“I don’t know how you live like this.” She wore a blue parka and mukluks. Perfect winter gear for an island just south of Alaska, but a little overdressed for Seattle’s fifty-degree weather. “Too many people.”
Sean had been right about his mother. She didn’t like feeling like a little fish. “Wait until you see my store,” Lexie said to change the subject. “It’s fabulous.”
As if on cue, Yum Yum barked from her pink mesh car seat in the back. “That’s right, Yummy Cakes,” Lexie gushed as she slowed and merged into the center lane.
“You call your dog Yummy Cakes?”
Lexie looked at Geraldine, who wore an identical expression as her son when talking about Yum Yum. “It fits her and she likes it.” Discussion closed.
They turned into the high-end strip mall not far from Bellevue Square, and Lexie was relieved to hear silence from the passenger seat. The only sound to fill the car was her gasp as she pulled into a parking slot of her first store. The backlit dormer and Venetian awnings were up and Lexie paused to look at the deep red storefront. She’d worked so hard, and her heart gave a little hiccup of pride. The physical store had been purposely branded with Yum Yum’s Closet online, but it looked so much richer in real life. On the dormer, “Yum Yum’s Closet” was painted in bold black letters lined in gold. It looked so fabulous tears pinched the backs of her eyes.
“Your dog is weird-looking.”
Evidently the discussion was not closed. “Yum Yum has tender feelings.” She turned off the car and unbelted herself. “She knows when you say hurtful things about her.”
Geraldine turned to Lexie. “How?”
“She is very intuitive and gets sad.”
This time Geraldine looked at Lexie as if she’d lost her mind. Coming from a woman who’d put her patch on the wrong eye, Lexie wasn’t all that bent out of shape over her opinion.
“Sorry,” Geraldine mumbled, and reached for her seat belt.
“Thank you.” The front doors of the store were open, which was always a good sign, and when Lexie got out of the car, she heard the glorious sounds of power tools. Dog in one arm and Geraldine in tow, she walked into the building. Sawdust filled the air toward the back and settled on the plastic covering the front counter and several white tables. In her four-inch pumps, Lexie picked her way toward the back, stepping over boxes of nails and parts to the shelving system. She wore a white blouse and pinstriped skirt. Whenever she met with the general contractor, she always liked to look professional. She was the Owner/President, CEO, Director of Products, and sole designer of Yum Yum Inc. She’d discove
red that people sometimes needed to be reminded that she was the boss, but of course the contractor wasn’t on scene. She spoke with the site manager instead. The crystal chandelier hadn’t arrived, nor had the freestanding wardrobe closets. The manager assured her everything would be ready for the grand opening in two and a half weeks. Looking around, Lexie wasn’t convinced.
“All this is for dog clothes?” Geraldine asked.
“Not just clothes,” she answered as they picked their way back toward the front. “Accessories, treats, bedding. Whatever a dog could possibly need, and a few things the owner hadn’t thought of needing.”
On the way back to Lexie’s apartment, they stopped off at Whole Foods and bought fresh fruits and vegetables and meat. Lexie was going to overdose Geraldine on healthy food, even if it killed her. Lexie always watched what she ate, but could always eat more veggies.
Once they were home, Lexie put away the groceries while Geraldine watched the television above the fireplace; from the sounds of it, Ellen. If Lexie leaned back just far enough, she could see Geraldine’s left hand, stroking the ponytail Lexie had put in Yum Yum’s hair. From her reaction at the pink tea and today in the car, Lexie wouldn’t have thought the woman even liked dogs.
Crazy. Crazier still, Lexie had somehow become Geraldine’s keeper again. Sean had been gone two days and his mother had moved into Lexie’s condo the night before. According to Geraldine, Sean’s apartment was too noisy and the neighbors looked at her funny, which was no doubt true.
While Geraldine watched daytime TV, Lexie worked on the fall line for Yum Yum’s Closet. She’d been inspired by the rich fabrics of the latest Beauty and the Beast movie. The one with Emma Watson. She designed everything from leashes and collars to soft bedding and cavalier vests.
Just after four, her entertainment lawyer got back to her regarding a few stipulations she wanted added to the Gettin’ Hitched reunion contract: No, she couldn’t storm out after five minutes and not return. Yes, she could refuse to answer intimate questions.
At five-thirty, Sean texted an inquiry after his mother: Has Mother driven you insane yet?
Yes, she replied. You owe me.
Within moments he texted back: What do you want?
A kiss was the first thing that popped into her head. A kiss like the one he’d given her in a downtown parking lot. Like the one she’d wanted him to give her at the pink tea as he’d looked across their hands.
Before she could answer he texted: I have a few suggestions.
She thought of a punishment commensurate with his crime. Something beneficial for her, yet miserable for him at the same time:
Pink tea at Bay View Retirement Home.
Heels for Meals marathon.
Gettin’ Hitched reunion.