Should Have Known Better

In spite of all of that, the feeling of seeing my husband get something he really wanted or really needed was so fulfilling that I was willing to let it all go. I always knew he had potential and if he’d just step up and claim it, he could do anything.

He had a big grin as we walked through the parking lot. Before we got in the car, he hugged Sasha and said thank you.

Yes, I hugged her, too.

Seeing Reginald so happy erased most of the discomfort I’d been harboring about Sasha and her extended visit. The new contract was a big deal for Reginald. For us. For my family. Maybe we’d be able to afford private school after all. I had my old friend to thank for that.

I felt silly about feeling pushed aside by my family because Sasha was there. I knew my faults and now I could see clearly that I’d overreacted. Sasha was very different, but she was being good to me. Good to my family. I had to support that.

“Damn it! I chipped my nail,” Sasha groaned, pulling her hands out of a sink full of murky dishwater.

“Oh, no,” I said, rushing over from the stove where I was closing the lids on a few containers of leftovers from dinner. The kids were in the back getting ready for bed and Reginald was still on the phone calling everyone he knew to tell them about the Landon contract. “I told you that you didn’t have to do the dishes,” I added. “I can get them.”

“No, I said I’d help you out around here,” Sasha said. “I just wish we could put all of these dirty dishes into the dishwasher and call it done.”

“Who are you telling? That would make things much easier, but R. J.’s allergies are no joke, and unfortunately, one of them includes whatever they put in the dishwashing detergent to stop it from bubbling over. I tried it once and I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much vomit.”

“That’s so sad. Poor thing. And to think you’ve dealt with it all of these years.”

“ ‘Dealt with it’ isn’t at all how I see it. I’m just a mother and that’s what I do.”

Reginald walked into the kitchen and slid an empty glass into the dishwater.

“Shutting the troops down!” he exclaimed proudly.

“Oh, I’ll come get R. J. settled in,” I said, putting the leftovers into the refrigerator.

“No, I’ve got it,” Reginald insisted. “You, my darling”—he kissed me on the cheek—“spend time with your big-city friend before she sets out.” He’d been sweet to me since we left the dealership. It seemed like nothing could really bother him now that he had that contract. He was even talking about getting a new car.

“Big-city friend?” Sasha laughed and rolled her eyes at Reginald. She stuck out her tongue to his back as he walked out of the kitchen.

“He’s so silly,” Sasha said.

“Yeah, he’s quite the jokester today,” I agreed. “I only wish you all had gotten to know him, you know, in undergrad.”

“Well, times were different then. We were all different then. And the idea of one of the sorors dating the lawn-mower man was a bit much.”

“He was more than a lawn-mower man.” I laughed.

“I know; I’m just saying how it was talked about back then. You know? The gossip.”

“People thought I was settling,” I said. “But I was in love.”

“We know that now, but back then, we were young and thought we had something to prove to the world.”

“True, very true indeed,” I said, turning to Sasha as she let the water out of the sink. “Hey, I want to thank you again—”

“You already thanked me.”

“No, again. I want to thank you for coming here and helping me out. I know I haven’t been the easiest host, but I appreciate it, and I hope it won’t be your last visit.”

“Wow,” Sasha said and in her voice there was so much surprise. “You know what, I couldn’t have spent my vacation in a better place! Now, I just have to find out what I’m doing with the rest of it!”

“Rest of it?”

“I’m off for the rest of the week.”

“Well, you could stay here,” I suggested, noticing that once again she was mentioning her vacation time. She clearly didn’t want to go home for some reason. And I felt like she was just waiting for me to ask her to stay. I needed my rest, but I couldn’t just throw her out—not when I knew something was wrong and she’d done so much for my family.