Balancing Act, page 8
Leaning against the passenger-side door of Willow’s SUV, Genevieve watched her grandchildren roll a ball of snow destined to become the torso of a snowman. “You’d think they’d get tired of snowmen, but they don’t.”
“A field of fresh, unspoiled snow is difficult to resist,” her sister responded. Helen remained inside the vehicle, but had the back passenger window rolled down.
Genevieve frowned. “I wonder what’s keeping Willow so long? At this rate, she’ll have to reschedule her vendor appointments. It could prove to be a problem with only six weeks to the wedding.”
“Maybe she’s flirting with Noah Tannehill.”
Genevieve whipped her head around and looked at Helen with interest. “Now, why would you say that?”
“He’s gorgeous. I saw him in the post office around Thanksgiving. He’s the kind of pretty that makes a room full of women burst out into excited giggles in his wake.”
“Oh.” Genevieve glanced toward the house. “Interesting. I do wish she’d show some interest in men again. But as far as I know, she hasn’t dated since Andy died.”
“Actually, she has been dating some.”
The words struck Genevieve like a dart to the heart. On the one hand, she was thrilled to learn that Willow had taken that all-important step in moving forward with her life. And yet it hurt Genevieve that Willow would tell her aunt about it, not her mother. “I see.”
“Stop it, Genevieve,” her sister warned. She exited the SUV and stood beside Genevieve. Helen knew her better than anyone alive, so it was no surprise that she correctly surmised what Genevieve was thinking. Helen added, “There’s no need to get pissy about this. Last summer, Willow talked about it with Brooke when we all met in Texas at your Fourth of July get-together at the family lake house. I just happened to overhear.”
Genevieve’s sidelong look was sharp enough to cut steel.
Helen continued. “Okay, it’s possible I intentionally eavesdropped. The girls were downstairs in the playroom, and I’d come in to mix more Bloody Marys. When I heard Brooke mention the word divorce, my ears couldn’t help but perk up.”
“Mine would have, too,” Genevieve conceded.
“Willow was reassuring her sister that life did go on after a relationship ended. Then she said she spoke from experience and that her heart had healed to the point where she’d wanted to date again. She signed up on a dating app.”
Genevieve’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Willow?”
Helen responded with a knowing nod. “Surprised me, too. She said she’d been on two first dates that didn’t click. She had seen another man four times before deciding it wasn’t right. Brooke had just asked her if she’d slept with any of them when Drew ran into the house yelling for his mom. It was right after that boat ride where Lucas played Dastardly Boat Driver.”
Genevieve recalled the moment. Drew’s laughter and excitement had attracted the attention of the entire gathering. He’d giggled his way through a description of his “wild and wooly best ever” tube ride. It made everybody smile.
“Anyway,” Helen continued. “I cornered Willow afterward.”
“I’m sure you did,” Genevieve replied in a snippy tone. Helen wasn’t one who let a chance to learn juicy details pass her by.
“Willow told me that she’d been dipping her toes back into those waters but intends to go slow. Very slow.”
“And you didn’t tell me about it?”
“She asked me not to.”
Genevieve folded her arms, torn between hurt and curiosity. She pointed out, “You’re telling me now.”
“It was last summer,” Helen said with a shrug. “I figure the statute of limitations has run out on my promise.”
“Hmm.”
Helen gave her sister a considering look. “Hmm, what? I know that tone.”
“I don’t know. Willow’s dating again is just… curious.”
“Because Andy was the great love of her life? You think she should take more time to mourn? You waited an age after David died to go out with a man, as I recall.”
“No, that’s not it at all. Everyone mourns differently, and Willow is the only person who can know when it’s right for her to move on romantically. I just—” Genevieve shrugged. “I’ve spent more time with her in the past year than the previous five years put together. I’m picking up on something… I can’t put my finger on exactly what it is… but I’m beginning to wonder if there’s something she didn’t tell us about her marriage. I wonder if they were having problems.”
“Willow and Andy? Seriously? Why would you think that?”
