King of Her Desire

38

I said, "Hey, Mami! How's it goin'?" And slipped out onto the back patio with my cell so I wouldn't disturb anyone who was still knocked out from our long day at the roping thing.

She was all bright-eyed and rosy cheeked that morning, Elliott. Kicking back all propped up in bed with that pretty white hair streaming down.

"It's going well," she said. "I'm just a little dizzy sometimes."

"Well, I'm glad you're home."

"So am I! But of course, Gerri insisted I have a real nurse here with us. How's our girl?"

I didn't even blink. I knew she really cared about Sochi. And I knew she'd be cool, even if it stung a little bit when she picked up on everything that'd gone down between us.

So I laughed and said, "She's going nuts over here! She's been in touch with my friends with the cars and stuff--really trying to get that English together, too. We haven't talked about the painting too much yet, but it looks like that's how she spends most of her time, though."

"Well, I'd really like to see her sometime soon. I know how you feel about that, but..."

I sighed and said, "It's just that when I'm with you I want to be with you. I don't want things to get all messy and...I don't know. I just like the way we are now."

"And life's put the pedal to the metal, hasn't it? My God, those beach shots!"

"You saw them?"

"Oh, Matt couldn't help himself. The Calvin Klein people were gob smacked, too. So now, everyone's going for exclusivity contracts and things. But that's normal. They know you're a goldmine."

"Why would they think I'd do that, though? When I'm just getting started."

She reached for a mug on the nightstand next to her, sipped and shrugged.

"It can be lucrative for one-trick ponies, maybe. But Matt knows there's a whole lot more to explore. He's having a wonderful time hemming and hawing and putting people on hold. Making 'em sweat."

She smiled like she was enjoying it, too. Which she probably was. Crazy lady...

So I said. "Let's talk about something real now."

And she set the mug down and said, "As long as it's not about me."

"Nah, I'll give you a break for now. I'm gonna try to see my Mom today. They've moved her to this sort of halfway house where it's a lot easier to visit and talk on the phone and stuff. But she got into some trouble already, so..."

"Shoni, we have lawyers, you know. If it comes to that."

"They know how she is. But I'll keep you posted. And I'd better go, okay? I just wanted to hear your voice."

She smiled some more and said, "I miss yours, too. I miss you, period. But you need those babies as much as they need you."

She was right. As usual. So I just gave her a little glare and said, "Do what they tell you to do this time, okay? And don't drive that nurse nuts. She's only trying to help."

"Yes, dear. Now go baby the babies. And hug that gorgeous girl for me."

I laughed at the irony in that "order." Wondered, a little bit, if she'd dropped that on me on purpose. You could never tell what all Elliott was dreaming up...