But never gone. Especially with her advice lingering long after we hung up.
“You should break up with your company.”
Easier said than done. I can’t just serve up theit’s not you; it’s meline. My employers are good people. How can I leave a career with great benefits when I don’t know what I want to do in my life? I’ve spent many evenings trying to figure out what my passion is, but nothing falls perfectly into place.
“None of these are right,” my mom says, unknowingly echoing my inner monologue. She’s stopped in front of a variety of sheet sets.
Slipping my phone from my pocket, I pull up the web page we consulted before coming into the store. “These are on theregistry.” I tap a slate-gray set and try to imagine my friend gravitating toward the neutral color.
“You and I both know Ginny cobbled that together when her daughter forgot. Neither Paige nor Dash are the ask-for-gifts type.” Mom passes on the boring sheets.
“Well then, what do you want to do?”
“I want to get her something withlovein it.”
The emphasis she puts on that four-letter word has me backing away, hands raised. “Sorry, Mama. I draw the line at going to an adult toy shop with you.”
“You devil!” She barks through a laugh, then chucks a pillow at me. “I can’t take you anywhere.”
“I’m not the one throwing things in the store.” With a mocking amount of carefulness, I place the pillow back on its shelf.
“You’re a bad influence.” She meanders away, smoothing her hands over the purple silk scarf wrapped around her head, as if the brief moment of immaturity might have knocked the fabric loose.
That’s Rosa Keller. One moment, the image of elegance. The next, as mischievous as a teenager.
I’ve missed her.
With the ease of travel, flights coming and going all the time, New Orleans shouldn’t feel far away. But I can’t help feeling panic that I’m missing precious time with my parents. During my childhood, they traveled all over the world, and I always went with them. Now I’m lucky if we see each other twice a year.
Sometimes, when the homesickness of missing my parents hits hard, I’ll play through one of my mother’s albums, letting her voice lull me into believing she’s by my side. But I can only ever trick myself for so long.
Just like this visit will only last for a limited string of days. The thought sends a spike of anxiety through me, and beforeexamining the urge, I cross the few feet between me and my mother and scoop her up into a hug.
“Charlie?” Her tone is half curious, half worried, and all-loving. Her strong arms wrap around me, returning the hug. “What’s wrong, baby?”
“Nothing.” I set her down and make sure a reassuring smile is in place when she sees my face. “Just missed you, is all.”
“Okay then.” Doubt sits heavy in her voice, and she cups my cheeks, the tips of her acrylics just brushing my skin as the familiar scent of cocoa butter surrounds me.
The attention brings to mind the word she said earlier.
Love.
This is love. This is what my mother wants to gift to Paige. An embrace that shows all the support and affection and hope that the Kellers have for my friend.
“I thought of a gift.”
The triumph in my voice has her lips twisting.
“You gonna share your insight with me, or do I have to guess?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” No matter how much I missed her, the urge to tease her can never be eradicated.
“You sound like your father.Isn’t it obvious?” She affects a deep voice, mocking her husband in a way she’d be just as happy to do to his face. Mom steps back, planting fists on her hips and giving me a scorcher of a scowl. “No, it’s not obvious. Tell me already.”
I pause for just a second longer for dramatic effect. “Give her a song.”
“Charlie.” My mother speaks my name with surprise that morphs into a sweet, dismissive expression. “She hears me sing all the time.”
