Worth the risk.
I clicked the green accept button again.
Next steps: get Mom to hang out with me on Wednesday night and figure out how to look fifty.
Easy.
Chapter Three
The bonusof having eclectic taste was that my fifties style dress would fit right in at an event tailored to a much older generation. I only needed to cover my hair and face. That’s what the huge sun hat in the back seat was for.
Mom came out of her large four-bedroom farmhouse in flats, a cream cardigan, and dark slacks. Her makeup was soft and subtle and she was beautiful. She was one of those best appearance forward every time she leaves the house type girls. She pulled open the door of my yellow Volkswagen Beetle and sat, placing her purse between us like she always did.
I sighed in relief.So far, so good. I peeked at her purse without being obvious, spying Mom’s phone. I’d only need a few seconds to grab it and turn on airplane mode. I couldn’t have her calling for reinforcements before I was ready.
“So, what do you need help with?” She grabbed her seat belt and buckled. Getting Mom to come help in a crisis was simple, getting her to stay after she realized the ruse would be the tricky part.
I had kept it vague on purpose, and said I really needed some extra help at the apartment. “Oh I have a few things to hang, andthen I wanted to go through my closet.” I shifted into reverse, focusing on backing out of the long gravel driveway. Her tulips were blooming, and if I ran over them, it would not put her in a good mood.
“I could have met you at the apartment.” Mom shifted in her seat. She hated “being a burden,” as she liked to put it.
“I know you could have, but I was already out and about.” I smiled at her, not lying yet. “And you are helping me, so I’m happy to pick you up.”
“You are such a sweet thing.” Her eyebrow creased. “Which is why I worry about you alone in that apartment.”
I rolled my eyes. “How is that any different from you being alone in a big farmhouse all the way out in Caldwell?”
She waved me off. “I’m older, it’s different.”
“Nope, not different. If anything, it’s worse.”
She might not still be thinking I was sweet here in twenty minutes. The Brick House was near Eagle, so at least it was in the same direction as my apartment. I drove into town and merged onto the freeway.
I switched lanes and topics. “So how’s work?”
“It’s fine. They have mandatory overtime right now.”
“How are your knees?”
“My hands have been swelling a bit and my knee keeps acting up some. I guess I can’t blame the floors on me being over fifty.” She exhaled softly. “All in all, it’s a great job with a great schedule. So I can’t complain.”
“Mom…can’t we find you a less physically demanding job?” I hated thinking of her on her feet all day, moving heavy packages around.
“Oh, I’m fine. I don’t want you worrying about me. I’m your mother and you’re my daughter, not the other way around.”
The guilt I’d felt before now sat comfortably behind my righteous cause. “I was hoping to stop at a building in Eagle and check if they have anything for the shop. Do you mind?”
Mom waved off my concern. “Oh, whatever you need, dear. I can’t believe Ivy’s baby is due next month. I’m so excited to go out and help her for a few weeks.” She turned toward me as I took the Eagle exit. “Have you talked to Ivy at all lately?”
Nope.
I hadn’t talked to her in a while. The last time we chatted she said if I spent more time dating and less “rummaging through old dirty objects,” I could be married too. She didn’t see the beauty in my store and I did not see the beauty of being married for the sake of a status symbol. If Mom knew we were fighting again, she would turn her attention to “fixing.” Space would work its magic, and Ivy and I would try again later.
Some things never change, whether we were eight or twenty-eight. We were raised in the same house by Mom, but somehow we were very different people.
“I haven’t called for a bit. I’ll try this weekend.” I lied. I needed another week at least. “I talked to Caleb last week though.” By talk I meant I’d texted him and asked if he was coming home for Mom’s birthday in a few months. For siblings, I thought we were decently close. We could eat Thanksgiving dinner without anyone throwing food. Seemed like a win to me.
Mom was always hoping we could be more like friends than siblings.
