Page 161 of Let's Kiss and Tell

She pulls me in close, and I start crying on her shoulder. Idon’t think I’ve really hugged my mom in my adult years; the contact alone is hard for me to wrap my head around, let alone everything else. I let her console me and rub my back while I sob like I’m a little girl.

“I think on some level,” she says softly, “I didn’t know I really loved your dad until it was too late.”

I pull away from her and we look at each other. She uses the side of her index finger to wipe a tear under my eye.

“I’m supposed to understand?” I shake. “This is supposed to be okay?”

My mom’s face is suddenly filled with regret. Perhaps regret for what happened or regret that she told me the truth. It hits me that our parents are just living their lives for the first time too. We expect them to know more than us, but how is that possible?

“Lucy, I thought if anyone would understand it would be you.”

31

Marsh

“Uncle Marsh, guess what?” Sadie sits on my lap. It’s a cool evening and we’re in the backyard just as the sun sets. Rows of string lights illuminate my niece’s face. We’re nearing the end of September, and I always find the change in weather the perfect excuse to drive up and see family.

“What?” I adjust her weight on my leg.

“Mommy and Daddy said I can get a dog!”

My head turns toward Oliver, who’s sitting on the opposite side of the patio table. He merely makes a defeated shrug. “Oh yeah?” I look back at Sadie. “What kind of dog?”

“I want a Saint Bernard.” Sadie gives a big toothy grin.

“She watched Beethovenonceand this is all I hear.” Oliver rolls his eyes.

“You know, Dee Dee,” I start. “Saint Bernards area lotof work. Maybe you should get something that’s smaller than you are so you can walk it.”

“I want a dog bigger than me,” she says. “That way it can protect me, and I can ride on its back likeThe Neverending Story!”

“Makes sense.” I nod. “What are you going to name it?”

“CUJO!” Sadie yells out in a voice that’s very similar to the Hulk. She then jumps off my lap and runs into the house. I let out a laugh because I seriously love that little girl so much.

“Dude”—I turn to Oliver—“are you just letting her watcheverything?”

“Okay, in my defense she foundCujoon her own and there was nothing Quinn and I could’ve done to stop her.”

“You’re lucky she’s not terrified of dogs.”

“It only made her want a dogmore.” Oliver gives me a bewildered look. “I can’t believe we’re getting a dog.”

“Oh, come on. It’ll be great. You both work from home, you have like acres of land. Sadie’s going to be so happy.”

“Yeah, I just gotta bite the bullet. When did I become that person with a child and a dog?”

Oliver has been with Quinn for as long as I can remember, but they were nomads for a while. They traveled every corner of the world after graduating college and were never the type of couple that thought about having kids. When Oliver told me Quinn was pregnant, he was so scared and so excited. He told me that Sadie would be the greatest adventure they ever had.

“I think you were always meant to be one of those people, Ollie. You just needed to get a few things out of your system first.”

He takes a sip of his beer and then grabs a handful of chips from the bowl in front of us. “How’s work?”

“Good.” I follow and swipe some chips for myself. “Finally in the swing of things. I’ve been able to turn around like five stories a day.”

“Five stories?” Oliver repeats. “How are you not burned-out?”

“I don’t get burned-out,” I say.