Juniors by Kaui Hart Hemmings Page B

she’s thinking about. There seems to be this cloud of mystery around her friendship with them.
    â€œWhy didn’t we ever do things with them when I was a kid?”
    â€œYou are a kid,” she says, but looks at me like she can’t believe it.
    â€œYou know what I mean. You did things, but I never really met them.”
    â€œI don’t know,” she says. She seems to be truly thinking about my question. “It’s a different kind of friendship,” she finally says.
    â€œYou and Melanie don’t seem to have a lot in common,” I say, and she laughs quickly as though I’ve made quite the understatement.
    â€œShe’s part of the package,” my mom says in a soft voice.
    â€œWhat does that mean?”
    â€œEddie and I are good friends. Or were. We are, but . . . you’ll see in life that it’s not so easy to maintain relationships with guy friends. You sort of inherit their wives and continue your relationship through them.”
    I think of the exclusion I felt with Danny when he was with Whitney.
    â€œNot that I don’t adore Melanie. Although she can be a little intense, God bless her.”
    â€œYou always God bless someone you’ve said something negative about,” I say.
    â€œHa,” she says. “I’ve just tried to put a little distance between us and my friendship with them, that’s all. She always went back and forth with me, so I never knew where I stood. It was better to be at arm’s length.”
    â€œSo what changed? They’re kind of within arm’s length now.”
    She takes another sip of tea. “I don’t know. Seems like we’re friends now. And I guess I’m returning a favor.” She sighs, then catches me still looking at her. “Don’t worry about it,” she says.
    â€œIs Eddie sick or something?”
    She hesitates, then says, “Yes,” and her eyes water slightly. “He’s showing signs of dementia, which at his age usually means Alzheimer’s. He’s slowing down. No one knows what will happen or how slowly or quickly it could go.”
    â€œHe’s a lot older than you,” I say. “But you were friends?”
    She scratches her head and smiles to herself. “We dated while I was in college and he was working, going back and forth between Hawaii and LA.”
    â€œOh my God, Mom,” I say. “That was your boyfriend before Stranger Dad.” I imagine her with this mogul.
    â€œHe was kind of in love with me but was . . . how can I put this . . . seduced by someone else.”
    â€œOh my God, this is too much! Melanie?” I sink down into the couch and push my feet against her harder.
    â€œShe was manipulative, that one. He got her pregnant, then came the wedding. Really, she was perfect for him and his family. Their wedding was like a meeting of island royalty—the networking event of the century.” Her voice is cheery. “Don’t look so stunned,” she says. “It was a long time ago.”
    â€œWere you sad?” I ask. It’s weird seeing my mom peeled back and bare, like a girl.
    â€œI was a little sad at the time, but more mad that he professed his love right before sleeping with a family friend he’d probably been seeing the whole time.” She laughs. “But believe me. It worked out. I could never have been a wife like she is. He’s her job. Socializing is her job. I didn’t want that.”
    â€œAnd then came the next fine fellow.”
    â€œYup,” she says, looking down and patting my feet.
    I always skip over the sex part, the fact that you exist because your mother and father did it.
    â€œAnd Melanie’s great,” my mom says, looking at me, as if trying to make sure I understand. “She’s the most generous woman I know. And I’m having fun. It’s fun to socialize with her group. It’s fun to be wanted