Read Online You Could Be Home by Now by Tracy Manaster - Free Book Online Page A

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    â€œThis is Emmy,” said Marvin, his voice cutting high across Ed’s. “You know, like the award? Feel like helping her get one?”
    â€œEmily Rourke.” The woman extended her hand. The coloring was off—too fair—but she had the same careful, Gallic prettiness as Veronica and that caught him right in the throat.
    â€œI know Mona a little, if that’s what you’re asking.”
    â€œWould you be willing to talk with me a bit?” Emily Rourke made it sound like she was asking for just that, a chat. No clip-on microphone, no signed releases. None of whatever else media attention entailed. She leaned in, smiling, and he—because you never get over being a sucker, never get over that hindbrain—was glad he was taller than both Marvin and Ed.
    â€œBe sure to film in black and white,” said Marvin. “Get a load of those pants.”
    Ben looked down. Your standard-issue garish golf pants, a Christmas gift from Veronica. Every year post-divorce, she sent him a new pair. Because she made a joke of the holiday, Ben did too. He sent umbrellas, knowing damn well that in Portland only out-of-towners used them.
    Ed chuckled. “We told you he was a funny guy. Hey, Ben, tell us again what brought you to The Commons.”
    Emily Rourke beamed, an on-purpose expression that worked on him despite the fact that he knew it was working on him. “The pants are fine,” she said. “I think that’s the plaid they use for my stepdaughter’s school uniform.”
    â€œI’m not sure I’d be much use to you. Mona’s my neighbor, that’s all.”
    â€œWe’ll just talk. Casual as can be, okay?”
    Casual as a person could be with a microphone threaded up his back. Ed and Marvin stood off to the side. Ben couldn’t think of a thing to say. Look at me and not the camera, Emily instructed. That should’ve been easy—decades of Ronnie bristling when he looked at pretty women and here was license to do exactly that—but it wasn’t. He saw the camera. He saw the guys. The things his ex would say about the whole scenario. Benji, you do know you’re only going along with this because those two goons wish they could, don’t you? Christ. You’d think with the divorce finalized he could get her voice out of his head. The interview started with him stating and spelling his name.
    â€œTell me a little about your life here at The Commons.”
    Golf and tennis sounded so frivolous in list form. He must have said um twenty times in the space of two sentences. “I used to be a veterinarian,” he added, because he needed gravity from somewhere, “up in Portland. I did a lot of pro bono work with service animals.”
    â€œAnd what brings you to The Commons?”
    If Marvin and Ed hadn’t been right there, beyond the camera he wasn’t supposed to be looking at, it never would have slipped out. That stupid joke they liked so much. “Well, I’m newly divorced. And without my ex, I need the HOA to tell me what to do.”
    Emily Rourke would never get far without work on her poker face, but he wasn’t her father and he wasn’t going to lecture. She recovered well, which was something. “Have you found the Homeowners’ Association intrusive?”
    â€œThat was a joke. Not even a very good one. I hope you won’t use it.”
    â€œYou’re doing fine. Can you talk a bit about the HOA? All those rules . . .”
    â€œEveryone jokes about it.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œLike you said. All those rules. It’s funny.”
    â€œFunny how?”
    â€œBecause it comes down to have a little taste, don’t be stupid, and don’t be rude.”
    â€œDo you think that applies to the Rosko situation?”
    â€œLook, I said I don’t know Mona all that well.”
    â€œYou’re doing great,” Emily repeated. The more she said