“Rememberthat guy Benny I told you about?”
Inodded. “The one you met through that, uh, that app?”
“Yeah,that’s the one.” She kicked her feet up on the coffee table. “We’re going outagain.”
“Wow,”I uttered, genuinely impressed. “That’s two times. Things are getting serious,”I jabbed teasingly.
“Hey,he might be the one, Molly,” Morgan insisted with hearts in her eyes. I’d heardthat one before though. Eight times, in fact, during the short time we’d livedtogether, but I just shrugged before turning toward the bathroom.
“Ihopey’allwill be very happy together.”
“Thankyou. I’m making you one of my bridesmaids,” she replied graciously. “Oh, andhey, Molly!”
Iglanced over my shoulder. “Yeah?”
“Ify’allhappen to go to that little vegan place welike, maybe you’ll bringsomethin’ back for yourbestestroommate ever?”
Witha laugh and a shake of my head, I continued to the shower and mumbled, “Not ahigh bar to get over, Morg …”
***
It wasa gorgeous day in Red Ridge. The sun peeked between fluffy white clouds, andalthough it was humid, a gentle breeze provided a nice reprieve. I drove towardmy mother’s house with the windows down and Richard Marx blasting from thespeakers. “Endless Summer Nights” pumped my mind full of nostalgia andchildhood memories, and I pulled into the driveway longing for innocentbarbeques and firefly hunts.
“Goodgolly, Miss Molly!” Hank, my stepfather, called from the front porch as Istepped out of my car.
“Howdy,Hank.” I headed up the driveway and toward the steps.
Herocked lazily in my grandma’s old rocker and smiled up at me. “What brings you‘round these parts today?”
“Ithought I’d see if Mama wanted to come out for lunch. It’s been a while sincewe had a girls’ day. She inside?”
Henodded slowly, still giving me that kind smile of his. “She’s beenbusyin’ herself with chores all damn day. It’d be good forher to get out.” His gaze shifted toward the open screen door, before hewhispered, “And it’d be nice to get some peace and quiet around here for a fewminutes, if you’recatchin’ my drift.”
Thesound of Don Williams carried through the open windows and I laughed gently.“Oh, I think I am.”
Igave his shoulder a loving pat and headed in to find my mother, standing tiptoea stepladder, as she dragged a duster around the crown molding in the living room.She rocked her hips to the rhythm of “Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good” and sangalong with a voice that could’ve taken her far. But Mama was never one for thespotlight. She always said some people are meant to make others happy withtheir gift, while some are satisfied to hold onto it selfishly in aplacethey’re comfortable. A place to bring only themselvesand the people they love joy. And that was her.
“Hey,Mama,” I shouted over the music, and she glanced over her shoulder.
“Babygirl!” She hurried from the ladder and dropped the duster to an end table,before rushing over to me with outstretched arms. “Oh, what a lovely surpriseto see you!”
Ionly lived one town over and saw my parents nearly every other day, but onesecond away from Mama was too long for her. If I’m beingreallyhonest, it was too long for me sometimes, too.
Wemet each other with a warm hug as I asked, “Weren’t you justcleanin’ this house yesterday?”
Mamapulled away with narrowed eyes and gripped my shoulders. “Baby, what have Itold you? Dust doesn’t take a day off, and neither can I.” Then, she tipped herhead and smiled. “Well, okay. Sometimes I take a day off, but it’s usually aSunday. If the Lord could take a Sunday off, then so can I. Am I right?”
“Uh-huh.”I rolled my eyes playfully. “Well, maybe you’d like to take a break? If yourbusy schedule will allow it,” I teased, “I thought we could go out for lunch.”
“Justyou and me?” Mama eyed me warily. “Or are weinvitin’Mr. Grumpy-pants, too?”
“Hank?”
“Mm-hmm.”She pursed her lips and nodded.
“Hedidn’t seem grumpy to me.”
Shewaved a limp hand. “That’s because you’reyou,baby. But you should’ve seen him earlier. He grumbled his way out to the porchjust a little while ago,sayin’somethin’about meworkin’ too hard.”
