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“Everything’s set,” Jason replied, pouring himself a glass of orange juice. “I had my assistant change the hotel arrangements to Thursday already as well.”
“Adjoining rooms?”
Jason smirked. “Yes, ma’am. A king for us and two queens for the kids and Nina.”
Momma turned the gas down on the stove and leaned on the counter. “Did someone say my name in regards to a trip that I have heard nothing about?”
Jason chuckled. “Uh-oh, she’s going to pull out a switch on you.”
I sighed. “Momma, I told you that we’re going to Charlotte next weekend . . . for the tournament.”
“Well, it’s not like I have any choice.”
Momma had a serious attitude and I wasn’t quite sure where it was coming from. I never liked to have adult conversations in front of the children, so I decided to drop it until later. Jason and I locked eyes—he’d also picked up on it—and he shrugged.
• • •
Momma rode with me to take Kayla and Kyle to karate class while Jason and Peter went cycling. We believed in having an active family, no matter how many other obligations we had. Even though our children had all of the latest gadgets, there was no substitute for being healthy. We kept all three kids in various sports throughout the year.
While the twins were engrossed in their instructions with fellow class members, Momma and I sat in the waiting area with other parents and grandparents.
Momma was sitting there with her arms crossed defiantly and acting like she was irritated to even be in my presence.
“Momma, what’s wrong with you?”
“Not a thing,” she replied with much sarcasm.
“Then what was that about earlier, when you implied that you didn’t have a choice about going on vacation with us? You always have the option to not go, but I thought you enjoyed spending time with the kids.”
She glared at me. “Don’t go there. My love for my grandchildren is everlasting and unconditional.”
“And what about your love for me?”
She didn’t respond.
“Really, Momma?” I turned in my seat to get a better look at her face. I was a spoiled daughter and I didn’t like her vibe. “I love you.”
“Zoe, I love you, too. You are well aware of that, but . . .”
“But?”
She took a deep breath and then glared at me. “Why did you get home way over in the morning last night?”
I opened my mouth to come up with a fast lie, but she held up her palm.
“Don’t even attempt to say that you were meeting with a client or at a showing. That’s bullshit!”
I was taken aback by Momma cursing, and so was the woman sitting in the row in front of us. She was working a Sudoku puzzle in a book and I heard her gasp. She glanced over her shoulder and then look back down as if she hadn’t heard a thing.
“I wasn’t going to say any of that,” I said.
“So where were you?”
I bit my bottom lip as she stared at me. “This is going to sound crazy, but . . .”
“But?”
“I fell asleep at the office. Yesterday was a long day and about six, after everyone had left, I laid down on the sofa in the reception area for what I thought would be only a few minutes. Next thing I knew, it was after three. I’m overworking myself. I need to slow down, but you know how ambitious I am. How passionate I am about my career. That’s the last time I’m going to lie down on that thing. It’s too damn comfortable, and . . .”