“Just… I don’t know. There hasn’t been one thing in particular. Little comments she’s made from time to time. They made my antennae go up.”
“You haven’t asked her about it?”
“With my history on the subject? Not hardly.”
“Understandable,” Helen observed with a nod.
Genevieve’s and Willow’s rocky relationship had begun when her eldest daughter first brought Andy Eldridge home to meet the family. At the time, Genevieve and Willow had been very close, and Genevieve had been looking forward to meeting the man who put such bright stars in Willow’s eyes. But unfortunately, Genevieve hadn’t liked Andy that day. Something about him had sent her Spidey senses fluttering. Something struck her as off. She’d mistrusted him and refused to give Willow her blessing.
Willow didn’t take kindly to that. Genevieve’s unfounded suspicions about Andy caused damage to her and Willow’s relationship even to this day. They’d never gotten back to the closeness they’d shared before Andy came into their lives.
Not that Genevieve hadn’t tried. Andy proved himself over time, and Genevieve apologized to both her daughter and her beau for withholding her blessing. And yet Willow never quite forgave her. Their closeness appeared to be a thing permanently in the past. By the time he’d popped the question, Genevieve had been more than ready to dive in and throw a spectacular wedding, which she’d done.
Willow’s attitude had warmed during the wedding planning. The girl had a natural affinity for such a task, and they’d made a good team putting the event together, well, except toward the end when she went a little Bridezilla and didn’t like anything her mother suggested. Nevertheless, Genevieve had begun to believe that their troubles were behind them.
Then, shortly after the honeymoon, Andy accepted a job offer and moved Genevieve’s daughter to Tennessee.
Genevieve never felt like she had a place in Willow’s new life. News that Drew was on his way a short time later both thrilled Genevieve and broke her heart. She’d always dreamed of being a local nana. Learning to be a long-distance grandmother required a change of attitude, but she’d quickly learned to treasure the experience.
Now, though, she lived fifteen minutes from her grands. It had taken disaster for her old dreams to come true. While she never would have wished widowhood on Willow—been there, done that, understood the heartache—she was thrilled to have her babies close. Mostly thrilled, anyway. She’d get this disruption to her new life figured out. “Well, her marriage to Andy isn’t the issue here.”
Helen drummed her fingers against the car door. “Maybe not, but this could be a piece to the puzzle that is Willow. We should feel out Andy’s parents when they come up to help Willow with the kids before Jake’s wedding.”
“No, just let it lie, Helen. I’m happy Willow is dating again. More than anything, I want her to handle widowhood better than I.”
“You did just fine. You raised four awesome children.”
“I did that, and I’m very proud of them.” Genevieve’s lips lifted in a rueful smile as she added, “I wouldn’t have said that this time last year. They weren’t awesome children a year ago.”
“True. The boys, especially, were stubborn mules. If their grandfather had known the damage he would do to your family by the manner in which he bequeathed his ranch to y’all, I wonder if he’d have done things differently.”
“Maybe. It would have been nice to avoid World War Prentice. And yet it worked out in my favor because I moved to Lake in the Clouds, and I love it here.”
“I’m glad. You’re happy, and the Prentice family is better now.”
“I think so. I hope so. The wounds my family suffered are real. They may be scabbed over, but they’re not entirely healed. It takes time.”
“You have time.”
Genevieve thought about her birthday rushing toward her like an F5 tornado. “Time is our most valuable commodity, and we waste so much of it when we are young. I wish my children would recognize that and not repeat my mistakes.”
“What sort of mistakes?”
A kaleidoscope of scenes from her past flashed through Genevieve’s mind, and the sting of tears came with them. A dozen responses to her sister’s question hung on her tongue. She voiced the one uppermost in her mind. “I don’t want to be old with an empty life, Helen.”
“Well, thank you very much,” Helen said with a sniff.
“Oh, don’t be that way. You know what I mean.”
“I don’t think I do.”
