Part 14 (1/2)
”Sure.” Jori entered the house and pa.s.sed through the living room to the family room. While Paige kept the rest of her home meticulously clean and organized, she seemed to have given up the cause in here. An a.s.sortment of toy guns, blocks, and cars and trucks of all sizes spilled out of a camoufl age toy box and across the fl oor. Under the plasma television mounted on the far wall, a * 117 *
low table held a video-game console. This was clearly the room where the family played.
Erica reclined on a large dark green sofa leafi ng listlessly through a Gourmet magazine. A stack of crossword-puzzle books and other publications sat on one corner of the coffee table in front of her.
”Hey,” Jori said from the doorway.
Erica laid the magazine down in her lap. ”Hi. Thank you for the tarts.”
”I'm glad you enjoyed them.” Jori settled into the nearby chair.
”Very much.” Erica barely paused before changing gears.
”So, how's Sawyer really doing?”
”What do you mean?”
”At the restaurant. She tells me everything's under control.
And here I sit, not allowed to do anything but ring this d.a.m.n thing when I want something.” Erica pointed at a small bell sitting nearby.
”She comes in early and she's still there when we close. She does the paperwork and works the dining room all night. She's amazing.”
”Yes. She can be quite impressive.”
Jori felt her face fl ush. She'd been raving about Sawyer and Erica seemed amused. She knew Sawyer was only doing what Erica had been doing for years. ”I didn't mean-well, of course we miss you. I only meant she's really stepping up.”
”I'm not offended, Jori. I just hope she sticks with it.”
”What do you mean?”
”Time has always been Sawyer's enemy.” Erica s.h.i.+fted and adjusted the mound of pillows behind her back.
”Maybe this time is different.”
Erica smiled. ”I'll bet Sawyer would appreciate your optimism, but I've known her longer than you have. Trust me, she'll leave. It's just a question of when. She's been doing it since * 118 *
she got out of college. She hops from one job to the next as soon as she gets bored.”
”I hope you're wrong.” After Jori spoke, she realized how telling her words must be.
”Jori, I know you work for me, but I'd like to think we're friends, too.”
”We are.”
”Ah-this is awkward. I don't know that much about your lifestyle, but I get the feeling I should warn you. Sawyer isn't known for her longevity.” Erica watched Jori's earlier blush deepen.
”If you're trying not to ask if I'm a lesbian, the answer is yes. I am.”
”I know you're a private person, Jori. And I'm not trying to pry into your life. But I don't want to see you get hurt.” Erica wasn't certain if Jori would think she was b.u.t.ting in, but she was genuinely concerned. Sawyer was her sister and she loved her, but more than once, she'd seen Sawyer run away without worrying about what kind of mess she left behind. In fact, it was her signature move-rather similar to that of the men Erica usually dated, come to think of it.
”If it makes you feel any better, I've already turned her down.”
”Oh.” Erica would have been impressed if Sawyer had stood fi rm when Jori rejected her. But she now understood that Jori's refusal had likely been part of the reason she'd quit her job.
Typical.
”What about you? How are you doing? Going stir-crazy?”
Erica easily accepted the subject change. ”Absolutely. I'm not used to this much inactivity. Watching so much daytime television makes my brain feel like mush. Do you have any idea how many semicelebrities have their own talk shows now?”
Jori laughed. ”I have no idea.”
”I really don't know how I'll stand it.” She couldn't keep the * 119 *
crankiness out of her voice. She hated to unload her frustration on everyone she talked to, but they all kept asking how she was doing, and sometimes she was too exhausted to pretend.
”It'll all be worth it when you're holding your child. Don't you think?”
”That's what everyone keeps telling me.”
”Is something wrong?”
”Sometimes I wonder if keeping this baby is the right thing.
Maybe I should have thought more about adoption.”
Erica couldn't have known the emotions her words brought up for Jori. She was relieved that at least Erica hadn't been contemplating abortion. Jori's stance on that particular subject was solid and not the least bit politically based. Her most vivid memories included her mother screaming at her more than once that she wished Jori had never been born. She s.h.i.+vered and shoved the image aside. ”Is that still an option?”
”I guess it is. But I'm past that point.” Erica rested her hand gently on her rounded belly. ”I just don't know if I'll be a good mother. I want her to have the best.”
”She will.”
”But am I being selfi sh to try to raise her alone? Doesn't she deserve a mother and a father?”
Jori could hear the indecision tearing at Erica. She slid to the edge of the chair and covered Erica's hand with hers. ”Do you love this baby?”
Erica slipped her hand from beneath Jori's and caressed her stomach. ”I really do. It's amazing how much.”
”That's all she needs. Besides, you're not alone. She'll have lots of family around her-Sawyer, Brady, Paige, and the boys.”
The jolt against her palm surprised her and she quickly sought Erica's eyes.
Erica smiled. ”Did you feel it?”
”Was that a kick?”
”Yeah. She's an active girl.”