Free Sweet Imperfection by Libby Waterford Page B

bartender, and they took seats at a corner table. “I always forget they won’t seat you until your whole party is here, so I got started on the bubbly without you.”
    “I’m glad you did. Are we celebrating something?”
    “Getting to spend three whole days with my daughter isn’t enough of an excuse? It’s been too long since you’ve been to Palo Alto, but it’s always nice to have a reason to come to New York.”
    “I gave my big presentation this afternoon, and I think it went well, so that does call for champagne.”
    They ordered, clinked glasses, and fell into rapid conversation about everything from family news to her mother’s latest initiatives at work. They ate slowly as they talked. It was hard to imagine they had so much to catch up on, considering they spoke at least a couple of times a week by phone, but, for Emma, there was no substitute for the comfort of seeing her mother in the flesh.
    When Emma’s exquisite chocolate cake and Juliette’s traditional crème brûlée had been presented with a flourish, they settled back in their chairs with an espresso for Juliette and a hot tea for Emma. Only then did Emma’s mother raise the topic of the reunion.
    “And tell me about Weston. You didn’t really share how it went.”
    Emma had glossed over the weekend when she’d spoken to her mother earlier in the week, not sure how to explain what had happened with Nate. Knowing she was going to see Juliette shortly anyway, Emma felt it was better to get her perspective in person. She’d been thinking about him all week, against her better judgment, and she needed another opinion.
    “It started off not that well. It seemed like everyone was there with their spouses and kids, and it was good to see a few of them, but, in general, I felt like all my classmates had moved on with their lives, and I was still stuck in this post-college twilight zone.”
    “Oh, honey,” Juliette said, “you were probably the most beautiful, successful woman there. I’ll bet none of them own their own homes or run entire creative departments at ad agencies.”
    Emma smiled at Juliette’s predictable defense of her daughter’s life choices.
    “Maybe not. But I wasn’t in a great place emotionally. And then I ran into an old friend.”
    Juliette’s raised eyebrows spoke volumes.
    “Nate Hirsch. You might remember him? He and I were friends during college, but we lost touch after graduation.”
    “Was he the young man with the rather large hairdo?”
    Emma laughed. “Yes. You’ll be happy to know that he’s shorn his locks and grown up quite nicely.”
    “I see,” Juliette said knowingly. She had never been squeamish about her daughter’s sex life.
    “We went to see a movie. And I thought the attraction was all one sided—I mean, we were always just friends. But then he kissed me.”
    “Go on. This crème brûlée is divine, by the way.”
    Emma helped herself to a taste and moaned her agreement. “I’m ordering that next time.”
    “So what happened?”
    “I was a little shocked. It was an amazing kiss. Almost too good, you know? I got scared, and I sent him away.”
    “Oh, dear.”
    “Of course, about five minutes later, I came to my senses and went back to his room, and we, well, we took things to a different level. Then we spent the entire next day together. We had so much fun. We have a lot in common. He’s a woodworker and offered to come look at the brownstone and give me some help with it. He’s smart and creative and so sweet and affectionate, and everything was like a dream.”
    “Sounds wonderful,” Juliette said, “but maybe too good to be true. What happened?”
    “He told me about his ex-wife. He’d been married, and he’d wanted kids—he’s so cute with kids—and she got pregnant and had an abortion. It ended their marriage, and he’s still getting over it, I think.”
    “Oh, honey,” Juliette said. She’d understand what that meant to Emma. Unfailingly supportive, she had