“Well, we were talking about men and dating, for one thing. Not sisters. I have the best sister in the universe. She’s always there for me. If I don’t say often enough just how much I love her, how important she is to me, and how I’d be lost without her, then I am a wretched human being.”
“You are a wretched human being.”
Genevieve leaned over and rested her head on her sister’s shoulder. “I love you, too.”
They passed a few moments in silence and watched as Drew struggled to lift the second snowball and place it on top of the first, assisted by his four-year-old sister. Then Helen said, “This seems to be a good time for me to bring up something I’ve wanted to mention to you.”
“That sounds a bit ominous.”
“Not ominous. On topic, I think. But frank.”
“When are you not frank, Helen?”
“So sue me,” she said with a shrug. Then she drew a deep breath, met her sister’s eyes, and exhaled in a rush. “You’re doing it again.”
Genevieve blinked. “Doing what again?”
“You’re losing yourself in Prenticeworld.”
Genevieve’s defenses flared. “What do you mean?”
“Where the hell is Vivie? She’s disappeared.”
“Don’t make fun of me,” Genevieve snapped. “That nickname was just a phase.” She’d tried calling herself Vivie when she’d first moved to Colorado, but it hadn’t fit.
“Well, call yourself what you want, but that Genevieve was a lot of fun. That Genevieve was focused on reinvention and revitalization. That Genevieve went snowmobiling and danced across an Alpine meadow. This Genevieve…” Helen’s voice trailed off.
“What?” Genevieve said testily.
Helen lifted her nose into the air. With lemon in her tone, she said, “Babysits.”
Genevieve folded her arms. “I don’t babysit. I have nana playdates with my grands. What’s wrong with that? I’ve been waiting for eight years to be able to go and have special times with them.”
“Nothing’s wrong with it. I know how much you love Emma and Drew and enjoy spending time with them. But…”
“But what?”
“Do you know how often you’ve turned down an invitation from friends and family because you had to babysit? You skipped the bridge club’s Telluride ski-and-spa trip.”
“I took the children to see the Eternity Springs hot-air balloon festival that day.”
“You totally blew off the Friends of the Museum winter gala.”
“That wasn’t because of the children. I didn’t have a date.”
“Half the people there didn’t go with dates. You were too tired to go because you spent the day sledding with Drew and Emma.”
Genevieve started tapping her toes. She felt like she was under attack. “Look, I’ve waited a long time to be an in-town grandmother. Playdates are important to me. Doing things with Emma and Drew when it’s just the three of us has added a new and special dimension to our relationship.”
“Fine. If that’s what you want, great. I’m just pointing out that it’s a change—a big change—from what you said you wanted when you moved here. You even missed a meeting with Gage Throckmorton and the architect about The Emily renovations. You claim the project is special in your heart, and here you go alienating Gage. So much for Vivie finding love again.”
“I rescheduled! Gage wasn’t upset. He understands grandchildren, and I am not setting my sights on him. And for the love of a good cabernet, would you stop using that name!”
“Okay, Nana.”
She said it in such a snippy tone that Genevieve couldn’t stop herself from firing back. “You’re just jealous.”
Helen folded her arms and arched a brow. “Oh? Of what?”
“I’m spending time with them instead of you.”
Pursing her lips, Helen studied Genevieve with narrowed eyes. Then, after a moment, she nodded regally. “I concede the point. I had a year with the new Genevieve when I didn’t have to compete with anyone for your time. I enjoyed that. I miss that. I miss you.”
Genevieve sighed as the starch went out of her. Helen’s complaint was valid. Genevieve had missed the sister time with Helen, too.
Helen continued, “However, this isn’t only about me. It’s about you, too. This is a caution. I see you slipping back into your old ways, where you always put your children’s needs, wishes, and desires before your own. You worried about backsliding last year when we arrived home from Europe and discovered that your children had descended upon Lake in the Clouds. Well, you handled your children just fine. It’s your grandchildren who have you tumbling down the mountain. Those grandchildren turn you to mush, Genevieve. You don’t want to be old and empty and alone? Then you need to find some balance.”
