to act as a buffer.
“We need a shopping list,” Susanna said.
“Okay. Wine,” said Ginny, as she sipped from her glass out on the patio of Pressed Café, the lunch spot close to where they’d exercised. “Red and white. What else do we need?”
“Earplugs,” Nina and Susanna said in unison, an obvious reference to Ginny’s snoring. Everyone laughed, and in that moment Nina lost sight of all her troubles.
* * *
SIMON WAS all smiles when she returned home some six hours after she had left, with a car full of groceries and bags from a shopping trip to the outlets. Thanks to her paycheck, she felt comfortable to splurge a bit on herself.
“What’s gotten into you?” Nina asked, eyeing Simon suspiciously. It seemed she’d been forgiven for her choice to work out instead of pulling weeds. He was sweaty, but his pants weren’t dirty from yard work, nor were his hands.
Simon’s smile lengthened, making him look giddy as a teacher on the verge of summer break.
“I’ve got a surprise for you,” he said, “but you’ve got to put this on first.”
Reaching into the front pocket of his jeans, Simon removed a bandana that belonged to Connor.
“Um, babe. The children are home … or at least Connor is, and I’m not really into that.”
Simon looked at her curiously until it dawned on him. “No, not that,” he said. “Put it on. Trust me.”
Nina took the bandana, unnerved but mildly intrigued. She tied the fabric around her head until the bright sunshine was no more.
“Can you see?” Simon asked.
“No.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
His voice sounded closer, and then from nowhere she felt a breeze near her face. She didn’t flinch because she couldn’t see anything, but guessed the breeze had been Simon waving his hand in front of her, testing the blindfold. He took hold of her hand.
Where is Connor? Nina wondered. And what the heck is Simon up to?
“Trust me,” Simon said, his voice a bit flat and affectless, his earlier enthusiasm now undetectable.
Why? What is going on?
Nina battled back her nerves to allow him to lead her across the lawn, then up the front stairs, into the foyer, and then partway down the hall. She heard a door open, the door to the basement, and her heart revved slightly. Why down there?
“What are you doing?” she asked nervously, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he led her down, step by step, into the musty basement.
“Simon, you’re freaking me out a bit,” Nina said. She listened for other sounds, wondering again where Connor might be. Hearing nothing helpful, Nina focused on Simon’s even breathing, using it as a guide, but took no comfort from his proximity. Something felt off to her.
“Last step,” Simon said, lifting her hand as he helped guide her to the ground floor. “Follow me.”
Nina fought the urge to rip the blindfold off and advanced with trepidation, taking short steps, unsure what obstacles could be in her way or what awaited her. Maybe he and Connor had finally gotten their robot working.
As he pulled her to a gentle stop, Simon turned Nina around like she was about to play the pi?ata game. Then he came up from behind, leaning his body against hers as he fiddled with the loose knot he had tied. Putting his mouth to her ear, he whispered, “Are you ready?”
Ready for what?
Simon removed the blindfold with a flourish, allowing light to flood her eyes. As soon as her vision focused, Nina saw Connor standing there with a wrench in his hand. Next to him was a brand-new Bowflex home gym and elliptical trainer. A large area had been cleared of boxes to make room for the equipment.
“Now you don’t have to worry about getting to the gym on workdays or not being here to help with the lawn,” Simon said with a proud look on his face. “You can get all you need for your workouts right at home.”
“It’s awesome, Mom,” Connor said, demonstrating the bench press for Nina’s benefit.
“He was great at helping me put it together,” said Simon. “I went to get the aerator at Home Depot, but Walmart was next door, and, well, I had a thought. They couldn’t deliver until Monday, but luckily both boxes fit in my truck.”
“What do you think, Mom?” Connor asked. He had a proud smile, wide as a canyon.
What did she think?
The equipment had to cost thousands of dollars. Glen never would have been so thoughtful, let alone as generous. She kissed Simon tenderly on the cheek.
“I love it,” Nina said,