Episode 791: Complicated

“You wouldn't be interrupting me, if that's your concern,” she said to give her son the opening he obviously needed, you'd think being a grown up would make it easier to confide in a parent, but, she knew from her own experience that it wasn't the case, if anything, open, honest conversation with anyone became more challenging with age, probably, at least in part, due to thinking that by a certain point in your life you should have it all figured out, even though hardly anyone did.

“Come, sit.” She patted the sofa cushion beside her, and once he joined her, she added, “what's on your mind?”

Paul's lips parted, only to change his mind and lean forward, grabbing a glossy pamphlet from the coffee table.

“Is this about your sister?” Sarette asked, and her mouth went dry as she did so. She'd put it out there the evening of the disastrous Marques' Garden party and they hadn't spoken of it since, likely because she'd only partially put it out there. She'd wanted so badly to share the truth with someone, only to immediately wrap it up in a lie. “Did you have some questions?” Would she answer him honestly this time?

“No. I know how tough it was for you to talk about your miscarriage, you've never even told dad, so, yeah, no, I wouldn't push you to open up. I mean, if you wanted to talk, I'm here, but you don't have to, I don't have questions, there's nothing really to say other than I'm sorry that happened, and I'm sorry I never got to meet my sister.”

But you have. You've met her. You could know her now. You could be there for one another. “Oh, okay, well, that's a subject we needn't mention again then.” Sarette swallowed hard, a mix of relief and disappointment. “So what is going on?”

Rather than answer the question, he deflected by continuing to flip through the pamphlet. “You're planning another remodel?”

“I'm mulling it over,” Sarette replied, “I'm at loose ends. What I'd really like to dive into is planning a wedding.” Her daughter's, which wasn't far off, and she'd received no invitation, let alone been asked her advice on flowers or anything. So, there, at least she'd voiced her complaint out loud, even if her son would misinterpret it.

“I wish you were planning a wedding, too,” Paul mumbled.

Sarette patted his hand, pleased to finally have an idea of his problem so that perhaps she might help solve it. “Is this about that Lucy girl? I have a hard time keeping track of whether you're off or you're on.”

“So do I,” Paul confessed. “She's… We're complicated. Most of the time it doesn't seem like it's going to work out between us. I need it to work out between us.”

“What you need, Paul, is to be happy. Maybe that won't be with this Lucy, maybe it will be with someone else.”

Episode 792: I've Got A Theory