Darned if those tears didn’t flood her eyes again. Genevieve blinked them away. She kept her gaze focused on Emma and Drew as she asked, “I’ve hurt your feelings, haven’t I, Helen? I’m sorry. That’s the last thing I ever want to do. I meant what I said earlier. You truly are the world’s greatest sister.”
“Thank you. But look, you’re not responsible for my feelings. You certainly don’t owe me any particular percentage of your time. Maybe I get a little green-eyed and lonely when you choose the kiddos over me, but that’s on me. Not you.”
“I don’t choose them over you, Helen.”
“Okay, maybe that’s not the best word choice. It’s a weird sort of sibling rivalry that doesn’t involve siblings and reflects poorly on me. However, remember what Mama always said to us. ‘Begin as you mean to go on.’ You need to set some nana boundaries, Genevieve. Right now, you host nana camp every single day.”
“Playdates. We have playdates. And I want my nana playdates!”
“I’m not saying you shouldn’t have them. I’m saying that time is precious, and you need to be in charge of yours. What if Willow decides to make this move permanent? Will daily playdates become permanent, too? Will you ever be free to jet off on a last-minute trip with me again? This brings us to Bora-Bora. You never gave me an answer.”
Genevieve winced. “I want to go. You know I do. But when we talked about a sisters’ trip this winter, I didn’t know I’d be hosting a wedding in March.”
“At the risk of pissing you off even more, I’m going to point out that you aren’t hosting the wedding. Jake and Tess are doing it, and they’ve hired someone to oversee planning and execution. Times have changed, Genevieve. Children are marrying later in life and paying for their weddings—as well they should. You’re an honored guest at this wedding, not the hostess.”
“Okay, you’re right about that, but Willow needs my help with the children.”
“So that’s your answer about the trip. It’s nana time, not sister time.”
“We could go later—”
“I’m leaving next Tuesday.”
Genevieve drew in a quick breath. “You’re going without me? You’re going alone?”
“Not alone. Linda Bartlet is going with me. You are welcome to join us if you’d like.”
Helen might as well have slapped Genevieve across the face. She’d invited Linda Bartlet? “But it’s supposed to be a sisters’ trip!”
“Well, that’s how we originally planned it, yes.”
“You couldn’t wait for me to be able to go?”
“I could have. I chose not to wait. You’re not the only person growing older, Genevieve. The sands of my hourglass are draining, too. If I don’t go to Bora-Bora now, I may never get another chance.”
Genevieve closed her eyes. Helen was right. Their lives could change in an instant. Genevieve had learned that hard lesson early when her husband died from a heart attack at the ripe old age of thirty-nine. None of us were guaranteed another day, and advancing age made that all the more apparent.
If she didn’t make that South Pacific trip now, she might never see that part of the world.
And yet she’d dreamed of nana playdates since Willow and Andy announced their engagement. She wanted to make memories with her grands while she had the chance, memories that would live on in the little ones’ minds long after she was gone.
She wanted both. She wanted to be Supernana and the new Genevieve she’d been becoming over the past year. While the nickname Vivie didn’t suit, the spark of newness and life it represented did. But it didn’t end at Nana and Genevieve/Vivie, did it? She had the “mom” part of her to consider, too. Mom could also use some TLC.
Genevieve desperately hoped that Willow’s presence in Lake in the Clouds would lead to a continued improvement in their mother/daughter relationship. She loved her daughter wholeheartedly and wished desperately to reclaim that closeness they once shared. Things were better than they’d been, but issues remained. For instance, Genevieve still wasn’t sure what she’d done to drive the wedge deeper between them when Andy died. She’d like to know, but she guessed she didn’t need to know. She simply wanted it fixed.
She couldn’t fix it if she was in Bora-Bora.
“Oh, Helen. I’m so torn.”
“I understand.” Helen gave her shoulders a shrug. “Honestly, I do. I’m trying to make the point that I don’t care if you decide you want to babysit—excuse me, have a playdate—eight hours every day. Just make certain that Genevieve is doing what is right for her, rather than Mom and Nana doing what her family needs of her.”
