Page 71 of Love is Grand
Weezie took the phone from Shell and smiled at the screen. “I remember. Do you remember me? I wore the pretty dress at Ry’s wedding.”
“I do. Are you enjoying New York?”
“I got another American Girl doll.”
This made Shell immediately roll her eyes and me laugh. The new doll was the highlight of Weezie’s trip, and a bone of contention with Shell. She’d said I was spoiling her daughter, buying her another doll, and I’d thrown my hands up in the air and said, “What else am I supposed to do?”
“Her name is Maritza. She looks a little like me, but I wasn’t allowed to bring her to the beach today. She would get dirty, and Mom said I have to keep her clean.”
My mom listened and then said, “I’ll have to meet her sometime. My daughter, Becca, loved dolls. She used to cut all their hair, though. They’d be bald by the time she was done.”
“Shit,” I murmured. We hadn’t spoken about my deceased sister to Weezie.
Weezie giggled but looked confused, so I reached back and took the phone.
“Okay, Mom. We’ll talk soon.”
“Wait,” she said quickly. “Let me say something to Shell.”
I knew she’d get her way, so I gave Shell the phone.
“Shell, do you like New York? If so, come back and tie this guy up. I need you and your daughter in my life. I didn’t realize how much I missed having a little girl around.”
Shell glanced at me, her cheeks darkening. “Uh, I like New York, but I’m not tying anyone up.”
I didn’t know if she really meant that or was saying it for effect, but she certainly had tied me up.
Taking the phone and the control again before this became a disaster, I said, “Mom, we’ll tie everything up later. Happy Fourth,” I said and disconnected.
Sorry, I mouthed to Shell.
Of course Weezie asked, “Who is Becca?”
I didn’t even try to explain. This sort of thing was way out of my skillset.
Shell spent some time explaining how I had a sister in heaven, and how much I loved her. Weezie asked why she was in heaven, and Shell said simply it was a rare thing that happened sometimes, but not to worry because it wasn’t going to happen to anyone she knew.
When they were done, Weezie happily went back to her movie.
I grinned at Shell. “You’re amazing.”
My mom was right. It was time to get tied down. I was going to ask Shell to marry me.
That night, as we all lounged on a blanket on the beach, staring up at the stars and the fireworks booming, Weezie sticky from ice cream and Shell snuggled up between my legs, I kissed her neck from behind.
“Hey, Shell,” I whispered.
“Yeah?”
“I love you.” I’d never said it before. Never thought I’d feel it, but I did. “And your daughter. And our son.”
She half turned, the moonlight reflecting off the earrings I’d bought for her. “I love you too.”
We stayed like that a while, me holding Shell close and Weezie next to us. No bikinis or booze, but perfect.
Later, Weezie fell asleep on the car ride back. I kicked myself for not renting a house in the Hamptons, but the girls seemed happy being chauffeured back to the city. We had plans to make pancakes the next morning and then go to the Central Park Zoo. It would be our last day together.
When we got home, I carried Weezie to bed before Shell dressed her in her pajamas and slipped her under the covers. The little mogwai smelled like sunscreen, sand, and bubblegum ice cream—a day well done. I couldn’t help but be captivated watching Shell kiss her daughter’s forehead, mumbling sweet nothings before slipping out of the room.