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“Scarlett?”
I instantly tensed. “Hi, Mom.”
“What are you doing out here by yourself? You’ve been awfully distant this visit.” She sat beside me. Her red hair was up in a messy bun. Her long legs stretched out in front of her, and she crossed them at the ankles and swayed her crimson western boots from side to side. For forty-nine, she looked amazing. Fit, healthy, beautiful, and happy. She lived her best life with my dad, doing what she wanted: raising kids, gardening, and riding her horse. I envied the freedom she had to be who she wanted to be.
“Just enjoying the view.” I turned my attention to the mountains in the east. Everywhere my eyes landed would be covered in snow in a couple of months. I didn’t miss Montana winters. I loved the year-round sun Southern California provided.
“Is that all? You seem different.”
I felt her watching me and furrowed my brow. “How so?” Could she tell I wasn’t a virgin anymore? I would be mortified if she could.
“Like you’re sad. Maybe heartbroken.”
“Well, my best friend did just unexpectedly die, Mom.” Although, shamefully, I hadn’t thought of Erin much the last few days. I was a horrible friend.
She took my hand. “I know, honey. I’m so sorry for your loss. What will you and Laney do about the townhouse? I don’t imagine the two of you can afford the rent without Erin.”
I sighed, shaking my head. “No, we can’t. We’ll need to look for a new roommate.”
“Or you can get a real job.”
“I have a real job. Two of them.” I whipped my hand out of hers. “I don’t need you to remind me of how much I disappoint you. I get it. I’m not perfect like you or Dad or Jessica and Melody. I don’t know about Jack since he’s gone all the time, and Abby is too young to tell what she’ll be like when she’s a teenager. But, Jesus, I’m a good person, Mom. Can’t you see that? My job shouldn’t matter.” Tears burned behind my eyes. I’d never talked to my mother like this before.
Mom blinked rapidly. I could tell she was holding her tongue. She’d likely tell my father about my outburst and then tag-team me later. It’d be a one-to two-hour lecture I’d have to endure, all because of my big mouth.
“Scarlett, I’m so sorry. I had no idea you felt this way.”
Wait, what? She was apologizing?
“You’re an adult. Nothing your dad and I say matters. We just want what’s best for all of our children. I’m sorry if you feel like you’ve disappointed us.”
“Haven’t I though? I’m not using the degree you made me get and paid for. I’m not going to church or living in Montana. I work in a trendy club serving alcohol at night and teach dance during the day. I’m scraping by, and I love it all.”
“It’s true, we’re not thrilled you work in a bar, but I’ve always known how much you love children and dancing. It’s no surprise to us you’re a dance teacher. But you could be a dance instructor here, and you wouldn’t be scraping by. Then you could settle down. Find a good man and have a family. Don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind about children.”
“I haven’t.”
She retook my hand. “We miss you, Scarlett. I would love it if you considered moving back home.”
“My life is in California. Laney is there. And Le—” I snapped my mouth shut.
“Who’s Lee?” Her eyes twinkled with intrigue. “Do you have a boyfriend you’re keeping a secret?”
“No.” It made no sense to lie to her. She’d never meet Leo. But it would help me if I could talk about him… leaving out the sex part and his many conquests, of course. “He’s just a guy I recently met. It’s nothing. We’re nothing alike.”
“Opposites attract, you know.”
“No, we’re like really, really different.”
“And yet, you’re attracted to him.”
“Of course I am, he’s like a Greek god. He can’t possibly be human for as perfect and beautiful he is.”Whoa, Scar. Dial it back. You’re gushing over Leo to Mom.
A girly giggle bubbled out of her. “You sound enraptured. I’ve never heard you talk like this about any young man.”
“I guess none of them were worth mentioning.”
“So tell me more about this Lee. What’s he do for a living? Does he go to church?”