“A field of fresh, unspoiled snow is difficult to resist,” her sister responded. Helen remained inside the vehicle, but had the back passenger window rolled down.
Genevieve frowned. “I wonder what’s keeping Willow so long? At this rate, she’ll have to reschedule her vendor appointments. It could prove to be a problem with only six weeks to the wedding.”
“Maybe she’s flirting with Noah Tannehill.”
Genevieve whipped her head around and looked at Helen with interest. “Now, why would you say that?”
“He’s gorgeous. I saw him in the post office around Thanksgiving. He’s the kind of pretty that makes a room full of women burst out into excited giggles in his wake.”
“Oh.” Genevieve glanced toward the house. “Interesting. I do wish she’d show some interest in men again. But as far as I know, she hasn’t dated since Andy died.”
“Actually, she has been dating some.”
The words struck Genevieve like a dart to the heart. On the one hand, she was thrilled to learn that Willow had taken that all-important step in moving forward with her life. And yet it hurt Genevieve that Willow would tell her aunt about it, not her mother. “I see.”
“Stop it, Genevieve,” her sister warned. She exited the SUV and stood beside Genevieve. Helen knew her better than anyone alive, so it was no surprise that she correctly surmised what Genevieve was thinking. Helen added, “There’s no need to get pissy about this. Last summer, Willow talked about it with Brooke when we all met in Texas at your Fourth of July get-together at the family lake house. I just happened to overhear.”
Genevieve’s sidelong look was sharp enough to cut steel.
Helen continued. “Okay, it’s possible I intentionally eavesdropped. The girls were downstairs in the playroom, and I’d come in to mix more Bloody Marys. When I heard Brooke mention the word divorce, my ears couldn’t help but perk up.”
“Mine would have, too,” Genevieve conceded.
“Willow was reassuring her sister that life did go on after a relationship ended. Then she said she spoke from experience and that her heart had healed to the point where she’d wanted to date again. She signed up on a dating app.”
Genevieve’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Willow?”
Helen responded with a knowing nod. “Surprised me, too. She said she’d been on two first dates that didn’t click. She had seen another man four times before deciding it wasn’t right. Brooke had just asked her if she’d slept with any of them when Drew ran into the house yelling for his mom. It was right after that boat ride where Lucas played Dastardly Boat Driver.”
Genevieve recalled the moment. Drew’s laughter and excitement had attracted the attention of the entire gathering. He’d giggled his way through a description of his “wild and wooly best ever” tube ride. It made everybody smile.
“Anyway,” Helen continued. “I cornered Willow afterward.”
“I’m sure you did,” Genevieve replied in a snippy tone. Helen wasn’t one who let a chance to learn juicy details pass her by.
“Willow told me that she’d been dipping her toes back into those waters but intends to go slow. Very slow.”
“And you didn’t tell me about it?”
“She asked me not to.”
Genevieve folded her arms, torn between hurt and curiosity. She pointed out, “You’re telling me now.”
“It was last summer,” Helen said with a shrug. “I figure the statute of limitations has run out on my promise.”
“Hmm.”
Helen gave her sister a considering look. “Hmm, what? I know that tone.”
“I don’t know. Willow’s dating again is just… curious.”
“Because Andy was the great love of her life? You think she should take more time to mourn? You waited an age after David died to go out with a man, as I recall.”
“No, that’s not it at all. Everyone mourns differently, and Willow is the only person who can know when it’s right for her to move on romantically. I just—” Genevieve shrugged. “I’ve spent more time with her in the past year than the previous five years put together. I’m picking up on something… I can’t put my finger on exactly what it is… but I’m beginning to wonder if there’s something she didn’t tell us about her marriage. I wonder if they were having problems.”
“Willow and Andy? Seriously? Why would you think that?”
“Just… I don’t know. There hasn’t been one thing in particular. Little comments she’s made from time to time. They made my antennae go up.”
