Although I had no idea, in retrospect, who else would’ve called me at 9 p.m. at work on a Friday night, which was Saturday afternoon inSydney.
“I was just about to leave,” I said. “What can I help you with?” Even though she and Dad had a financial planner, it didn’t stop her from asking myadvice.
Not that she necessarily listened to it, but it was one of the few things we could talk about that didn’t leave me feeling as though she was judging me in the worst possibleway.
“First,” she said, “while it’s commendable that your career is important to you, you shouldn’t be working at the office so late. Especially not on a Fridaynight.”
Said the woman who spent my childhood doing the same thing. Only difference was, she had three kids and I was completely kid-free.
I didn’t even have apet.
“I’m meeting up with friends in a few minutes,” I pointed out.I do have a social life, Mum. A social life that wasn’t all about being seen by the right people in the right places—something Mum had specialized in my entirelife.
“Good. The reason I’m calling is to inform you that my mother died.” A small amount of emotion snuck into her otherwise coolvoice.
“Nanna’s dead?” The words barely squeezed past shock and despair. I coughed to clear my throat. “What happened?” She had been fine the last time I talked toher.
“Heart attack. The funeral is onThursday.”
I bit my lip to hold back the building sob. “I’ll bethere.”
“Good.” Her voice wavered slightly. “Send me your travel information, and I’ll have Simon pick you up at theairport.”
I smiled a little at the thought of seeing my thirty-year-old brother. “Okay.” I had no idea if she’d heard my reply. She’d ended the call the moment the word had left mymouth.
My gaze fell to the small, framed photo on my desk. The woman crouched on the ground with an adorable baby wallaby cuddling a teddy bear? That was Nanna. She had found him injured and nursed him back tohealth.
The photo had been taken at Christmas, when she was full of life, her cheeks glowing, her eyes holding the mischievous light that was all Nanna. Both of us were wearing ratty denim shorts and had dirt smudged on our makeup-free faces. Surprised? I know—the complete opposite of how people in San Francisco normally sawme.
I examined my perfectly manicured French tips, then brushed my fingers along the light-gray pencil skirt and the cream-colored cashmere cardigan hugging my breasts. Nanna wouldn’t have recognized me likethis.
In San Francisco, I was more like mymother.
I shuddered at the thought—then turned off the computer, straightened my desk, and switched off the office light. Even workaholic Trent had left several hours ago, something that was new for him ever since he started dating Kelsey. I sent her a text that I was on myway.
The bar they’d picked was the furthest thing from a sports bar they could have found. The upbeat jazz music playing in the background? If I didn’t know better, I could’ve sworn Nanna had requested it especially for me. It was one of herfavorites.
I grinned at the memory of her humming it while trying to give Marcus, the baby wallaby, a bath. By the end of it, Nanna and I were soaked—Marcus, not somuch.
Kelsey and Trent were deep in conversation when I approached the table. Josh wasn’t there yet—and wouldn’t be for another few hours—but they already had drinks in front of them, and a strawberry daiquiri was sitting at one of the two empty spots.Gimme,gimme.
Kelsey glanced up and grinned. “Hey, you actually madeit.”
I laughed and the people at the next table visibly cringed. That’s right. I won the gene pool jackpot. I had beautiful, long auburn hair that looked like fire when the sunlight hit it just right. My skin was creamy and perfect—other than a splattering of freckles on my nose—and I had a great body (which I did work hard at, so there wasthat).
What I hadn’t been blessed with was a beautiful laugh like Kelsey. When she laughed, angels sang. WhenIlaughed, they burrowed their heads in the ground and prayed their agony would end quickly—or at least that the world would endsoon.
Oh, well.No one wasperfect.
But it was that one imperfect trait that turned guys off. I knew it. They knew it. So all wasgood.
It didn’t cause me to stop laughing, though. Life was too short not to laugh. Nanna had taught methat.
“Of course I made it,” I said, taking my seat. “I stayed late at the office to watch some of Josh’s game.” I took a sip of my drink. “Wow, that’s good.”Now let’s keep themcoming.
How did I meet Josh? Kelsey and Trent had hosted a dinner party a few months ago and he was invited. The two of us had hung out together as friends since then—as in, seeing-a-movie-together, Josh-helping-me-move-furniture, and I-need-a-woman’s-opinion kind of friends. Was it possible to be friends with a guy and sex not be involved? Absolutely. And unlike with some couples who invited their single friends out like a matched pair, neither Kelsey nor Trent entertained expectations that Josh and I would become acouple.
Which was a good thing because I couldn’t see it happening. Even if he was hot and my body got all tingly whenever I saw him. Josh didn’t come off as the settling-down type. Not that he needed to settle down when women were more than happy just to have sex with him—no commitmentrequired.
