle?” she asked, more resigned than annoyed. “That was always a mistake.”
    â€œDon’t you talk to me about mistakes. You had no right to take the car.”
    â€œOn the contrary, I had every right.”
    â€œYou really pissed me off.”
    â€œHuh. Thanks for sharing. Do you want to talk about all the things I have a right to be angry about? Because that list is a whole lot longer than a car.”
    â€œYou’re playing a game, Jill, but you won’t win. By the way, the new office is really great. I can see the bridge.”
    Bastard.