He stopped, cupping her cheek briefly. “I’ve never met anyone like you. I like that you compliment me with genuine things. Sometimes there can be so much artifice between people. You don’t want to compliment too much or too intimately because you don’t want to tip your hand with the other person and it’s a power struggle or whatever. It’s ridiculous and complicated and tiring. But with you, there isn’t any of that. I like you, Elise. You’re genuine and you’re an amazing mother, and that’s another thing I like about you. I love to watch you with your kid. She’s not an accessory or an afterthought. You work hard to balance things so that it’s about her. I admire that.”

“That’s a wonderful thing to say. All of it. Thanks.”

“I’m parked in the same lot you are. Let’s go and I’ll be over at your place for dinner shortly. Maybe you can duck over to my place for the wine after Rennie goes to bed. Your parents are still staying with you, right?”

“Yes, they are, and I might just take you up on that.”

13

He’d come to dinner with flowers for all three females. Her mother had flirted and laughed, and Rennie just rolled her eyes and started telling Brody about her life since she saw him last.

Elise’s mother liked him, that was easy to see, and he treated Martine with respect and listened to her stories in the same patient, interested fashion he’d listened to Rennie’s.

“Do you notice your daughter and your mother both seem to have a heart for your Brody?” her father said as they cleared up the dining room.

“He’s a nice guy. They’re both spoiled that way with you already. You set the bar awfully high.”

“Pffft.” He tried to look tough, but she saw his smile when he ducked his head to put away a bowl.

Her mother came into the room. “Elise, Rennie is going to watch a movie with me and your father. We will have popcorn and soda, no caffeine of course. Why don’t you go on over to Brody’s house for a glass of wine and a quiet conversation?”

“Are you psychic or did he hit you up for babysitting services?”

Her mother laughed. “Darling, you’re young. Why wouldn’t you want a quiet hour or two with him? You’d planned to ask? Because Daddy and I would like you to know we are here. We’ve been begging you to go out and have fun. It’s not a chore to be with Irene. It’s one of our favorite things in the world.”

“Thank you.” She hugged them both. “I won’t be out late.”

“Be out until whenever you want. If you stay over, though, just let us know so we know to get breakfast ready for Irene in the morning.”

She blushed. “I’m not spending the night. Mama, I made a promise to myself I wouldn’t do that around her until I’m sure that man will be part of our lives long-term. I spend the night in the same house she does. I don’t bring a parade of men through her life. She needs stability.”

“The offer is there when you realize that boy in there will be with you, how you said, long-term. Now, go.”

“Momma! Gran said you’re going to Brody’s for adult conversation and we’re going to watch Beauty and the Beast and eat popcorn and drink soda and have ice cream!” Rennie hopped around the living room. “I brought blankets down and pillows so we can all snuggle up on the couch. I haven’t never watched this with them, only you. So they’ll love it.”

She leaned down and hugged Rennie, kissing her several times across her cheeks and nose. “You be good for them, okay? I’ll just be across the street and I’ll be back in a few hours.”

“Don’t worry, Pops and I will be sure everything is cleaned up afterward,” Rennie stage-whispered. Martine’s aversion to wash- ing dishes was well known, and amusing to the members of her family.

“Gotcha. I love you, Noodle.” “I love you too, Momma.”

“Oh man, that chili was totally amazing.” Brody patted his belly as he led her into his house. He took her coat and hung it on a peg in the foyer, and she toed her shoes off.

“Let me get the fire on so your feet don’t get cold.”

“Thank you. But your floors are really warm.”

“Radiant heat. Awesome isn’t it? A few years ago I finally got

the energy to get rid of the ugly-ass carpet up here. So of course Adrian decides I need radiant heat, because he’d recently gotten it at his place.”

Warmth from the fireplace crept toward her and she snuggled into the couch.

“So it was his present to me. Little shit. A present is luggage or a pair of gloves, not radiant-heat floors.”

“He loves you and he had it in his means to give it to you, so he did. And I bet you let him know how much it meant.”

He stood and turned, cocking his head. “You’re scary sometimes.”

“Meh. I’m not so much. I’ve seen the way you are with them. Where’s my wine?”

“Any preferences?” He moved toward the kitchen. “I’ve got a cabernet here and beer in the fridge, if you’d rather go that way. I can also make a mean martini, if you’d prefer that.”

“Looks good and can make a martini. I’d love a glass of wine, thank you. I have no idea why you’re wasting your time with an old woman with a kid when with talents like that you could be out with your pick of any tight-bodied twenty-two-year-old.”

“Ha. You’re not old, you’re younger than I am. I’ve had my share of twenty-two-year-olds, but frankly, at my age I feel positively lecherous around anyone younger than twenty-six or -seven. And have you looked in a mirror?”