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The Gate House :: Demille Nelson
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“Anything good?”
She forced a smile and said, “She thinks you’re not in a position to keep me in the style to which I’ve become accustomed.”
“Did you tell her I was an animal in bed?”
She smiled for real and replied, “I did tell her we’ve always had a fulfilling sex life.”
“Is she jealous?”
“Maybe.” Susan also revealed, “She hinted that you drink too much.”
We both got a good laugh out of that. I observed, “I only wish I could go one-for-one with either of them.”
I sat next to Susan on the couch, and we held hands and didn’t speak for a while. Then she said, “My father seemed very angry.”
“I was very cordial to him, even after he insulted me with a bribe. I really was, Susan.”
“I believe you.”
“But at the end, I had to threaten him with litigation if he cut you out of their wills.” I added, “The allowance is gone, and even if I had a legal theory to proceed on that, I don’t feel I would be morally justified to pursue it. And I hope you agree.”
“I agree.” She reminded me, “I am now free.”
“Right.” I suggested, “You might want to cut back on your personal trainer.”
“Don’t make fun of me.”
“Sorry.” So now I had to decide if I should mention William’s parting shot – the children. But I’d let him do that; Susan needed to hear this from her father. I said to Susan, “I believe he wants to speak to you soon.”
She nodded. “We will speak tomorrow morning. Here. On their way to the airport.”
“Fine. I’ll make myself scarce.”
“Thank you.” She looked at me and asked, “Did he mention the children?”
“I believe he will mention that to you tomorrow.”
She nodded.
Susan did not look happy for someone who’d just gotten her freedom, and to be honest, I couldn’t blame her. Freedom is scary.
So, to wrap this up, I said, “Look, if it comes down to me or-”
“John, shut the fuck up.”
That took me completely by surprise. Where did she learn to swear like that? It sounded funny with her patrician accent. I asked, “Could you clarify that?”
“Sorry.” She laughed. Then she put her head in her hands and tears ran down her cheeks. She said, “Damn it.”
I put my arm around her and squeezed her tight. I said, “We will be fine, Susan.” I reminded her, “We knew where this was headed.”
She wiped her face with her hands and said, “You knew.
“Anything good?”
She forced a smile and said, “She thinks you’re not in a position to keep me in the style to which I’ve become accustomed.”
“Did you tell her I was an animal in bed?”
She smiled for real and replied, “I did tell her we’ve always had a fulfilling sex life.”
“Is she jealous?”
“Maybe.” Susan also revealed, “She hinted that you drink too much.”
We both got a good laugh out of that. I observed, “I only wish I could go one-for-one with either of them.”
I sat next to Susan on the couch, and we held hands and didn’t speak for a while. Then she said, “My father seemed very angry.”
“I was very cordial to him, even after he insulted me with a bribe. I really was, Susan.”
“I believe you.”
“But at the end, I had to threaten him with litigation if he cut you out of their wills.” I added, “The allowance is gone, and even if I had a legal theory to proceed on that, I don’t feel I would be morally justified to pursue it. And I hope you agree.”
“I agree.” She reminded me, “I am now free.”
“Right.” I suggested, “You might want to cut back on your personal trainer.”
“Don’t make fun of me.”
“Sorry.” So now I had to decide if I should mention William’s parting shot – the children. But I’d let him do that; Susan needed to hear this from her father. I said to Susan, “I believe he wants to speak to you soon.”
She nodded. “We will speak tomorrow morning. Here. On their way to the airport.”
“Fine. I’ll make myself scarce.”
“Thank you.” She looked at me and asked, “Did he mention the children?”
“I believe he will mention that to you tomorrow.”
She nodded.
Susan did not look happy for someone who’d just gotten her freedom, and to be honest, I couldn’t blame her. Freedom is scary.
So, to wrap this up, I said, “Look, if it comes down to me or-”
“John, shut the fuck up.”
That took me completely by surprise. Where did she learn to swear like that? It sounded funny with her patrician accent. I asked, “Could you clarify that?”
“Sorry.” She laughed. Then she put her head in her hands and tears ran down her cheeks. She said, “Damn it.”
I put my arm around her and squeezed her tight. I said, “We will be fine, Susan.” I reminded her, “We knew where this was headed.”
She wiped her face with her hands and said, “You knew.