she found Lily, her aunt Maureen, and Lily’s daughter Miranda in the gathering room, Cate prepared to suit up.
“Come sit with us. We’re taking advantage of a temporary no-kid/ no-men zone.” Lily gestured her over. “Most of the youngsters are in the designated playroom, and you must’ve seen the gang out front determined to bloody each other over a football.”
“We’re prepared to offer first aid in both areas.” Maureen patted the sofa beside her. “But for the moment, we’re taking a break from ‘I had it first,’ video game central, and shouting about fouls.” She gave Cate a one-armed hug. “I haven’t had a chance to really catch up with you.”
“Not much to catch right now.”
“I can’t imagine you’ll be between projects for long, but I hope you’ll take this break to have a little fun. Some of the girls are talking spring break in Cancún. You should get in on that.”
“My Mallory’s already making her pitch.” Miranda, one of the calmest, most centered women Cate knew, continued to crochet a scarf in variegated tones of blue. She might have inherited her mother’s flame-red hair, but she maintained a kind of island of peace and tranquility.
“She graduates in May—can’t believe that. She’s aiming for Harvard. You’ll graduate this spring, too, won’t you, Cate?”
“Actually, I finished all the required courses before the break.”
“You didn’t say anything!”
Cate shrugged off Lily’s exclamation. “There’s been a lot going on.”
“Not enough to bury that. Sweets, it’s a milestone, and we need to celebrate.”
“It’s not like I’ll do the traditional march in cap and gown.”
As her tiger’s eyes softened with sorrow, Lily’s smile faded. “If that’s what you want—”
“It’s not. Really it’s not. I like having it done, you know, checked off.” To prove it, she used a finger to make a check in the air. “Done and dusted. Dad’ll get the full report and certifications after the first of the year.”
Maureen exchanged a look with Lily. “So, are you thinking college, gap year, or a hard dive into the Sullivan family business?”
Lily spoke before Cate could answer. “You can take some time. Your grades have always been stellar. You have a million possibilities and choices.”
“I’m not Harvard material.”
“Don’t devalue yourself,” Miranda said as she worked hook and wool. “You’re a bright, talented young woman. You’ve just graduated high school ahead of schedule, while working in a demanding career, doing good work building that career. And dealing with difficulties no young woman should have to face led by a criminally poor excuse for a mother who’s a stone bitch.”
She said it so smoothly, so conversationally, all without missing a stitch. At the silence, Miranda looked up. “What? Am I wrong?”
“Not in the least. I love you, Miri.”
“I love you, Mama. Don’t devalue yourself,” she told Cate again. “Too many women tend to underestimate their own worth. I learned from the master to believe in myself and work toward what I wanted in life. You should have, too.”
“Maybe a few more lessons are in order,” Lily decided. “With high school in the bag, you can come to New York and visit me. Spend a week or two.”
“I don’t want to visit you in New York.”
It didn’t come out as she’d planned, but sharp, pointed, and on the edge of angry. And she saw the shocked hurt on Lily’s face. “I don’t want to visit you in New York,” she repeated, dulling the point, but maintaining the firm. “I want to go with you to New York.”
“You . . . you lost me, sweets.”
“I want to move to New York, with you.”
“Why, now, Catey, you know I’d love to have you with me, but—”
“No, no, don’t tell me all the reasons why not. You have to listen to my reasons why.”
“Stand up,” Maureen murmured to her. “You’re vibrating. Stand up, use the energy.”
She stood up, paced a minute, got her breathing under control. “I can’t stay in L.A. I can’t go anywhere, do anything. Every time I think it’ll ease off, she comes up with something else, and they’re back outside the gates.”
This time she saw the looks exchanged. “What? What is it now?”
“She’s engaged,” Lily said flatly. “To Conrad Buster, of Buster’s Burgers.”
“B-Buster’s Burgers?” The sound that came out of Cate started as a squeak, rolled into a helpless laugh. “You’re not kidding?”
“I wonder how many Triple B’s with the magic sauce she had to scarf down to rope him in. The press is doing their share of snickering, too,” Maureen added.
Miranda hooked another stitch. “I remember