Chapter Six
“We’ll finish up our walk by your house,” Mom says to me the next morning, her breathing heavy from the exercise. “That way you won’t have any extra travel.”
Mom came up with the idea for our mother-daughter walks after her doctor told her she had high blood pressure. Dad teaches a class at Randolph College, and he leaves at six a.m. to do research or grade papers, and after that, he’s non-stop tied up with his mayoral duties for the rest of the day. Sheldon doesn’t exercise—says he’s morally against it, and Daphne is busy taking care of her kids, so that leaves me.
“Thanks, Mom.” It’s muggy out already, and I’ll definitely have to shower before I leave for work.
“So I’ve been thinking,” Mom begins.
Oh no.
“How open are you to a blind date?”
“Mom. NOT.” I pick up the pace even more, and Mom has to double her steps to keep up with me. “OPEN. At all.”
“But honey…”
“Subject closed. Kind of the way I am to a blind date. That’s my level of openness on the matter.” I hustle along, desperate for this walk to end.
We’re about a block from my house when Mom stops short.
“Oh, look!” She blinks like she’s seeing a mirage. “It’s Jenson!”
I turn to where she’s pointing. Jenson’s dressed up in a collared white shirt, black dress pants, and green tie that matches his eyes. And he’s clean-shaven. I feel momentarily self-conscious at how sweaty I am, not to mention my ratty gray sweatpants and skimpy white tank top that barely covers my stomach, but it’s too late to turn away. He’s clearly already seen us.
“Hi.” Jenson smiles as he reaches us and raises his to-go coffee cup in a salute. “You two are making me feel lazy.”
“Hi, honey.” Mom leans over to hug him. Her long black hair, that’s now going gray but tastefully dyed, nearly hits him in the face when she kisses his cheek. “Don’t you look handsome?”
I try to subtly wipe the sweat off my forehead, but Jenson’s watching me. He grins as my cheeks heat. Mom’s oblivious.
“And congratulations on the coaching position!” Mom says with enthusiasm. “Harold told me it hit the campus already. He didn’t have a clue; they really kept it quiet.”
Jenson nods. “They usually do until it’s one hundred percent certain. I’m headed there now for the formal announcement.”
“Thus the suit?” I say with a smile.
“Exactly. I’m more comfortable running around a football field, but today, I have to stand at a podium and answer questions. And I’m looking at house rentals after that, trying to find the right neighborhood for Kyle and Connor.”
“I’m sure the boys would love Olivia’s neighborhood,” Mom says. “And you’d be close to your cousin that way, Olivia. Wouldn’t that be nice?”
My voice comes out in a bare whisper. “It would.”
“It’s a great neighborhood, Nora.” Jenson glances at me.
His shirt hugs his biceps, and my eyes travel down his torso to his crotch. Realizing I’m staring, I raise my gaze to his face, and he winks at me like he knows where my mind is. In a lust-filled gutter is where.
“This neighborhood is within walking distance to everything,” Mom says. “I rather wish Harold and I had raised our kids here. Would have saved us some gas.”
I breathe out heavily. Mom notices and looks over at me. “Something wrong, honey?” she says. “You still out of breath from our workout?”
“No, Mom,” I say. “I’m good.”
“Jenson, we’re about done here. I have to give myself plenty of time to get ready for today’s luncheon with Harold. You should walk Olivia back to her house,” Mom suggests. “While she showers, you can go into her backyard and get a feel for her area from behind.”
Oh no, she did not just string that sentence together. Jenson turns his head away but not fast enough to hide his smirk.
“It’s hard sometimes to always be in the front,” Mom continues. “You can’t get a full view of everything.” Jenson’s smile is huge now. “Take advantage of Olivia’s backside, Jenson,” Mom says. “Get a look from that angle. I highly encourage it.”
