Chapter 14 MJ
MJ
Rose is zeroed in on the TV. “I’m sure she is.” Her foot is out of the boot, and she’s got one flannel-covered leg propped up on the ottoman.
“I hope she’s having a good time,” I say, taking a sip from my mug of tea. “She must be having a good time, right? She’d be home by now if she wasn’t.”
“Mm-hmm,” she mumbles.
“Where do you think they went?”
Rose huffs and mutes the television. “Myra Jean, how am I supposed to find out if this delicious piece of man candy finds a wife if you won’t quit yammering?”
I pull my robe tighter around me. “Aren’t you even a little curious?”
“Of course I am, but until Lindsey gets back from her date, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
I drop my head against the back of the sofa and sigh. “You’re right.”
“Always am. It’s one of my most endearing qualities.”
“Yeah, okay.” I roll my eyes. “Are you sure you don’t want me to get you some ice for your ankle?”
“I told you, I’m fine,” she says. “The swelling has gone down a lot, and I’m getting around a lot better. I’m going back home tomorrow.”
“You don’t think it’s too soon?” I ask. “You’re welcome to stay as long as you need.”
“If I wasn’t nosy and dying to find out about Lindsey’s rendezvous with the hot firefighter, I would have left today.”
I swat her arm. “Gee, thanks.”
“Well, it’s true. I love you, and I would take a bullet for you,” she says, “but I do not want to live with you or anyone else. Why the hell do you think I’m single?”
“You do like your space.”
I’m glad Rose is feeling better but knowing she’s going home tomorrow makes my chest ache. Yes, she gets on my last nerve sometimes, but it’s been nice having her here.
“And you love having someone to take care of,” Rose says, giving June Bug a pat on the head. “You know, maybe a dog wouldn’t be the worst idea. Think we could dognap this one?”
“I don’t think her owner would appreciate that,” I say with a laugh. “Besides, I’m fine. With the business, I’m not usually home enough to warrant having a pet.”
“Just take the dog with you. This one would fit in your purse. You’d be like Paris Hilton.”
“Because Paris and I have so much in common.”
I’m about to finally give in and watch whatever ridiculous dating show Rose has on when I hear the sound of a car pulling in the driveway. The noise is enough to rouse June Bug from her slumber, and she launches into guard mode, ready to take on any intruder.
“That must be her,” I cry, bouncing to my feet with the puppy hooked under my arm, peering out the window in time to see my daughter getting out of her SUV.
“How does she look?” Rose asks.
“What do you mean? She looks like Lindsey. She looks happy.”
“How happy are we talking?” Rose continues. “Is her hair mussed up? Are her cheeks rosy from exertion?”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Rose,” I snap. “She’s a normal amount of happy.”
Before Lindsey can get the key in the lock, I fling open the door, and she yelps.
“Geez, Mom,” she says, crossing the threshold. “What were you doing? Just lying in wait for me to get home?”
“No,” I say at the same time Rose says, “Yes.”
I shoot my sister a glare before grabbing my daughter’s hand. “Come sit with us. Tell us about your date.”
She allows me to drag her to the couch, and a wiggling June Bug crawls onto her lap to give her kisses.
“How’d it go with this one?” Lindsey asks in a tone that suggests she already knows the answer.
“Fine,” I say.
Lindsey lifts her brows. “Really?”
“Of course,” I say.
“So, she was on her best behavior?” Lindsey deadpans. “A perfect angel?”
Rose snorts. “Sure, if that angel’s name is Calamity Jane.”
“Oh fine. She was a little…destructive,” I admit. “But we got on just fine, and I received your message loud and clear that I shouldn’t have meddled.”
“You did?” she asks, casting a doubtful glance at me.
“Yes,” I say, “but I’m hoping you had such a good time with Oliver that maybe a small part of you will be glad I did?”
“You probably should have stopped at ‘yes,’ Myra Jean,” Rose quips.
“You are incorrigible.” Lindsey laughs and shakes her head. “Both of you.”
“Not me,” Rose says. “I was perfectly content to sit here and find out if this rich farmer finds himself a wife.”
“But are you?” I ask, ignoring my sister. “At least a little glad?”
“I would have agreed to go out with him on my own. In my own time,” Lindsey says. “We did have fun, though.”
I squeal and squeeze her knee. “What did you do?”
She tells Rose and me about their tour through town and their evening at Chips on the Table. She even tells us the heartwarming story about how Oliver became a firefighter.
“His job does make me nervous,” Lindsey says. “But if it’s really as low-key as he said, maybe it’s not so bad.”
“I’m sure it’s not,” I say. “Just think about what happened with Rose. I bet most of the calls he goes on are like that.”
Lindsey trails her fingers along June Bug’s back. “That’s kind of how he put it—that most of the calls they get are medical.”
“So, how did you leave things?” I ask. “Are you going out with him again?”
She gives me a nonchalant shrug. “He did ask me to dinner on Wednesday night.”
“And?” Rose and I blurt in unison.
A smile spreads over her mouth. “I said yes.”
The three of us are screeching with delight, and June Bug lets out a squeaky howl to match our energy.
“Tell us the rest,” Rose insists. “Did he kiss you?”
Lindsey shakes her head, her cheeks flushing pink. “Not yet. I think he wanted to, though. And if he’d tried, I think I would have let him.”
Our squealing commences once again.
“Oh, that’s wonderful, sweetheart,” I say.
Lindsey picks at the hem of her sweater and sighs as June Bug toddles over to my lap. “There’s just something about him. Being around him makes me feel…lighter, somehow. Like I can just be silly and have fun.”
“You need that in your life,” I say. And she does.
After the loss of her father, and then her subsequent break up with Daniel, my eldest daughter retreated inside herself.
It took me a while to notice because I was so swallowed up in my own grief.
But once I waded through the thick of it, I returned to find Lindsey a little less whole.
“Yeah,” she says. “I think you’re right.” A soft meow comes from the top of the steps, and Lindsey rises from the couch. “I should check on Catrick Swayze and get some sleep. You want me to tuck in the little heathen first?”
“No, that’s okay,” I answer, stroking the silky hair of the pup's ear. “I’ve got it.”
Lindsey grins. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you actually like having her around.”
“She certainly kept me on my toes today,” I say. But I have enjoyed having her. Yes, she’s a little destructive, but she’s also a sweet little thing with a feisty personality all her own.
Rose eases onto her feet. “I suppose I should hit the hay too. I’ve got physical therapy in the morning before I head home.”
“You don’t want to find out what happens with the farmer?” I nod toward the television.
“Nah.” She gives a disinterested wave toward the show still playing silently in the background. “He’s got goofy ears, anyhow.”
We say our goodnights, and Lindsey and Rose each head off to their respective bedrooms, leaving me, June Bug, and Farmer Gary in total stillness.