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When they arrived at camp, Mia waited with her luggage in front of her cottage and ran toward them as soon as they left the SUV. Matt would swear that she gave him the same warm hug she gave her mother.
“I missed you so much,” she kept repeating as the security guards loaded her luggage into the back of the SUV.
“You two sit in the back and chat,” Matt suggested.
“But I want to chat with you, too,” Mia protested.
“Don’t worry, I’ll hear you in the front.” He chuckled, knowing that once she started telling her stories, there wouldn’t be any way to stop her, and he would need coffee or something stronger when he arrived home.
Half an hour later, he congratulated himself for insisting they sit in the back. All excited about her vacation, Mia hadn’t stopped babbling and laughing. She’d already related the first month’s activities in detail, swimming in the pool and pond, riding and brushing her old horse, Ginger, running in the fields, and so much more.
“I’m glad you had such a great time,” her mother managed to say when the girl stopped to catch up her breath.
“Wait, I didn’t tell you about our late night chats with the girls in my cottage. Emily, the girl from my school, started talking about her boyfriend and the others followed. The five of them were only too happy to exchange stories about their boyfriends.”
“I hope you didn’t fall into that trap,” her mother said, her voice suddenly anxious.
“I wasn’t going to let Emily think I’m an idiot who can’t find myself a boyfriend.”
“Honey, having a boyfriend is not an achievement. Especially not at your age,” Brenda explained.
“A boyfriend is important, Mom.Especiallyat my age.”
“Okay, so you told them about Cody?”
“Yes.” Heryesresonated proudly in the car.
“You felt better about it?”
“Oh, yes, especially when they started comparing their attributes.”
“What attributes?” Matt couldn’t help blurting.
“Well, you know.”
In the rearview mirror, Matt saw the girl cringe. “The things they say to their girlfriends, the way they kiss, their skills… Huh…things like that.”
“Are you crazy?” Brenda lamented. “If Cody hears about it, he won’t like it.”
“How would he hear about it? They don’t know him.”
“Ever heard about phone, Facebook, Twitter, and others?”
“Your mom is right. If the girls in my time analyzed myskillsand discussed them, I’d have been so humiliated I’d never have spoken to the big-mouth who gossiped. You’d better tell Cody what you said, good or bad, before he hears it from someone else and resents you.”
“You think so?” Mia frowned and seemed to be thinking hard. “Okay, I will.”
When Matt pulled into their driveway, Mia grabbed her carry on and ran into the house, her phone in hand. He and Brenda followed, toting the trunk and suitcases.
“Wow, look at the kitchen,” Mia squealed. “Great job, Mom. I love it.”
“Did you notice…”
Dropping her carry on in the hallway, Mia ran down the stairs to the basement. “Be back soon.”
“I can’t believe it.” Brenda blew out a frustrated breath.
Matt chuckled. “I thought you were used to it by now.”
