“It was a definite whirlwind,” Sawyer said. “But it’s also really fun. It’s a nice counterpoint to my day job.”
“And do you hate everything you read?” Jenna asked, but one corner of her mouth twitched up, so Sawyer knew she was teasing.
“Nope. Just the romances.” She gave Jenna a wink.
“Well, that goes without saying.” Jenna drained her glass and pushed to her feet. “What do you say, Arnie?”
Arnold lifted his head and stared at her as Sawyer continued to pet him. The three of them laughed, and Sawyer gave him a pat. “Come on, buddy. Mommy’s ready to go home.”
He rolled onto his stomach, yawned, and took his time stretching.
“Oh, that’s a big stretch,” Sawyer said.
“No, really, go as slow as you want,” Jenna said with a shake of her head and a grin. “I’m not in any kind of hurry.”
Arnold pushed up to his feet, then shook himself, then yawned again, as if he completely understood that all three women were watching him.
Finally, after many more little delays, he wandered toward Jenna where she stood at the door. “Thank you so much for dinner and the wine and the conversation,” Jenna said, her gaze moving from Sawyer’s mom to Sawyer.
“I’m so glad you came.” Sawyer’s mom went in for a hug as Sawyer watched. “Let’s do it again, yeah?”
“Definitely,” Jenna said. One hand on the doorknob, she lifted the other in a wave to Sawyer. “See you in the yard,” she said with a grin.
“Or on the porch,” Sawyer added. And then both Jenna and Arnold were gone, the door closed behind them, and both Sawyer and her mom stood in silence for a moment.
“Well.” Her mom turned to look at her. “She’s lovely.”
Sawyer nodded. “She is.”
“You should ask her out.”
Sawyer snorted a laugh. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?” Her mom found her coat, slid her arms into it, and watched Sawyer’s face as she buttoned it up.
“I mean…” Sawyer waved her hands around ineffectively. “She lives next door.”
“I know. How convenient.”
She tipped her head as she stared at her mom, who seemed like she was searching for something on Sawyer’s face. She finally gave up, sighed loudly, and reached for the door handle.
“You okay to drive, Mom? You’re welcome to stay. Or I can call you an Uber.”
“No, no. I’m fine. I’ve been drinking water for the past hour. I’m good.”
“Okay. Well, thanks for dinner.” They hugged and she let her mom out, then stood in the doorway until she’d gotten into her car, started it up, and driven away into the night. Then she closed the door softly and leaned back against it.
The house was so empty now. Moments ago, it had been filled with laughter and life, and now it was silent. Barren. With a sigh, she gathered up wine glasses and took them into the kitchen. And as she washed them, her hands covered in warm, soapy water, she couldn’t help but smile as her mother’s words echoed in her head.
She’s lovely.
Well, that was certainly true. Her brain replayed her an image of Jenna laughing at something her mother had said, a big, genuine laugh that seemed to come from deep in her lungs, making her throw her head back and reveal her long column of neck, her throat…
You should ask her out.
In the history of terrible ideas, that one might take the cake.
Still…
