Page 46 of Even After This
“Yes, Harlan. Which girl-band ballad do you want to be your signature ringtone?” Spencer shifts to kiss Sally on the cheek. “Good point, baby.”
“Scratch that.” Harlan scoops up his unused spoon and sweeps it through the air. “New idea for the ringtone that truly represents me. ‘Unforgettable.’ Can’t go wrong with Nat King Cole.”
I fold my napkin lengthwise and then fold down a corner. “How about ‘You’re So Vain’?” A half second after the words escape, I slap my hand over my mouth.
Harlan’s gaze slices from Spencer to me. “Traitor.”
“I know.” Sally’s hand waves like a schoolgirl wanting the teacher to call on her. “‘Let’s Hear It for the Boy.’”
As the three of us laugh, Harlan shakes his head. “Let’s be clear. I’m no boy.” He angles his spoon to point to his heart. “I’m all man.”
With the last crease in place, I stare at my napkin creation. “Yes, youare.”
It dawns on me no one is talking, and I glance from my blossomed flower napkin to the rest of the table.
Everyone is frozen, and a split second later laughter erupts.
Apparently I said that in my out-loud voice.
My face heats up, and I pull my napkin out of the floral shape to curtain my face. “You guys. Just love me through it.”
Harlan reaches over and yanks my napkin shield down to the table. “You proved my point.” He shifts his attention and points his spoon at Sally. “Why does Spence get the Iron Man ringtone? I’m Hercules, for goodness’ sake, which means I deserve a better one.”
Sally twists her torso and lifts the strap of her purse off the corner of her chair, transferring it to her shoulder. “I’m no help to you.” She flashes a smile at Harlan, then addresses the rest of us. “If you will excuse me, please, I have to go to the ladies’ room.”
As Sally rises to exit, Spencer and Harlan scoot their chairs out to half stand.
My last dinner in Colorado is divine. Ristorante del Lago is one of the newer dining options at the Broadmoor, and its elegance doesn’t disappoint. The terra cotta tile and exposed wood beams complement the authentic Italian menu filled with house-made sausages and pasta.
A server walks away with my empty plate, and I wonder if this is the kind of restaurant that brings their guests after-dinner mints. The spaghetti puttanesca’s garlic, anchovies, and black olives took my taste buds to a new level of bliss. But my dinner mates will have to forgive me when they’re knocked over by my breath.
Spencer stretches his arm across the table, encircles my wrist, and squeezes. “Meredith, I need to thank you. Sally is a changed woman because of you.”
My torso jolts in surprise at his kind comment. “Oh, gosh, no, I—”
“Neither of our families can help us out.” He releases me andpulls back. “Having two babies in a row almost did her in, and a lot of times I have no clue how to help.” His gaze falls to his fisted hands. “She hates it when I suggest hiring someone.”
“It’s a loving gesture, Spencer.” I wrap my napkin around my hand. “It just might not be for her.”
“This week, Meredith...” He clears his throat. “This week, she’s the woman I fell in love with. Less nervous. More laughter. Confident. It’s because of you.”
Stunned, I flex my hand, causing the napkin to unravel and fall to the table.
“We’d like to stay in touch.” Spencer leans back in his chair, hands resting on his thighs. “Make sure you look us up when you visit Harlan.”
I inhale a sharp breath. Back up the wagon, Spencer Dean. Harlan and I may not speak again after tonight.
Without breaking eye contact with me, Spencer gives Harlan’s head a playful shove. “Okay, forget Harlan. We’ll dump him and adopt you.”
Harlan clutches his chest and yanks out an invisible dagger. “Does decades of friendship mean nothing to you?”
Before I’m forced to acknowledge the social grenade Spencer dropped about visiting Harlan, Sally returns from the restroom. She stands with her pink-tipped fingernails clutching the back of her chair. “Oh, Spence, did you break the news to Harlan that we’re trading him in for Meredith?”
Harlan throws his hands up in the air. “Unbelievable.” His body sags, adding to the dramatics, until his head shoots up and he snaps his fingers. “That’s it. That’s the ringtone for me. ‘Unbelievable.’”
“Do not dishonor the glory of the nineties by picking that song.” Spencer pushes out of his chair. “Harlan and Meredith, thank you for sharing your dinner with us this evening. As promised, we’re going to let you two enjoy your dessert alone.” He turns to his wife. “You ready to go?”
In spite of standing in the middle of a fancy restaurant, the second I rise, Sally throws herself into my arms. “Call me anytime,” I say into her ear. “I will always want to hear from you. Tomorrow. Two weeks. Two months.” My voice cracks, but I rein in the tears. I pull back and grasp her shoulders. “You are beautiful. And you are strong.”
