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but I respected him and was a good wife. And though he could often be distant, he was never cruel or thoughtless towards me or Brian. But Cecil made it clear that he had married me, not my son.” Lil gave me a small smile. “Actually, as marriages go, it could even be considered a good one.”
    Cecil Ramsey had never been thoughtless? What do you call separating a mother and child just to have the mother to yourself? It would be interesting to get Brian’s side of the story.
    “You see Brian and his family fairly often, though, don’t you?”
    “Oh yes, Brian and Jane, that’s my daughter-in-law, have me over for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. Jane and I get along very well, and I see my two grandchildren often—though now they are quite grown up and off with their friends most of the time.”
    “If you see Brian often, why do you think you’re not close?”
    Lil gave that some thought before answering. “It’s not that we’re estranged physically, but emotionally. He never tells me anything, not even important things. I didn’t even know he was going to marry Jane until the ring was on her finger. And I found out about him starting his own practice when I received the announcement in the mail.”
    She drank some more tea before continuing. “Brian is a dutiful son, Odelia. He makes sure I have whatever I need, even though I can easily afford just about anything. He sees that I’m cared for when I don’t feel well, and he even calls me every week to check on me. But it’s all mechanical, like it’s a job he must do and be done with. When I’m at his home, he is the picture of etiquette but barely speaks to me. Even the weekly calls are often made by Jane, even though she’s busy running her own business. She owns Sharp Design, the interior decorating company.”
    “Your daughter-in-law is Jane Sharp?” In my mind, I let loose with a big wow . Sharp Design was one of the most sought-after residential interior design companies in Southern California. Many celebrities lived in Sharp-styled homes. Rumor was, you had to make an appointment with Jane Sharp a year in advance, and even then there was no guarantee she’d accept your business. What a dynamic duo she and Dr. Eddy made. He designed bodies for the rich and famous while his wife designed their habitats.
    Lil nodded with pride. “Yes, that’s Brian’s wife. She built that business practically out of nothing, just her talent and perseverance.”
    I pushed thoughts of rooms and furniture I couldn’t afford out of my mind and went back to concentrating on the issue at hand. Listening to Lil made me think about my relationship with my father. I call Dad every week and make sure I drop by every two weeks, even though I can barely stand my stepmother, Gigi. Sometimes, I’ll admit, it does seem like a duty, but the alternative—of not having him around at all—would be painful. Sometimes we spend time alone, just Dad and me, and those times are special. Once we spent two hours at Denny’s over coffee, talking about his childhood and the grandparents I never met. The only topic that’s taboo is my mother. Greg is also very close to his parents, and we see them regularly. They love me like a daughter, and my father worships the very ground Greg rolls over.
    I knew that older people often felt neglected by their adult children, especially when they’re busy with careers and families, but that didn’t fit Lil. She had a very active life with lots of friends of her own. But maybe she was right. Maybe Brian still hadn’t forgiven her for letting Cecil send him away, or maybe she was just being overly sensitive to a naturally reticent demeanor.
    “Maybe Brian’s just not a sharer.” I hoped my words would make her feel better. “I mean, he’s a grown man, a busy one—probably thinks it might make him look weak if he told his mother everything. Does his wife complain about him being distant?”
    “Sadly, Brian