“You haven’t asked her about it?”
“With my history on the subject? Not hardly.”
“Understandable,” Helen observed with a nod.
Genevieve’s and Willow’s rocky relationship had begun when her eldest daughter first brought Andy Eldridge home to meet the family. At the time, Genevieve and Willow had been very close, and Genevieve had been looking forward to meeting the man who put such bright stars in Willow’s eyes. But unfortunately, Genevieve hadn’t liked Andy that day. Something about him had sent her Spidey senses fluttering. Something struck her as off. She’d mistrusted him and refused to give Willow her blessing.
Willow didn’t take kindly to that. Genevieve’s unfounded suspicions about Andy caused damage to her and Willow’s relationship even to this day. They’d never gotten back to the closeness they’d shared before Andy came into their lives.
Not that Genevieve hadn’t tried. Andy proved himself over time, and Genevieve apologized to both her daughter and her beau for withholding her blessing. And yet Willow never quite forgave her. Their closeness appeared to be a thing permanently in the past. By the time he’d popped the question, Genevieve had been more than ready to dive in and throw a spectacular wedding, which she’d done.
Willow’s attitude had warmed during the wedding planning. The girl had a natural affinity for such a task, and they’d made a good team putting the event together, well, except toward the end when she went a little Bridezilla and didn’t like anything her mother suggested. Nevertheless, Genevieve had begun to believe that their troubles were behind them.
Then, shortly after the honeymoon, Andy accepted a job offer and moved Genevieve’s daughter to Tennessee.
Genevieve never felt like she had a place in Willow’s new life. News that Drew was on his way a short time later both thrilled Genevieve and broke her heart. She’d always dreamed of being a local nana. Learning to be a long-distance grandmother required a change of attitude, but she’d quickly learned to treasure the experience.
Now, though, she lived fifteen minutes from her grands. It had taken disaster for her old dreams to come true. While she never would have wished widowhood on Willow—been there, done that, understood the heartache—she was thrilled to have her babies close. Mostly thrilled, anyway. She’d get this disruption to her new life figured out. “Well, her marriage to Andy isn’t the issue here.”
Helen drummed her fingers against the car door. “Maybe not, but this could be a piece to the puzzle that is Willow. We should feel out Andy’s parents when they come up to help Willow with the kids before Jake’s wedding.”
“No, just let it lie, Helen. I’m happy Willow is dating again. More than anything, I want her to handle widowhood better than I.”
“You did just fine. You raised four awesome children.”
“I did that, and I’m very proud of them.” Genevieve’s lips lifted in a rueful smile as she added, “I wouldn’t have said that this time last year. They weren’t awesome children a year ago.”
“True. The boys, especially, were stubborn mules. If their grandfather had known the damage he would do to your family by the manner in which he bequeathed his ranch to y’all, I wonder if he’d have done things differently.”
“Maybe. It would have been nice to avoid World War Prentice. And yet it worked out in my favor because I moved to Lake in the Clouds, and I love it here.”
“I’m glad. You’re happy, and the Prentice family is better now.”
“I think so. I hope so. The wounds my family suffered are real. They may be scabbed over, but they’re not entirely healed. It takes time.”
“You have time.”
Genevieve thought about her birthday rushing toward her like an F5 tornado. “Time is our most valuable commodity, and we waste so much of it when we are young. I wish my children would recognize that and not repeat my mistakes.”
“What sort of mistakes?”
A kaleidoscope of scenes from her past flashed through Genevieve’s mind, and the sting of tears came with them. A dozen responses to her sister’s question hung on her tongue. She voiced the one uppermost in her mind. “I don’t want to be old with an empty life, Helen.”
“Well, thank you very much,” Helen said with a sniff.
“Oh, don’t be that way. You know what I mean.”
“I don’t think I do.”
“Well, we were talking about men and dating, for one thing. Not sisters. I have the best sister in the universe. She’s always there for me. If I don’t say often enough just how much I love her, how important she is to me, and how I’d be lost without her, then I am a wretched human being.”
