Free Life Is A Foreign Language by Rayne E. Golay Page A

side. “So it is.” She touched her cheek briefly to Sophie’s and shut the door on her friend’s receding form.

Chapter 9  
    The phone wasn’t in its holder. Nina stood still, listening to locate the cordless. Ahh, there, on the couch in the den.
    After her hello, Danny’s throaty voice answered. “Hi Mami.”
    “Oh, Danny….”
    “Are you feeling ill? You sound strange.”
    Pressing the receiver to her ear, Nina wandered into the office. “I was just seeing a friend out and rushed to grab the phone before the answering machine kicked in. Thank you for the flowers, chéri. That was so sweet of you.”
    “Glad you received them.”
    “How’s your job?”
    “Great. The cell-phone business is booming. The good news is my team has the highest quarterly turnover, so we all received a bonus.” His voice trembled with excitement, and he cleared his throat before he resumed. “You are now talking to the Director of Sales, Europe.”
    “Danny, that’s wonderful! Congratulations! I’m so proud of you.”
    His laugh was soft. “It’s quite a challenge. But enough about me. Your publisher in New York phoned. I gave him your number in Cape Coral.”
    “Thanks. He called this afternoon, wanted to commission a book on alcoholism, but I turned him down, told him I’m writing a novel.” She paused for impact “He asked to see an outline.”
    “Great! Did you give him a definite no?”
    “For the documentary, I did. My novel is going well, I want to concentrate on that. Let’s see what he says after he’s read the outline—maybe he won’t like it.”
    “Come on, Mami, think positive. Maybe the publisher will love it.”
    Nina laughed quietly. “You’re right, I’ll think positive.” She leaned back in her chair. “I want to do other things besides write.”
    “That’s a good idea; you need to get out among people, meet new friends, have some fun.”
    Hmm … both Danny and Sophie pushing her to see people, not something she wanted to get into, at least not over the phone.
    “Have you talked to Lillian recently?” she asked to change the subject.
    “Yes, a few days ago. We talked about you. Lillian’s angry.”
    “I know. Nothing I say seems to get through to her.”
    A little twinge of caution warned Nina to be careful not to risk playing one child against the other. It wasn’t worth gambling her good relationship with Danny on the slim chance of repairing the rift with Lillian.
    “Papa asked me for your phone number and address.”
    “But he has them both.”
    “He doesn’t know you’re in Cape Coral. I wasn’t sure you wanted me to tell him.”
    “He’s playing games. Tell him I’m here, for heaven’s sake.”
    “Don’t get angry.”
    “I’m not angry with you, chéri. But I’m furious with Papa.”
    Danny’s sigh was audible. “You’re entitled, Mom.”
    “Thanks for understanding. It was good of you to call. Love you. We’ll talk soon again.”
    “Love you, too. Bye, Mami.”
    Danny’s warm voice stayed with her long after the connection was broken.
    She remained by her desk, a finger outlining the faces of her children and granddaughters in the photo, missing them a constant ache in her heart.
    Nina had kept the many years of André’s love affairs to herself, not sharing them with Lillian and Danny until she decided to leave André, and even then giving them a much edited version. Now she questioned whether she’d been wise to be so protective of them.
    Next morning Nina stood looking through the living room window, waiting for Michael to pick her up. The yard called for some attention. The mailbox, green with mildew, needed washing. She wanted to put down some colorful plants to brighten that spot. A glance across the street at Brian’s house brought a lump to her throat at the thought of Cindy’s arrival, making her restless. Nina had tried to be careful, keeping her distance from Michael, mindful not to let him too close. Despite her efforts, he had become