ITHINK EVERYONE ON THEplanet is familiar with the concept that news travels fast, bad news travels faster. Knowing it and living it are two completely different animals though. I’d experienced this plenty of times growing up in a small town. My mother was made aware of any transgression Milo and I committed long before we arrived home from school or anywhere else we might’ve caused mischief. That was before email and text messages were a thing, so you can imagine how much quicker gossip spread with modern technology. I was amazed that it took my mother until one o’clock to show up at Curious Things. She either found out about the phone call late or was biding her time. Either way, she was the first person through the door when I flipped the sign over to show that I was open for business.
“I’m surprised you’re opening the shop today,” she said, squeezing me tight enough to cut off my air supply. “Are you okay?”
“Fine,” I wheezed.
Mom pulled back and looked at me then, grinning sheepishly. She looked like she had aged ten years overnight and that broke my heart. “What did he say to you on the phone?”
“Mom, I can’t discuss it with anyone.” Elijah hadn’t said as much, but it seemed obvious to me that I needed to keep quiet about the call.
“I’m not justanyone, Maegan Miracle. I am yourmother.”
“Okay, but you have to look me in the eye and promise me that you won’t speak to anyone about this.”
“Of course,” she replied, crossing her heart with her index finger.
“I won’t repeat the specific words used, but the caller expressed that I had nothing to worry about. I guess they wanted me to know that his or her issue was with Thom, not me.”
“Why did you say ‘his or her’?” Mom asked.
“They used a voice distorter so I couldn’t tell the gender of the caller.” I didn’t share my theories with her though. I knew I could trust her to keep my confidence, but I didn’t want to betray Elijah or undermine his investigation.
“Why involve you then? What was the point of putting evidence at your place of business and home?”
I shrugged. There was no way I was going to tell her that the killer claimed to have saved me. “Maybe they were aware of my relationship with the lead detective?”
“So you’re admitting there is a relationship between the two of you?” she asked.
“There’s something going on between us, but I’m not sure what I’d label it.”
“So don’t. Labels are for clothes.” She reached over and smoothed her hand over my wayward curls. “Just be happy, Maegan. That’s all I want for you and Milo.”
“I was happy before Elijah moved to town, Mom.”
“You were content, my love, and that’s not the same thing.”
I couldn’t argue with her because she was right. Well, I could have, but it would’ve been a waste of energy that I could expend in happier ways. “I can’t believe my shop isn’t overflowing with curious customers,” I said, changing the subject.
“They’ve already been to the coffee shop this morning,” she replied wryly. “They were practically lined up down the block when I attempted to see you earlier.”
“You could’ve used the employee entrance in the back. You have a key,” I reminded her.
“I could see that you were okay and that was enough to tide me over until I could give you a proper hug.”
“Or squeeze the air out of my lungs,” I teased. “I’m good, Mom.” I looked over her shoulder and saw a tall brunette approach the door. I couldn’t contain the soft growl that rumbled out of my chest.
My mother turned to see what had upset me. “Oh, that bitch,” she said sassily right before the door opened. My mom positioned herself by my side and together we faced what was surely to be some kind of dig or insult.
“Oh my, Maegan,” Amanda said breathlessly, batting her eyelashes and covering her mouth with a trembling hand. I noticed that the diamond engagement ring she supposedly threw at Clayton was back on her left hand. “I just had to make sure you were okay. I just heard about your troubles.”
“My troubles?” I looked down at my whole, healthy body and around my pristine shop that was a huge source of pride for me. “I don’t understand what you mean.”
Amanda took a few steps closer to me, eyeing my mom warily like a person would a Rottweiler on guard. I couldn’t blame my mom’s protectiveness since thiswoman—and I used the word loosely—was the bane of my high school existence. She was downright evil before I had cancer because she saw me as competition. I missed most of my junior year while battling leukemia, but stayed on target to graduate with a private tutor. I was so self-conscious about my hair on my first day of school my senior year because the regrowth was little more than a buzz cut. I had hated wearing a wig. It didn’t feel like me, and it seemed like people stared at me anyway when I wore it, so why not be comfortable? I put on my makeup and wore my favorite new outfit, determined to have a good day no matter what. I was a warrior who beat cancer dammit.Rawr!
My positive mood had lasted only until Amanda Jacobsen spotted me in the hallway and called me GI Jane loud enough for everyone around us to hear. Amanda’s eyes glittered in delight when her comment garnered laughter from her little circle of followers, but I noticed the merriment didn’t reach some of their eyes. They were nothing more than little bleating sheep who didn’t think or act for themselves. I was determined not to let her see that her arrow had struck its target though.
“My mom said that you’ll never be able to have kids. That sucks that you won’t ever hold your own littlemiraclein your arms.” She giggled over her witty play on words. “No man wants a wife who can’t provide him children. Poor Maegan.” That’s what she started calling me, and it grated on my nerves far worse than GI Jane.
Yes, her sexist implication that women were only good for bringing children into the world sounded like something you’d expect to hear in the fifties, but it sliced me to the bone. I had overcome many hurdles the previous year, but I still hadn’t come to terms with knowing that chemotherapy had saved my life while taking away my chance to give it. I had always wanted a large family and it would never happen. Everything else seemed very small in comparison.
