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“That’s actually pretty nice,” Zoe confirmed. “And it’s the elementary school colors. I think that’d be pretty perfect.”
“I like it too,” Rex said, excitedly. “My new room is going to be so cool. I wonder if the other kids at school have an accent wall.”
No kid at that school would know what an accent wall was. But I knew Rex would be delighted to explain it to them. Zoe chose a warm beige for the other three walls and picked up some rollers, drop cloths, and brushes. I helped her load everything into her car.
“So, I can come over around noon tomorrow and help you get started with this if you want,” I told her. “I’ve got to check in on a few sites in the morning, but I’ll come over right after that. I think we can knock this out in a couple of hours.”
That garnered another eyebrow raise from Zoe.
“What?” I wondered.
“Pinball with my kid and a trip to the hardware store on a Friday night and painting your neighbor lady’s house on a Saturday,” she mused.
“I get it. It’s too much.”
“No, it’s not. I mean… I just… this wasn’t what I expected from you, Carter.”
“Yeah. This isn’t what I expected from me either.”
Nine
Zoe
“What are you watching?” I asked Rex. I set a plate of scrambled eggs and fruit down on the coffee table for him. I glanced at the TV screen. I knew better than to expect cartoons or kids shows from Rex. But this was an odd choice, even for him.
“It’s a documentary on retail stores, Mom,” he explained. “And how they manipulate you into buying more than you really need. Sometimes even things that you don’t want. It’s fascinating.”
“That’s wonderful, honey. Be sure to eat your breakfast.”
He nodded and picked up his plate, his eyes never leaving the screen.
“Is Carter coming over today to help us paint?” he asked. “He said he would.”
“He did,” I said, delicately, not committing to an answer. Rex talked about Carter and Elias a lot after we got home, almost like he’d made two new best friends. It was sweet, but I doubted that Carter would really follow through. “But, you know… Carter…”
The doorbell rang. I looked at my phone and it said that it was around eight thirty in the morning, which was far earlier than Carter offered to be here.
“Is that him?” Rex wondered.
“Only one way to find out.”
But as I made my way to the door, I saw a familiar car parked in front of the condo. I quickly ran my fingers through my hair and smoothed it behind my ears. I hated that I was still in my pajamas, but if I ran off to change, I’d leave her waiting at the door. And if I let Rex answer the door on his own, all hell would rain down on me.
“Come on, Zoe. Woman up and get through this,” I muttered, summoning the almighty Beyonce for strength and opened the door.
“Hello, Zoe.”
“Hi, Mom.”
She looked as prim and put-together as always in her sweater set and pearls. Yes, pearls. Even on a Saturday. Her hair was neatly woven into a French braid and she carried a large leather handbag.
“Don’t you look… comfortable,” she said, pursing her lips into a smile, taking in my open bathrobe, tee shirt, and pajama shorts.
“I didn’t know you were coming,” I told her. “I don’t generally expect company before…”
“Noon?”
“Try nine, Mom,” I said, crossing my arms over my body, covering as much of my exposed stomach as possible. “Especially without calling first.”
