Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
“Come and join me.” Her mom beckoned. “I’ll pour you a glass of iced tea.”
Flo was so vivacious. She’d worked hard all her life, but she’d never seemed depressed, never complained.
Michaela sat on the little bistro chair and gratefully took the iced tea. “Thank you. Did you have a good day?”
Her mother fairly glowed in the afternoon sunshine, her smile radiant. “It was lovely. The day is so beautiful, don’t you think?” It wasn’t really a question. After a delighted sigh, Flo said, “So tell me how the boots were.”
Michaela had been sure to tell her this wasn’t a date, that she was helping Troy by trying out the new boots he wanted to carry in his stores if he could make the deal.
Michaela raised her feet and waggled the boots. “They’re so good. I forgot I had them on. Usually, as soon as I get back from a hike, I want to take off my boots.”
“That’s wonderful. And they didn’t give you blisters even though this was the first time you wore them?”
“Not one,” she said, thankful the conversation wasn’t about Troy.
“And how was the rest of the hike?”
“It was great,” she said with a casual wave of her hand. “That trail is nice. A bit of scrambling, but good. You and I should do it sometime.”
“Did Troy enjoy the special picnic you prepared?”
Okay, so now they were talking about Troy. She should never have had her mother call Susan to find out his favorite lunch. “Yes, he enjoyed the sandwich and ale.” She tried to sidetrack Flo by adding, “I’m not a beer kind of girl, but that ale was good.”
Flo said, “That’s lovely.” She added nothing more, as if waiting for Michaela to tell her the rest.
Because her mother knew there was more. She had a sixth sense that way.
Finally, Michaela couldn’t hold it in. “There was some kissing.” Some people had girlfriends they talked to, but her mother was her best friend.
And her best friend said, “Was it good kissing?”
Michaela couldn’t help a laugh. “Oh yeah. It was very good.” Then she sighed, a woebegone sound even to her own ears.
Which Flo interpreted correctly. “Honey, I know how conflicted your feelings are for this man.”
“I don’t have feelings for him,” she said quickly.
But Flo wouldn’t let her get away with that. “Sometimes the thing we think we want the least is exactly the thing we need in our lives.”
It reminded Michaela of the Rolling Stones song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” She knew her mother was saying that she might not get what she thought she wanted, but she could possibly get what she needed.
But did she need a man like Troy Harrington?
Flo reached over to squeeze her hand. “I don’t want to meddle in your love life. And I know you feel a bit messed up, but at the same time, I’ve never seen you glow like this.” When Michaela opened her mouth to tell her there was absolutely no glowing going on, Flo rode right over her. “You glow after you’re with him. He makes you feel alive, doesn’t he?”
She wanted to deny it again, but Michaela could never lie to her mother. Without saying a word, she nodded. God, he made her feel all glowy inside.
Flo still held her hand. “Regardless of how this turns out, sweetheart, everything’s going to be okay.”
Those were the comforting words Flo always used when Michaela was upset. They were like comfort food that Flo delivered whenever yet another man disappointed Michaela.
Flo stood and announced, “I feel like baking.”
Michaela knew she would make one of her favorite treats. Jumping to her feet, she threw her arms around Flo, hugging her tightly. “I love you, Mom.”
Holding her just as tightly, Flo whispered, “I love you too. All I want is to see you happy.”
Her mother was right. Everything was always okay in the end.
Maybe it would be this time too.
Troy’s Wednesday night talk with the foster kids who were aging out of the system was held at Gideon Jones’s San Francisco youth center. The facility wasn’t just for the young, but served veterans as well, with a pool, meeting rooms, and a well-equipped workout room, all catering to both the young and the older. The massive game room boasted an enormous big-screen TV for Friday night movies, along with pinball machines, pool tables, ping-pong tables, and card tables where veterans played hearts or poker or pinochle. A movie-theater-style popcorn machine scented the air with butter and salt. Next to the game room, Gideon had built a bowling alley.
After Troy spoke, the plan was for everyone to head there for bowling.
The center was nothing short of impressive.
Gideon had brought Rosie and their son Jorge, along with baby Isabella, who, Rosie told Michaela, would be a year old next month. She hadn’t started walking yet, but the little girl liked to stand holding on to a chair seat or her father’s knee. Those first steps would be coming soon.