“You are a wretched human being.”
Genevieve leaned over and rested her head on her sister’s shoulder. “I love you, too.”
They passed a few moments in silence and watched as Drew struggled to lift the second snowball and place it on top of the first, assisted by his four-year-old sister. Then Helen said, “This seems to be a good time for me to bring up something I’ve wanted to mention to you.”
“That sounds a bit ominous.”
“Not ominous. On topic, I think. But frank.”
“When are you not frank, Helen?”
“So sue me,” she said with a shrug. Then she drew a deep breath, met her sister’s eyes, and exhaled in a rush. “You’re doing it again.”
Genevieve blinked. “Doing what again?”
“You’re losing yourself in Prenticeworld.”
Genevieve’s defenses flared. “What do you mean?”
“Where the hell is Vivie? She’s disappeared.”
“Don’t make fun of me,” Genevieve snapped. “That nickname was just a phase.” She’d tried calling herself Vivie when she’d first moved to Colorado, but it hadn’t fit.
“Well, call yourself what you want, but that Genevieve was a lot of fun. That Genevieve was focused on reinvention and revitalization. That Genevieve went snowmobiling and danced across an Alpine meadow. This Genevieve…” Helen’s voice trailed off.
“What?” Genevieve said testily.
Helen lifted her nose into the air. With lemon in her tone, she said, “Babysits.”
Genevieve folded her arms. “I don’t babysit. I have nana playdates with my grands. What’s wrong with that? I’ve been waiting for eight years to be able to go and have special times with them.”
“Nothing’s wrong with it. I know how much you love Emma and Drew and enjoy spending time with them. But…”
“But what?”
“Do you know how often you’ve turned down an invitation from friends and family because you had to babysit? You skipped the bridge club’s Telluride ski-and-spa trip.”
“I took the children to see the Eternity Springs hot-air balloon festival that day.”
“You totally blew off the Friends of the Museum winter gala.”
“That wasn’t because of the children. I didn’t have a date.”
“Half the people there didn’t go with dates. You were too tired to go because you spent the day sledding with Drew and Emma.”
Genevieve started tapping her toes. She felt like she was under attack. “Look, I’ve waited a long time to be an in-town grandmother. Playdates are important to me. Doing things with Emma and Drew when it’s just the three of us has added a new and special dimension to our relationship.”
“Fine. If that’s what you want, great. I’m just pointing out that it’s a change—a big change—from what you said you wanted when you moved here. You even missed a meeting with Gage Throckmorton and the architect about The Emily renovations. You claim the project is special in your heart, and here you go alienating Gage. So much for Vivie finding love again.”
“I rescheduled! Gage wasn’t upset. He understands grandchildren, and I am not setting my sights on him. And for the love of a good cabernet, would you stop using that name!”
“Okay, Nana.”
She said it in such a snippy tone that Genevieve couldn’t stop herself from firing back. “You’re just jealous.”
Helen folded her arms and arched a brow. “Oh? Of what?”
“I’m spending time with them instead of you.”
Pursing her lips, Helen studied Genevieve with narrowed eyes. Then, after a moment, she nodded regally. “I concede the point. I had a year with the new Genevieve when I didn’t have to compete with anyone for your time. I enjoyed that. I miss that. I miss you.”
Genevieve sighed as the starch went out of her. Helen’s complaint was valid. Genevieve had missed the sister time with Helen, too.
Helen continued, “However, this isn’t only about me. It’s about you, too. This is a caution. I see you slipping back into your old ways, where you always put your children’s needs, wishes, and desires before your own. You worried about backsliding last year when we arrived home from Europe and discovered that your children had descended upon Lake in the Clouds. Well, you handled your children just fine. It’s your grandchildren who have you tumbling down the mountain. Those grandchildren turn you to mush, Genevieve. You don’t want to be old and empty and alone? Then you need to find some balance.”
