I sighed. “It’s going.”
“Don’t get discouraged. You just started. If you want me to, I can put in a word for you here. I know finance ain’t your area of expertise, but we can find something for you to do around here.”
“I’ll let you know. For now, I have a few irons in the fire. Harry talked to the folks at the rec department for me. I’m waiting to see what they have available.”
“Oh, what were you saying about the twins?” my mom asked, changing the subject back to JoJo and Jase.
“I, . . . uh, saw one of them at Cam’s school and was wondering what he was doing there. Didn’t you mention that they moved to California or something?”
“They were off somewhere, out of state, working, but sometime last year, they opened a pediatric clinic in Lulaville.”
“You didn’t think that was worth mentioning?”
“Not really. One of them boys came around looking for you three or four times after you left, and you had already told methat you weren’t speaking to them anymore. That was forever ago.”
All the time I had been gone, my mom made sure to call me once a week to update me on the latest town gossip. I guess a new clinic wasn’t exactly breaking news, but one ran by my former friends might have made the cut.
“What was he doing at the school? I didn’t think either of them had kids. Every time I see their mama, she’s talking about wanting more grandchildren.”
“I’m not exactly sure. He was in the office talking to Cam.”
“Well, if he was standing right there, why in the world didn’t you ask him all these questions instead of calling me?”
“I was too busy trying to see what was going on with my son, Ma.”
“Well next time you see him, I suggest you ask him. I always thought you would marry one of them boys.”
“You see how marriage turned out for me. I’m good on that. Besides, me and the twins haven’t been on speaking terms in a long time.”
“I can understand that, but don’t close the door on marriage. So, you had a bad experience. It’s not the end of the world, baby. I know it feels like it right now, but it’s only the end if you give up. Maybe you just married the wrong man. I, honestly, have never been happier.”
“I love that for you, Mom. I also understand that one marriage is enough for me. I fought hard to save my marriage, but at the end of the day, I have to do what’s best for me and Cameron. I’m not bringing anyone else into our lives until I know he and I both are absolutely ready.”
“I can’t blame you for that, baby. I will say wait until you know you are healed before trying to move on. First you have to forgive yourself for allowing yourself to be blinded by love. Thereis nothing wrong with loving unconditionally, but if you feel like you have been harmed, that’s something you need to unpack.”
“I agree.”
“Bring my boy over here so I can give him a good talking to without you in our business.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Go ahead and bring him now. I know your butt needs a breather. Drop him off and get some Harper time.”
I laughed. My mom could be so bossy sometimes. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll bring him by on my way to the track. I’ve been going there to work out and work off some steam.”
Not that I was ready to get rid of my son, but my mom was spot on to say that I needed a break. Between the job search and running back and forth to Cameron’s school, I could use a little air and a lot of wine. If nothing else, I could get some grocery shopping out of the way without having to worry about Cam trying to pick up every single thing he saw.
It was one thing when I was being conservative because of a strict shopping list, and a whole other issue when I was having to tell my son no because we could only afford the necessities. I refused to come down here with my hand out, expecting my mama to pick up the slack. She was already doing enough by dropping Cam off at school every morning. The least I could do was make sure we had food on the table.
I made it to the grocery store with my list in hand. I had been trying to come up with a weekly menu to bring some kind of structure back to my son’s life.I grabbed a box of cereal from the shelf and tossed it in the cart before remembering that thatparticular one was Kenny’s favorite. Neither Cam nor I really liked it. It was crazy that we had been living apart for all this time, and I still had days when I forgot that we were no longer together.
I shook my head in an attempt to shake off the tears stinging my eyes and threatening to fall. As I stood on the cereal aisle, trying to decide which one to get that wasn’t overpriced and full of sugar, someone reached over my shoulder.
“Excuse me, ma. Let me grab those.”
In my situation, the last thing I needed to be thinking about was a man, but there was something about that rich baritone and his oaky cologne that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I wasn’t interested in adding anything or anyone into my life right now, but a girl could look.
I tried to be casual as I turned on my heels to face him. I tried not to blush as I let my eyes travel up to his face. When our eyes connected, I gasped, sucking the gum that I had been chewing down my windpipe in the process. I coughed, leaning forward in an attempt to keep from choking.
