Page 3 of Unwrapped

Vince glances over. “Don’t answer it.”

“If I don’t, she’ll call again, then she’ll text, then she’ll call again because I didn’t answer her text, and then tomorrow I’ll get a message asking if I’m angry with her. It’s actually faster just to get it over with.”

He doesn’t argue. He’s been around long enough to know I’m right.

I pick up the phone. “Hi, Mom.”

“Sophie! Sweetheart. How are you?”

“Good. How are you?”

“Oh, you know.” She gives a little sigh. There’s music playing behind her, and I can hear people talking. “So busy as usual. And Vince is just being impossible. Have you spoken to him lately?”

Well, that didn’t take long.

“Actually, I’m at his house right now.”

“You are?”

“Yeah. I came home for Christmas.”

“Oh!” She sounds genuinely surprised. “Well, that’s wonderful.” Pause. “Is he there?”

I look across the sofa at him. Vince is watching me with one eyebrow raised, disapproval written all over his face, although I know it’s not directed at me.

“Uh, yeah, but we were just⁠—”

“Could you put him on? It’s really important, honey.”

“Uh . . .”

“Oh, Sophie. It’ll take two minutes. It’s just this settlement business. I really don’t understand why he has to make everything so difficult.”

I pick a crumb off my blanket. “Shouldn’t you be talking to your lawyer about that?”

“I have been talking to my lawyer. That’s the problem. Every time I want to discuss something, it has to go through six different people, and then everybody sends a bill. It’s ridiculous. I just think if he’d agree to a slightly more reasonable amount, we could put this whole thing behind us. That’s all I want, Sophie. I want it over.”

Behind her, someone laughs. A man’s voice says something, and she laughs and says something that’s quickly muffled, like she put her hand over the receiver.

“Are you out?”

“Just having a drink with Julian. We’re at this lovely place in Boston. You’d love it.”

Probably. I love lots of things I can’t afford.

“Anyway,” she continues, “Vince is still angry with me. I understand that. But it’s been two years. At some point, he has to stop punishing me.”

“I’m really not the person you should be talking to about this.”

“I just thought you might mention that I’ve been trying to reach him. I’m not asking for anything outrageous. And I know how much he values your opinion. Sometimes I think he listens to you more than he ever listened to me.”

“That’s probably because I don’t ask him for money.”

I regret it immediately.

“Wow.”

“Sorry. That was a joke.”