AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s a four-hour drive without traffic. One doesn’t just ‘pop in’ like that. Especially on a Tuesday. And please don’t tell me Ian is taking care of Isabelle.”
“Your brother is very responsible, just like his role model.” She patted his cheek. “Grandma is staying with them so Ian doesn’t feel overwhelmed. Not that he didn’t protest that he could handle it.”
“Of course.” His kid brother had to be too grown-up, too soon. “But that’s good Gran’s there. Isabelle listens to her.”
“True.” She laughed. “I suspect deep down Ian’s relieved because at thirteen, your sister has quite the independent streak.”
“So why are you here? You clearly planned this.”
“I’m worried about you. You’ve sounded so stressed lately, between your business and music majors, work, and now this scholar thing. I needed to check on you.”
How did he ask her about how she could afford it? “What about work? How’d you get the time off?”
“It’s called vacation days,” she said with a laugh. “Even nurses get them. In fact, after you work so many double shifts in a row, they require you take some time off to recharge.”
Still. “Got this all figured out, don’t you?”
“Just because you think you have to take care of everyone, doesn’t mean I don’t get to worry about you. I’m still your mother.”
“Whatever.” He pointed toward the room’s lone chair. “Have a seat. Darren should be back soon.”
She used the chair, and he sat on the mat facing her.
“Darren is your competition, right?”
Was this why she’d come? To check out the competition? “It’s a bit complicated.”
“Complicated?”
“Well, yeah.” He diverted his gaze. “I might like him.”
“Might?”
“I do. Like him.”
Her smile glittered. “Thought so. Even over the phone I could figure something was up there. Does he like you too?”
“As I said, it’s complicated.”
She nodded. “Sleeping with the enemy can be . . . complicated.”
“What? No, we haven’t . . .” He threw up a hand, halting this conversation. “We’re not going there.”
“It’s an expression, dear, I wasn’t asking or suggesting you two had slept together.” She rolled her eyes and snorted. “What is it about children that they think we weren’t young once too?”
“Ugh. Enough.”
She chuckled.
Isaiah crossed his arms over his chest. “Anyway . . . ”
She reached over and mussed his hair. “I love you, honey.”
“How long are you here for?” he asked.
“I hope to stay until Thursday morning so I can see your rehearsal tomorrow. But I need to find a hotel I can afford. I don’t like to search for cheap hotels without asking someone in the area if they’re safe first.”
“Between Nico and me, we’ll find someplace you can stay.” They had to. His mother hadn’t seen him perform since high school. “I have to say, this is so great you did this. I miss you and Ian and Isabelle. I wish I didn’t have to stay here last summer, but . . .”
But summer jobs were hard to get in Erie, and he had a decent one here. Plus, taking summer classes helped reduce his course load during the year. But since he couldn’t afford a car, it meant he didn’t see his family.
“They miss you too. Especially your sister. Ian too, but he won’t admit it.”
Isaiah smiled. He might not tell her, but his brother told him all the time how much he missed him. His mother’s eyes darted toward the door behind him, and when he turned, Darren stood in the doorway.
“Darren.” It came out a bit more enthusiastically than intended, but he hopped up and crossed to him. “Come meet my mother.”
Without thinking, he grabbed Darren’s left hand and pulled him along. Darren squeezed back, and Isaiah’s chest burst with nervous butterflies. “Mom, Darren Gage. Darren, my mother, Jennifer Nettles.”
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Nettles.” Darren extended his right hand, but didn’t try to free the left one Isaiah kept captive. “This must be a wonderful surprise for Isaiah. He smiles every time he mentions you.”
Darren certainly knew how to turn on the charm. Isaiah may have resented it when they first met, but using it to make his mother feel good earned the guy major points.
“Please, call me Jen,” she said, shaking his hand. “Isaiah has spoken of you too, so it’s good to put a face to the name.”
Ha! Let Darren chew on that. He’d no doubt wonder what Isaiah had told her. Mom spared the tiniest glance at their hands, but otherwise didn’t pay attention.
“I hope you have a wonderful visit,” Darren said.
“I’m sure I will.”
Turning toward Isaiah, Darren still didn’t move to free himself. “Thank you for the training session. I’ll have to look into joining once soccer is finished. If you call me when you get a chance, we can reschedule our meeting.”
“What? Wait, you can’t leave.” He could, but Isaiah didn’t want him to go. There was an eight-hundred-pound gorilla in the room—and Isaiah didn’t want to leave without addressing it. “Mom and I are going to dinner. Come with us.”
