“Wharton is a huge motivator.”
Mom folded a dishtowel and hung it over the rack to dry. “And Ryder?” She grinned.
Right. The dumb question she’d asked Mom during a vulnerable moment. “Ryder? What about him?”
“Come on, he’s the one who prompted you to ask about love, isn’t he? You cut the call short when I started to ask for more information. Granny told me he’d moved back to town and you two have been hanging out.”
“So? We had pizza, and I helped him work on an old fire tower. Hardly the romance divine.” Elizabeth got up for another glass of milk. Why did she ever bring up love with Mom? “Granny sees what she wants.”
“Come on, let me have fun with this,” Mom said. “You didn’t date in high school or college, and Ryder is an adorable boy.”
“Man,” Elizabeth corrected.
“I’m a mother. I can call him a boy.”
Elizabeth focused on a long drink of milk. “You raised me to be independent. To get educated and go out into the world. Make a difference.”
“I did. I want all that for you, but Beth, without love, your heart will never be satisfied. All the work will be meaningless.”
Elizabeth regarded Mom for a moment. Growing up, she’d always been there to challenge and encourage her. Romance never entered the picture because she was too young or too focused. But now…
“The night I called you about coming home, we went for pizza after working on the fire tower, then took a long walk around town, eating ice cream from Pop’s Yer Uncle.”
“And?” Mom said.
“He’s a good friend. I like him. We’ve known each other since ninth grade, but only during the summers.”
“You always came home with a little crush on him.” Mom wagged a finger at her. “You never said, but you talked about him enough. So I knew.”
“Now you tell me.” Elizabeth finished off her milk. “He has a job offer in Colorado. His boss at Cheatham WMA is giving him a hard time about lumber expenses.” Elizabeth paused. “In fact, Mom, I’ve seen some of his so-called invoices at work. His name is on cherry and teak purchase orders. But I can’t see any evidence of it at his house.”
“You’ve been to his house?”
Elizabeth made a face. “Yes, but only to collect the pine boards he’s using on the fire tower.”
“Did you ask him about it?” Mom opened the fridge for a Diet Coke, popped the top, and poured a glass.
“Should I? Or let him work it out with his boss?”
“Do you think he’s doing something nefarious?”
“No, I don’t. It’s just not who he is, and besides…” She set her sandwich plate and milk glass in the dishwasher. “I don’t want him to think I suspect him. That I’m not on his side. The other night…he shared some of his childhood with me. Parents always gone. Nannies coming and going. He had the flu in high school, and his mom sent him a giant teddy bear with weird, freaky eyes. He learned about family from the Dorseys.”
“I’m sad for him, but isn’t it a plus Granny and Pops were there for him? He already fits in with the family. You’d have a leg up on most couples at the start.”
“Mom.” Elizabeth snapped her fingers. “Wharton. Fortune 100. Don’t lose sight of the prize, Vanessa Dorsey. Marriage can wait.” If she married at all.
“Yes, but love…” Mom began. “When it shows up, you have to take a chance. Elizabeth, we work to make a life for love. Husband or wife, children, adorable pets, and crazy family vacations. The work is for you. Not you for the work.”
“Can I at least get started on the work before you give me this lecture?” She roped her arms around her mother’s shoulders. “Thank you for the work that gave us three dogs, two cats, one iguana, and a hamster that might still be hiding in the pantry. For the magical Christmases, the crazy vacations, our education. For sitting up with me when I was sick. For always telling me I could be whoever, whatever I wanted.”
“I’m proud of you,” Mom said. “Just don’t ignore your heart in pursuit of your head.”
They talked about Mom’s job and her plans to redo the backyard landscaping until Dad came home. He asked about evening plans and how Elizabeth was feeling.
“The virus isn’t active. But I am a bit tired.” She retreated to her room to rest while her folks decided on dinner. Curled on her bed, she searched social media for any postings from Ryder. He never posted much but?—
She sat up, smiling. He’d posted about the fire tower on Instagram.
