“No, I didn’t.”
“Neither does Mitch. Please don’t tell him.”
“I won’t.”
“The lady absolutely could not figure out what to do about him. I told her that when he was a little boy all he ever wanted to do was sit in the apartment watching old movies on TV. Sometimes I had to turn off the set and shove him out into the sunshine to play with the other boys. So Lacy did. She sent him here to Dorset to write a weekend getaway piece. She didn’t think he’d agree to go, but I assured her he would. He’s always been very conscientious.”
“So Mitch coming here was your idea?”
“I suppose it was.”
“Ruth, if it hadn’t been for you we would never have met.”
Ruth looked at Des curiously. “His life is so much better now. Is yours?”
“Yes, it is. That’s not to say that everything’s been perfect. We’ve had our ups and downs.”
“Oh, hell, all couples do. I left Chester for three months. Moved in with my girlfriend Lenore on West 78th Street. This was before Mitch was born. He doesn’t know. Don’t ever tell him.”
“I won’t. Why did you?…”
“Because I wasn’t in charge of my own life anymore. Chester was. He could be very bossy when he was younger. I persuaded him to accept me as his equal and stop telling me what to do. We worked things out. We just had to grow up a little. By ‘we’ I mean Chester. My point is, we were totally right for each other. Same as you and Mitch are totally right for each other. And if you ever decide you want to make me a grandmother, I wouldn’t say no.” Ruth hesitated before she added, “Mitch was all wrong, you see.”
“All wrong about what?”
“He thought Maisie was his soul mate for life. She wasn’t. You are.”
Damn.
Des bit down hard on her lower lip, her eyes misting over.
“Oh, dear, now I’ve upset you. I’m sorry.”
“No, no. You didn’t upset me. You made me feel good all over.”
Ruth smiled at Des and said, “I’m glad. That makes us even.” She glanced around at the cluttered counter. “Are we done here?”
Des said, “We’re done.” Then she took Mitch’s mother by the arm and led her back into the living room to join the three good men in their lives.