Darned if those tears didn’t flood her eyes again. Genevieve blinked them away. She kept her gaze focused on Emma and Drew as she asked, “I’ve hurt your feelings, haven’t I, Helen? I’m sorry. That’s the last thing I ever want to do. I meant what I said earlier. You truly are the world’s greatest sister.”
“Thank you. But look, you’re not responsible for my feelings. You certainly don’t owe me any particular percentage of your time. Maybe I get a little green-eyed and lonely when you choose the kiddos over me, but that’s on me. Not you.”
“I don’t choose them over you, Helen.”
“Okay, maybe that’s not the best word choice. It’s a weird sort of sibling rivalry that doesn’t involve siblings and reflects poorly on me. However, remember what Mama always said to us. ‘Begin as you mean to go on.’ You need to set some nana boundaries, Genevieve. Right now, you host nana camp every single day.”
“Playdates. We have playdates. And I want my nana playdates!”
“I’m not saying you shouldn’t have them. I’m saying that time is precious, and you need to be in charge of yours. What if Willow decides to make this move permanent? Will daily playdates become permanent, too? Will you ever be free to jet off on a last-minute trip with me again? This brings us to Bora-Bora. You never gave me an answer.”
Genevieve winced. “I want to go. You know I do. But when we talked about a sisters’ trip this winter, I didn’t know I’d be hosting a wedding in March.”
“At the risk of pissing you off even more, I’m going to point out that you aren’t hosting the wedding. Jake and Tess are doing it, and they’ve hired someone to oversee planning and execution. Times have changed, Genevieve. Children are marrying later in life and paying for their weddings—as well they should. You’re an honored guest at this wedding, not the hostess.”
“Okay, you’re right about that, but Willow needs my help with the children.”
“So that’s your answer about the trip. It’s nana time, not sister time.”
“We could go later—”
“I’m leaving next Tuesday.”
Genevieve drew in a quick breath. “You’re going without me? You’re going alone?”
“Not alone. Linda Bartlet is going with me. You are welcome to join us if you’d like.”
Helen might as well have slapped Genevieve across the face. She’d invited Linda Bartlet? “But it’s supposed to be a sisters’ trip!”
“Well, that’s how we originally planned it, yes.”
“You couldn’t wait for me to be able to go?”
“I could have. I chose not to wait. You’re not the only person growing older, Genevieve. The sands of my hourglass are draining, too. If I don’t go to Bora-Bora now, I may never get another chance.”
Genevieve closed her eyes. Helen was right. Their lives could change in an instant. Genevieve had learned that hard lesson early when her husband died from a heart attack at the ripe old age of thirty-nine. None of us were guaranteed another day, and advancing age made that all the more apparent.
If she didn’t make that South Pacific trip now, she might never see that part of the world.
And yet she’d dreamed of nana playdates since Willow and Andy announced their engagement. She wanted to make memories with her grands while she had the chance, memories that would live on in the little ones’ minds long after she was gone.
She wanted both. She wanted to be Supernana and the new Genevieve she’d been becoming over the past year. While the nickname Vivie didn’t suit, the spark of newness and life it represented did. But it didn’t end at Nana and Genevieve/Vivie, did it? She had the “mom” part of her to consider, too. Mom could also use some TLC.
Genevieve desperately hoped that Willow’s presence in Lake in the Clouds would lead to a continued improvement in their mother/daughter relationship. She loved her daughter wholeheartedly and wished desperately to reclaim that closeness they once shared. Things were better than they’d been, but issues remained. For instance, Genevieve still wasn’t sure what she’d done to drive the wedge deeper between them when Andy died. She’d like to know, but she guessed she didn’t need to know. She simply wanted it fixed.
She couldn’t fix it if she was in Bora-Bora.
“Oh, Helen. I’m so torn.”
“I understand.” Helen gave her shoulders a shrug. “Honestly, I do. I’m trying to make the point that I don’t care if you decide you want to babysit—excuse me, have a playdate—eight hours every day. Just make certain that Genevieve is doing what is right for her, rather than Mom and Nana doing what her family needs of her.”
