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Show Motherlunge a novel 153 I felt my neck get warm. "Shut up," I said to my older sister, and she clucked at me, kissed X.'S head once, twice. I took a gulp of sweet white wine. The thing is," I said, looking reluctantly around the room, "I do like some of these pictures." Pavia nodded and put her arm around me, and in the harness between us X. hung like a heavy ball. "So do I. Maybe we can get one for Xavier's bedroom." "He doesn't have a room. I'm in it, remember?" I took a cracker from Pavia's hand and fed it into my mouth. "So what about Jack? Are you guys getting back together?" She shook her head, shrugged. I went on. "This will be confusing to him, you know." I pointed at X., her son. "And really, do you think you're being fair to Jack?" From across the room came another laugh from the irrepressible Ampersand; I didn't need to look over to know it was her. Eli and Cassandra and Steig were yucking it up as well. In Pavia's ear I continued. "I know the extra help is nice right now, and I know you want Jack involved." "It's not just involvement." "Co-parenting. Still. There's no boundaries. You've got no plan. You're playing house again, and..." I had stopped because I couldn't think of the next line, yet the effect of the pause was edematous-"and it's messy. And it's mean." "How so?" Now Pavia's neck and cheeks were brightening, too, and I was thrilled to see it, I'm afraid. "How is it mean?" |