Her mom cups a hand next to her mouth, and whispers, “I slipped in behind another mom and her daughter.”
“Is everything okay?” Ellie asks. Her eyes are troubled.
“Yes, everything’s fine, honey. I probably should have called, but I didn’t think you’d mind, and I have a surprise.” She pauses. “Lilith has talked me into taking a Rush Advisor position with Alpha Delt. Isn’t that cool?”
Ellie wrinkles her nose. “I guess. What does that mean?”
Annie Laurie shoots straight up. “It means she’ll get to know who gets bids and who doesn’t, like, way before we do. My mom was one last year.”
Ellie rears back. “Really, Mom?”
Mrs. Woodcock nods.
“Cool.” Ellie turns to us. “This is Cali and Jasmine, by the way. Our next-door neighbors.”
Before I can say hello, Carl rears his head back, holds his palms up. “What am I? Chopped liver?”
Ellie laughs. “Sorry, Carl. And this is Carl, Jasmine’s boyfriend. This is my mom, everybody. Wilda Woodcock.”
Instead of shaking our hands, she hugs every one of us. I can tell by Mrs. Woodcock’s smile that she is warm and kind, and I love the way she’s dressed: white jeans and a long flowing top made of silk. She looks a lot like Ellie.
“How nice that y’all are already getting to know one another,” Mrs. Woodcock says. “My roommate and I became instant friends with our Martin next-door neighbors.”
“You lived here?” Jasmine asks.
“I sure did. Boy, did Lisa and I have a blast. I’d tell you some of the stories, but I wouldn’t want to embarrass my daughter.” She laughs and Ellie rolls her eyes. “Did you girls move in today?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I say.
Jasmine stands up. “Wanna see our room?”
Mrs. Woodcock claps her hands together. “I’d love to.”
“Then come on over.” With a sweeping motion of her hand Jasmine moves to the door. As we all walk back toward our room, she apologizes. “I haven’t unpacked everything yet, but Cali’s side is perfect.”
Carl says, “Jasmine here is in no hurry to do anything.”
Mrs. Woodcock lags behind, pats Jasmine’s arm. “There’s plenty of time to unpack, Jasmine, don’t you worry one bit.” Seconds later, once inside our room, she glances around with a sweet smile. “Why girls, this is lovely.”
“We’re proud of it,” Jasmine says. “Aren’t we, Cali?”
I nod. But only slightly. I was proud. Five minutes ago.
Mrs. Woodcock taps me on the shoulder. “All of you girls like the same colors.”
“Pink and gray,” I say with a halfhearted shrug. Compared to theirs, our pink and gray looks like Pepto-Bismol and elephant skin.
We haven’t been in our room five minutes when another lady pokes her head inside. She must notice us, though she doesn’t say hello. Just looks right at Ellie and Annie Laurie. “Dinnertime. Let’s go, girls.”
A mystified expression transforms Mrs. Woodcock’s face and I watch her turn around slowly toward the lady. “Lilith, meet Cali, Jasmine, and Carl.”
When I see the lady’s eyes roving around our room I have a strong feeling about whom she’s related to. “Where are my manners? Hi, I’m Mrs. Whitmore, Annie Laurie’s mom.” As she limply shakes our hands, I can’t help comparing her to Mrs. Woodcock. And I can’t help noticing the pin on her breast, or that she keeps looking at Jasmine and Carl.
“I wish we could stay and chat, but we have reservations at City Grocery in fifteen minutes.” She turns to Ellie. “Do you like my surprise? You weren’t expecting to see your mother so soon, were you?”
“No, ma’am,” Ellie responds with a coy grin.
“I guess she told you she’s the new Alpha Delt Rush Advisor?” She slips an arm through Mrs. Woodcock’s. “She’s going to be fabulous.” Then she looks at the girls. “Y’all ready?”
