“That’s rather… specific.” I don’t miss her curious tone.
I shrug. “It’s been awhile, that’s all
“What I’msayin’, Dee, is that it seems you’re payin’ a particular interest in how long they’ve been gone.”
“Not really…” I say, knowing I’ve been made.
“OK, then. When are they due back?” she asks.
“Five more days.”
“There it is,” she laughs.
“Therewhatis?”
“Five days. You know exactly when they’re due back. Or maybe it’s more that you know whenTobyis due back. Am I right?”
“Sometimes it sucks that you know me so well,” I mutter under my breath.
“I think you called mebecauseyou know I know you so well. So what's on your mind, Dee? Tell Mom all about it."
“I don’t know. That’s the problem. We had a…moment.”
“You had a moment.” I can’t discern anything from her tone so I can’t tell if she’s just repeating what I said or wanting me to go on.
“Yeah. At the weddin'. I figured it was just because the day was all romantic and sweet. Weddin's always are, right? We just got swept up in it all. And after we took a break from the dance battle–"
“Wait.. there was a dance battle?”
“Oh yeah. The old grannies and this man called Gandalf who looks like he walked straight out of the pages of a Tolkien book had us all laughin’ with their break dancin’ and stuff.”
“Your life soundsfartoo excitin’ for me, Dee.”
"It's not. It's just the normal rancher life."
"With elderly dance-offs?”
“Yeah,” I reply in a ‘duh’ tone.
“Back to thismomentyou had.”
“Well, like I said, we took a break from the dance battle and ended up sittin’ down to catch our breath. It just kindahappened. Wellalmosthappened. It was like I had no control and just had to do it. I've never felt anythin' like it."
My mom lets out a soft chuckle. “Well now, that definitely sounds like some kind of moment indeed. Funnily enough, I remember the first time I went out with your Dad. I could barely keep my hands off him.”
“Mom!”
“What? It’s true. I know how it feels, that’s all,” she says. “So, tell me what happened? Did you kiss him? Although, keep in mind Iamstill your mother and don’t really wantallthe details.”
"Nothin’ happened, that’s the thing. Tobes pulled back just as we were about to kiss. He said I needed to know what it all meant before we did anythin’."
"Hmm," she says quizzically. “And how did you feel about it?”
I sigh, trying to put my swirling emotions into words. “Confused, mostly.”
“Meanin’ you wanted it to happen.”
“Yeah. But now he's been gone for weeks on ranch business and so I can't even ask him about it,” I reply. “It’s annoyingly distractin’, that’s all.”
