Julia paused, shocked by her mother’s weak voice. She entered the office and found her mother resting on a couch. She’d lost weight and her blusher stood out in two red circles against the paleness of her cheeks. Her long blonde hair framed her face with lank strands and the distinct gray streaks snared Julia’s attention. Her mother was vain when it came to her hair and in the past had ruthlessly dealt with any hint of gray.
“Mum, how are you?”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine or you wouldn’t be in here resting. Why didn’t you ring me?” Julia unleashed her worry with sharp words.
Her mother’s chin lifted. “I sent you a letter.”
“Mum, I live ten minutes away.”
“I wanted to tell you everything, and a letter was easier. I didn’t want to watch your expression or hear you judge me.”
“Oh, Mum.” All her childhood embarrassment and their past arguments receded, now unimportant. Her friends were right. They needed a plan, and it might be the thing to take her mind off Ryan. As soon as the divorce came through, she could move on, and meantime, she’d work on helping her mother. “Don’t worry about hiring a new manager, not when I can do the job for you.”
“I can’t ask you to give up your job. You have your own life.”
“I’ll take a leave of absence,” Julia said in a no-nonsense voice, ignoring the tiny sliver of panic struggling to slip free. Her entire life was spinning in the wrong damn direction. “Leave everything to me and you concentrate on getting better.”
