Chapter 58
A fter their private jet took off, leaving the Isle of Skye, the Gulfstream G800 muscled its way through pouring rain, turbulence, and was soon soaring above the clouds.
Maureen got on her phone and called the TV network. “I’m sorry, but your show’s been cancelled,” an executive said. Sure enough they had given her the boot before she even got home. “You understand, don’t you?” he said. “We wish you well.”
“Not a problem.” Maureen felt as though she was starting a new beginning. A reinvigorated marriage, a child on the way, and a new career.
“I have other plans,” Maureen told him. New and better plans. “I was going to hand in my resignation anyway.” No need to mention her pregnancy or book deal yet.
Her new agent, Lucinda Lastrange, who represented only clients with star-studded potential, was delighted to take Maureen on. “Once your baby’s born and your book is planned out, we’ll take you to new heights,” Lucinda assured her on their initial phone conversation. The sky’s your limit.”
Now for possibly the toughest conversation with her daughter, who sat next to her peering out the window. “You and I need to talk,” she said to Amanda. “I’ve got exciting news. Unless I am mistaken, you’re soon to have a baby brother or sister.”
“I’d be okay with it.” Amanda kept her seatbelt fastened. “I hope it’s a girl. No, a baby brother might be fun.”
“I’ll be working from home from now on.”
“To keep a better eye on me?” Amanda rolled her eyes in the way that always aggravated Maureen. “Or an excuse to fire Lydia?”
Maureen was onto her daughter’s scare tactics. “No, to spend more time together. In fact, Lydia gave me notice yesterday. She wants to move home to her family in Lancaster County. She suggested I hire her friend, but I said, ‘No thanks, I want to be a stay-at-home mom.’”
“So you can spy on me?” Amanda’s voice was laced with sarcasm.
“No, I want to spend more time with you. I enjoyed our time together. I realized I wasted years.” Maureen was speaking from her heart. “In the blink of an eye, you’ll be flying off to college, and then the world is your oyster.” Community college might be a better goal, but no need to mention her predictions.
“I don’t like oysters, and you know it. Don’t you know anything about me?”
“Probably not as much as Lydia does, and it’s no one’s fault but my own. I only hope I can help you with your homework as well as Lydia did.” It wouldn’t hurt Maureen to expand her own education. “At one time I was a good student, but that was a long time ago.”
“Whatever. If you say so.”
“I do say so. I’m still your mother.” Maureen would not be her daughter’s pushover anymore.