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“You were just tired. Yes, I know.” Meredith got up from the table and walked toward Willow. “But you should also know that a mother knows her daughter, and she knows when something is wrong. You don’t have to tell me, but I’m here for you. If you want to talk, I’m ready to listen.”
Willow’s throat clogged, but she forced a smile, pushing away everything she felt. “Thanks, Mom, I appreciate that, really.”
Meredith shook her head. “But you’re still going to keep it to yourself, huh? Even though I already know that you and Asher shared a bed last night.” She headed back to the kitchen table, leaving Willow with her mouth half open and shock rushing through her.
“Nothing happened.”I sound pathetic.“It’s like Asher said, we’re just friends. We’ve always been friends. We probably always will be friends.”
“And you’re telling me you don’t want anything else?” Sitting back down, Meredith lifted one eyebrow, but Willow couldn’t answer. A knowing smile flickered across her mom’s lips. “I thought I felt something weird going on between you. It’s that intuition I have. It’s a gift, really.” Her eyes twinkled, and she pressed one finger to her lips for a second.
Willow pulled her mouth to the side.What did she do?
“I did hope that love charm I gave you would be useful.”
Willow’s mouth fell open. “Mom! You told me that bracelet was a good luck charm!”
Her mom shrugged, clearly unconcerned. “It brought you good luck, didn’t it? Things with you and Asher moving forward?”
Shaking her head no, Willow curled one hand into a tight fist, trying to control her emotions. “Didn’t you hear what he said today? We’re just friends. I’m guessing he thought yesterday was a mistake.” The minute she said it, Willow saw she’d made a blunder. Her mom’s eyes rounded, and the gasp she let out seemed to light up the room.
“Please don’t start asking me about it.” Holding out one hand toward her mom, Willow kept the questions at bay. “Clearly, it was dumb. He didn’t want it. I mean, maybe he did at the time, but now that he’s woken up in the clear light of day, he’s realized just how awkward things would be between us. And that’s okay.”
“Willow, you listen to me. If you want more from Asher, then you need to be honest with him. I don’t know exactly what happened last night, but I can see you’re upset about it. Just talk to him. That’s the best way to sort these things out.”
I absolutely will not. I don’t think I can bear to hear him tell me that he just wants to be friends and that this was a mistake.
“I’ll think about it.” Willow smiled at Meredith. “I can see you’re busy. I’ll get out of your hair for a while.”
“It’s just for the Tomato and Rhubarb Festival tomorrow. I want to make sure I’ve got everything ready for my stall.”
“If you could use some help, I can stay.” She lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. “I don’t have to be at the camp today. I have some photos that I need to take a look at, but I can do that this evening.”Plus, it means I won’t have to talk to Asher.
Her mom blinked owlishly, looking up at Willow for a long time. Shifting slightly, Willow chewed on her lip, uncomfortable at Meredith’s scrutiny.
“I won’t say no, but only if you’re sure. I just hope you’re not trying to avoid him.”
Choosing not to answer, Willow sat down at the table. “Great, so what can I do?”
Before her mother could speak, Willow’s phone buzzed. Glancing down at it, her stomach turned over on itself when Asher’s name appeared on the screen.
“Do you want to get that?”
“It’s just a message. I can read it later.”
Reaching across the table, her mom grabbed her hand. “Go ahead and read it now. I can tell by your face who it’s from.”
I wish my stomach would stop tying itself in knots.Without even a word of protest, she tapped on her cellphone screen, and it came to life at once.
‘Hey. Do you want to get dinner together later?’
Willow stared at the screen, dry eyed but with pain shoving its way into every single sinew.
Is that really all he wants to say to me?Her heart twisted painfully, and she closed her eyes tight for a moment.
“Willow?”
The softness of Meredith’s voice was abrasive against the harsh, painful reality that she faced. “Sorry.” Willow forced a smile she did not really feel and tried to inject a joy into her voice that wasn’t really there. “The Tomato and Rhubarb Festival. What is it you need me to do?”
Please don’t ask me any questions. I don’t think I could bear it.
