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.I hadn’t fared so badly since I interviewed a recent certified nursing assistant graduate for an opening my employer had.The girl had excellent grades, but Calvin Coolidge would have viewed her as a conversational challenge.I tried for what I told myself would be the final time.“Are there many people out in the Hamptons this time of year?”“Yes,” Arden said.I took a gulp of my eggnog, glad that I’d spiked it with some of Pop’s old bourbon.I silently acknowledged defeat, but Arden surprised me by continuing to speak.“Lots of people spend the holidays out there.”“It’ll be nice to get out there and see our friends whom we haven’t seen since July,” Kirsten said, accenting her last word.Beverline made a sighing sound just before taking a demure sip of her eggnog.I knew it was directed at me, just as Kirsten’s remark had been, but I let it slide.The bourbon was making me mellow.Aaron spoke up.“Keep that up, Kirsten, and you won’t see them until next Christmas.”My eyes immediately went to Beverline to check her reaction.She pretended to be studying her eggnog…maybe for poison.“Aaron, I’m so sorry you and Emily won’t see each other over the holiday,” Mom said.“Actually, Mrs.Yancy, I’ll be out on the island for only a few days.I’ll be driving back at home on the twenty-seventh.I’ve got a few loose ends to clear up before the first, and of course I want to spend some time with Emily.”“Will you be going back to Long Island for New Year’s?”I reached for a sandwich.I knew what Mom was up to.She’d already asked me about Aaron’s plans.She knew Beverline didn’t like the idea of Aaron spending a special occasion with me and wanted to hear him state his plans aloud just to irritate her.“No.I’m going to spend New Year’s with Emily at home.”Beverline suddenly perked up.“Aaron’s arranged for a limousine service to drive us back New Year’s Day.”Mom beamed.“Well, I’m glad you two will get to ring the New Year in together, since you’ll be separated on Christmas.”I flashed her a look that I hoped she would interpret as a warning not to go overboard.“I understand you’re going out of town yourself, Mrs.Yancy,” Aaron said, deftly changing the subject.“Yes.My other daughter lives outside of Pittsburgh.Her children live here, but they always go out after Christmas and spend a week or so.She and her husband give a large New Year’s bash every year.It’s really quite lovely.”“When are you leaving?”“The twenty-seventh.The same day you’ll be driving back to New York.”Arden, who’d been eyeing the tray on the coffee table in front of her, said, “Those sandwiches are good.Is it all right if I have another one?”“Of course, dear.You go right ahead,” Mom said.“Now, Arden, you don’t want to eat up all of Mrs.Yancy’s food,” Beverline cautioned, effectively giving her grandchildren the impression that Mom and I were starving.Aaron tried to defuse the potentially explosive situation.“Beverline, I’m sure Mrs.Yancy’s cupboards are full,” he said easily.He nodded at his uncertain daughter to go ahead.“Thank you, Aaron,” Mom said.“You know, I’ve always hated it when people put out food and liquor for guests and then turn around and complain about how much they ate or drank.That’s definitely not me.” She looked directly at Beverline as she said the last sentence, as if defying her to make another implication.I could swear that Beverline’s complexion darkened a shade at Mom’s insinuation.Aaron got up.“I’m going to have another one of those sandwiches myself, and then I’m afraid we’ll have to run.I want to hit the road early tomorrow, by six-thirty.”Just minutes later I was handing out coats.The visit Aaron estimated would run about an hour had lasted barely half that long.Mom said good night to everyone and promptly made herself scarce, disappearing inside her bedroom, knowing that Aaron and I would want a few minutes alone.Beverline, on the other hand, showed no such consideration.She waited expectantly in the doorway after the kids had already left the apartment.“Aaron, aren’t you coming?”“Why don’t you start the car up? I’ll be out in a minute.”She flashed an expression that looked like he’d just slapped her, nodded curtly to me, and left.I turned to Aaron.“Well, that went well,” I said brightly.His hangdog expression made me giggle.“Kirsten and Arden don’t dislike you, Emily.They’re just having a little difficulty with the idea of there being another woman in my life.I’ve talked to them about it and assured them that I won’t ever forget their mother.But it’s hard for them nonetheless.”“Billy doesn’t seem to have a problem,” I pointed out.“No, but he’s younger.He doesn’t have the memories of Diana that his sisters do.I was hoping they would open up to you a little bit.You know, talk to you about things teenage girls worry about.I hoped they would see you as someone who’s a little more in touch with their generation than their grandmother.”“I guess we have to give it more time.They’ve only seen me a handful of times, and it’s clear Kirsten blames me for kicking them out of the Sag Harbor house.Things might change for the better once Mom and I move into your guesthouse.”“You’re right.Of course, there’s also the possibility that Beverline is influencing them in a negative way.”“She really hates me, doesn’t she?”“I think she’s just scared.Arden asked me just the other day if I would put Nana out if I were to remarry.”“Does your own daughter really think you’d do something so cold, Aaron?”“Not on her own.At least I hope not.But I think Beverline is trying to get her to think that.The truth is, my house probably wouldn’t be big enough for Beverline and any other woman.”“Did she honestly think you would never start seeing women again?”“Well, I was pretty broken up when Diana passed…but someone of Beverline’s generation probably should know that widowed spouses have to move on…eventually.”Part of me understood Beverline’s fear.But didn’t she realize that by being so unpleasant she was setting the stage for Aaron’s next wife to throw her ass out?“I guess I’d better get going,” he said reluctantly.I suddenly felt an almost overwhelming sadness.Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and my boyfriend was going out of town.Yes, that’s what he was now, my boyfriend.He was handsome, successful, rich…and he was in love with me
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