I don’t know what to make of that.
I also don’t know what to make of the relief I felt that the scorecard didn’t end up wet in the stream situation. Don’t tell anyone, but I didn’t recycle it when we got back to Daisy’s. I tucked it into the frame behind my family photo. I’m not entirely sure why.
“Promise you’ll take care of yourself. I don’t want you pushing too hard and making yourself worse.” My mom sounds stern.
“I promise if you promise.” I sneeze and pinch the bridge of my nose.Ugh. My head is like a bowling ball right now, and sneezing makes it ten times worse because it’s like my brain rattles around and sends zips of pain to every corner of my body in the process. “How’s the numbness today?”
I try to focus on my mom so I don’t think about my own misery. Besides, I have nothing to complain about in comparison. She’s been dealing with tingling and numbness in her legs the past week, so instead of using her walker, she’s been forced to use her wheelchair when she goes out. She hates that.
Still, the only sign I see of her struggle is a slight wrinkle across the middle of her forehead. “I’m managing. Dad and Jo are hovering like helicopters. I wish it didn’t have to be like this, but here we are. I’m trying to ride this spell out and hope it improves sooner rather than later.”
“I hope so too.”
My mom smiles at me, but it wobblesslightly.
“Hey. Are you really okay, Mom? Do you want me to come home?”
She waves me off. “Absolutely not. I’mfine. Sometimes it catches up with me. But I’m good. I promise.”
I study her, trying to focus in spite of the congestion that’s making it difficult for me to breathe. “You know it’s okay to admit that you’re not okay.”
“I know. I know. But Iamokay.”
I twist my lips. “I believe you.” A car door slams, and I glance up to see Holland pocketing his key. He waves and starts walking in my direction. “I’ve got to go. Holland is here.”
“Oh!” My mom immediately brightens. Can I say hello?”
Usually, I’d say absolutely not. I’m already mixing enough of my personal life with my work life at the moment. But I can’t stand seeing her so dejected. If talking to Holland helps, then it’s the least I can do.
“Hey.” Holland makes it to my side.
I keep my phone facing me but look at him over the top of it. “I’m talking to my mom. She’s hoping to say hi. Is that okay?”
Holland’s eyes widen, and his mouth opens into a smile. It’s full and earnest. “Of course. You don’t even have to ask.”
I pivot so he and I are standing side by side. He leans in, and even though my nose is all stuffed up, I catch a whiff of him. He smells like elevated grass. It’s like a mixture of the scent of a golf course and fresh herbs. It’s clean and distracting. I turn my attention to where my mom is peppering him with questions about the show, trying not to dwell on my proximity to Holland and how he’s affecting my senses.
“I can’t wait to watch you,” my mom says. “How’s it going? Is it working?”
Holland side-eyes me, and I can’t quite figure out what’s with his look. It’s at once penetrating and pensive. I don’t have the brain power to anaylze it any more than that right now. He looksback at my mom and shrugs. “Tough to say, at this point. All the women are very impressive. And beautiful.”
“And the dates? Are you doing fun things? I’m excited to get to see more of Cashmere Cove when the show comes on. Mal has been telling us about how gorgeous it is there.”
“It is. We’re doing a circuit of all the local landmarks. Did she tell you about mini-golfing yesterday?”
My mom scowls at me over the phone. “She did not.”
“We ended up taking a dip in the stream that runs through the course—unintentionally.”
“Mal!” my mom chides. “I’m sure that didn’t help your cold.”
Holland snaps his gaze to me. “You’re sick?”
I shake my head and then stop becauseoww. “I’m fine.”
“She feels like she got run over by a truck,” my mom supplies. “If she were here, I’d be tucking her into bed and making her some chicken noodle soup. It’s her comfort meal of choice.”
“Okay, Mom.” I swing the phone back so I’m in the frame alone. “We’re going to go. We have to get to practice.”
