AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Anyway, what I was really ringing you about was to talk about when I’ll be arriving.”
Alyssa sat bolt upright on the sofa. “Arriving?”
“Yes, I told you. I want to see the new apartment. Is there a bed in there for me yet?”
Alyssa closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the cushions. “And I told you, Mum, that I’m using that room as an office, not as a bedroom.”
“Well, it’s your place, I suppose it’s up to you. But it’s not going to be ideal for you if there’s no bed in there for me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, it’s okay for a week or two when I come there normally. But sleeping on the sofa isn’t ideal, and I know you have to work. You need to be getting a better night’s sleep than that.”
Alyssa scowled at her phone. “I don’t mind sleeping on the sofa.” It wasn’t a lie. She wasn’t thrilled about it. But it was better than setting her mum up with her own room and making her think that she’d be welcome to stay long term. “And just how long are you thinking you might stay?”
Her mum laughed. “I don’t know yet. It’s hard to say how long it will take, isn’t it?”
“How long what will take?”
“Do you not pay attention to anything I say? I told you that it’s time for me to find myself a nice, wealthy, American husband.”
Alyssa shook her head in disbelief. “I thought you were joking!”
“Why would I joke about something so important? Oh, and have you started looking into getting me a visa?”
Alyssa blew out a sigh. She couldn’t believe this. “I’m not going to hire you, Mum. That just wouldn’t work.”
“Why ever not? We talked about it already.”
“You talked about it! And I didn’t even think you were serious.”
“Alyssa.” Her voice held that wheedling note that Alyssa had grown to know and hate.
“I’m not even going to be here, anyway.” She said it before she thought about it and regretted it as soon as she had.
“What do you mean? Why, where are you going?”
Alyssa blew out a sigh. “I’m in talks with a big company. If I go there, it’ll mean that I’m working on site for quite a while.”
“What’s the company? And how long is quite a while?”
Alyssa bit down on her bottom lip. Her mom knew about her dad and Ria; she’d been staying with Alyssa when they got engaged. Her dad had invited Alyssa to be there at the party when he proposed. She’d planned to go, but her mum had fallen mysteriously ill on that day and had begged Alyssa to stay home and take care of her. She’d made the odd snide comment about them since then, but Alyssa shut her down every time she did it. She wouldn’t stand for that.
Still, she knew that if she told her mum that she was going to work at DuPont Wineries – let alone told her that she was seeing Bentley, Ria’s son, it would open up a whole new – and ugly – can of worms.
“I’m not sure, but I don’t think I can say.”
Her mum laughed. “Don’t be silly. Confidentiality clauses don’t matter when it comes to family – and I’m your mum, you can tell me.”
“I really can’t. And besides, I don’t want to.”
Her mum huffed. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately.”
Alyssa just stared at the ceiling and kept her mouth shut.
“Well, since you’re in such a funny mood, I’m going to hang up now. I’ll call you again next week and we can talk about when I’m coming over.”
“I told you, Mum, it’s not going to work at the moment.”
