Page 83 of Bourbon Deceit
“Do you think your mom would have liked me?”
I smiled to myself as I thought about my mom and how she and Goldie would have hit it off, no question about it. My mom was more reserved, but she loved to have a good time and that’s what Goldie was, a good time. I could picture them ganging up on me during holidays. They would be my two girls.
A pang in my heart started to form as I thought about the loss I’d suffered and the things my mom was missing out on because she was taken away from me too early.
Taking a deep breath, I rubbed her back and answered her question. “I think she would have adored you, Goldie. No doubt in my mind.”
“What about your dad? You never talk about him.”
I tensed from her question, but tried to show that it hadn’t affected me.
“He’s a miserable fuck who doesn’t deserve to be talked about.”
Silence met us as we both lay there, my words stagnant between us.
“Did you have any pets growing up?” she asked, not pushing the comment about my father, which I appreciated.
Relaxing slightly, I sank into her embrace and said, “No, unless some measly beta fish counted.”
“Beta fish? Like those colorful things in a jar?”
“Yeah.” I laughed.
“Fuck, that’s depressing, but for some reason I can picture it. Did you name them things like Mr. Wetherby and Annabell Figglefort?”
“Figglewhat?” I laughed some more. “No, I named them fish.”
She sat up and stared down at me.
“You named your beta fish, fish?” I nodded and lay back down. “Fuck, that issuperdepressing.”
“I was more interested in being the best at everything I did than I was in worrying about naming something that was going to die in a few weeks anyway.”
“Oh, I forgot. Little rich boy problems. Who was the better tennis pro at the club and what kind of white cloth napkins you were going to have at your parties.”
“Eggshell.”
“What?” she asked.
“Eggshell, that was the best color white.”
“Oh my God!” She laughed and she poked my side. “That is so embarrassing that you know that.”
“I can throw one hell of a party,” I said as I threaded my fingers over the necklace I’d given her, which continued to show up around her neck. Even after some of our worst fights, she’d still kept it on. It gave me hope.
“Well then, when it’s my birthday, I expect you to throw me one hell of a party.”
“When is your birthday, Goldie?”
She feigned shock. “Something Jett Colby doesn’t know? I’m surprised. You knew my bra and thong size when I walked in this door but you don’t know my birthday?”
“I could look in your file.” I smiled.
“God, you’re infuriating. It’s April 24th.”
I nodded while I thought about what I would do for her birthday when it rolled around, which wouldn’t be for a while, since it had already passed for the year, but it would be something I would want to celebrate, and make a big deal about.
“April is a pretty month to be born in, it suits you.”
