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Hi, Sweetie. Call you in five minutes. I’ve got so much news.

Sinead bounced on her toes. It was her mom. She hadn’t spoken to her in months. She raced to her room, flinging herself through the door just as the call came through.

She hit the accept button and transferred the call to the main screen on the wall. “Mom! This is a lovely surprise. How are you? Where are you? What have you been doing?”

Her mom laughed and waved a hand across her face. “Slow down. Catch your breath, and I’ll tell you everything.” She had the same colored hair as Sinead, but her skin was darkly tanned and sunglasses covered her eyes.

Sinead settled in a seat and curled her feet underneath her, leaning forward so she could get a good look at her mom. “I’m so glad you called. I could do with someone to talk to.”

“Me too. Darling, this is such a heavenly place.”

“Where are you?”

“I can’t tell you where exactly. But it’s sunny and warm and has lots of sandy beaches, and the alcohol is cheap. The men are also gorgeous.”

Sinead grinned. Mom was always chasing the most gorgeous men. “Where’s Richard?”

“Oh, we had a tiff. I’m not sure I want to see him anymore.”

“I thought you liked him. You’re going to sort things out?”

“He was mean to me. I saw this beautiful ring in the store, and he refused to buy it. He said it was too expensive. Richard claims I have enough trinkets. This wasn’t a trinket. This was a declaration of his love. It goes to show just how shallow his love is.”

“You’ve split up?” Sinead liked Richard. She’d only met him a couple of times before mom married him and they went traveling. He seemed like a decent guy and treated her mom like a princess.

“He’ll have to do a serious amount of groveling if he wants to get back with me. Let’s just say I have my eyes open for an upgrade.”

“Mom, haven’t you had enough upgrades?”

“Darling! I never settle for a second-hand model. Once it gets a few dents in the fender, it loses its appeal. Richard has lost his appeal. Besides, there will be someone else. Oh, and I haven’t told you, I’ve had a little work done.”

“What now?” Mom was always having a nip and tuck or freshen up to keep her assets in peak condition.

“I’ve had the girls made bigger.”

“Another boob job?”

“The guys love them. I’ve been showing them off around the pool and have had plenty of compliments. Perhaps it’s time you had a little op to perk yours up. You must be getting saggy.”

Sinead glanced down at her chest. “They look good to me.”

“Keep an eye on the situation. You don’t want to get too saggy, or you become invisible to men.”

Sinead twisted her mouth to the side. “I hope guys like me for more than my cleavage.”

“You’re a sweet thing, but you haven’t got many other assets to work with. You focus on what you’ve got. Those looks will get you places if you work them.” Her mom peered over the top of her sunglasses. “You look tired.”

“I’m fine, and I didn’t use my looks to get my job here.”

“You have a new job?”

There was no point in hiding it any longer. “I’m a matchmaker at My Single Alien.”

“You left the bar job?”

“I never had a bar job. I just kept this quiet because I know how you feel about aliens.”

“Working behind a bar gives you access to men with money. And I bet you miss the free drinks.”