Chapter Twelve
It had only been thirty minutes since Mimi had left Kara’s apartment, but already Mimi had chewed her fingernails down to nubs. Kara was ignoring her and it was her own damn fault.
She held her Blackberry in her hand, finger poised, ready to text.
She had to tell Kara she was sorry. She pecked at the keyboard.
Hi honey. I’m sorry about Ted. She thought about her husband finding the message, deleted Ted and typed, yesterday.
Let’s have lunch? I need to talk to you.
I promise, no Daryl talk. She added a smiley face for good measure.
She pressed Send, then headed toward her car.
She’d volunteer at the library today. She had to do something to keep her mind off being ignored by her daughter.
Mimi liked the women she volunteered with, and loved the flexibility of being able to show up when it suited her rather than maintaining a set schedule.
As she drove past the local garage, she stopped in to see if Kara had picked up her car yet. She hadn’t. Kara must be tired, Mimi reasoned. Maybe that was why she hadn’t heard from her. The thought eased Mimi’s mind.
“You’re in today.”
Charlene’s voice never failed to bring a smile to Mimi’s lips.
Charlene was her best friend, and had been since they’d met in middle school, a hundred years ago.
Her face may have aged, but the light in her blue eyes still danced and she’d adjusted her flowing locks to a flattering dark chestnut bob.
It didn’t matter that Charlene had become thicker around the middle while Mimi remained as slight as she’d been as a girl.
Mimi still felt that the complicated path of her life had marred her looks.
She reached up and touched her own dull, shoulder length, brown hair, wondering if the stress in her life was as evident to others as it felt to her.
Mimi still carried guilt from losing touch with Charlene when she’d married Al and moved to Clear Springs.
Charlene’s generosity, when she’d come back, child in tow, had brought Mimi to tears.
Mimi smiled up at her from behind the stack of books she was reshelving.
“Yeah, I needed the break.”
“Funny how we turn to work as our break from life, isn’t it?” Charlene leaned against the bookcase. “My feet are just killing me today. How are you doing? How’s Kara?”
Mimi’s smile faded, taking with it the puffs of pink on her high cheekbones. “Oh, fine,” she lied.
There was no pulling the wool over Charlene’s eyes. “Mm-hm. Let it out, hon. I’m here for ya’.”
Mimi set the book she was holding down on the stack.
“What is it? Daryl again or dying to get out of this little town?”
Mimi swallowed. “Neither.”
Charlene put a hand on Mimi’s forearm. “What is it, Marylou?”
Hearing her given name brought forth the tears that she’d been holding back. No one else called Mimi by her given name—she’d never let them.
Mimi inhaled, wiped her eyes, then blew her breath out slowly. “I think I’ve lost her.”
“Oh, Mim. Don’t even think that way. You couldn’t lose that girl if you wanted to. You two are thick as thieves.”
Mimi wiped her eyes, shook her head.
“Sure you are. You talk five times a day.” She waved her hand in the air.
“That’s just because I pester her, not because she wants to talk to me. I didn’t see that before. But now—”
“Now you have a daughter who is an emotional mess. She’s just been separated, moved in with you and Ted—and you know how well that went over—she moved into an apartment, she’s going to school, and all she’s ever wanted was to leave this town.
How can she not be a little frustrated and distant?
” Charlene reached out and hugged Mimi’s small body against her ample bosom.
“Do you think?” Mimi wanted to believe her. She clung to Charlene’s words like a lifeline.
“Of course.” Charlene laughed. “She’s like a teenager again, all full of get-me-outta-here and I-can-make-it-on-my-own. You just have to ignore that rebellion and be there for her when she comes crawling back again. Trust me, I’ve been through it.”
“I remember.” Mimi smiled at the memory of Charlene’s grown son, and the way he used to stomp around the house like an angry gorilla.
“I went by her apartment and she didn’t answer the door.
She isn’t answering my texts. It’s like she’s making a statement.
” Mimi covered her face with her hands, and when she dropped them, there was understanding in her eyes.
“You know,” she lowered her voice, “I’ve been waiting for this. ”
“Oh, come on, Mim. Now you’re just being dramatic.” Charlene laughed again.
“No, I’m not. Really, I’ve known how much she’s disliked Ted, and I also know how much she mistrusts men. I should have straightened that out long ago.”
Charlene sat beside Mimi. “Al’s leaving wasn’t your fault, and honestly,” she hesitated, “I’m not sure any kid would get over their father abandoning them. I’m not sure you could have done anything to alleviate her fears.”
Mimi longed to tell Charlene the truth, but when she’d moved to town so many years ago, she’d made the decision to leave the ugliness behind.
She’d trust Charlene with her life, but Williamsport was a very small town, and she hadn’t been willing to hand over their past when it could affect the life she’d worked so hard to build for her and Kara.
“I think she was wrong about Daryl. I don’t think he lied to her at all. ”
Charlene cocked her head, lifted an eyebrow.
“Really,” Mimi said. “I mean, this is a small town, wouldn’t we have heard something?”
“Maybe, yes, but not always. Heck, we didn’t find out about old Harvey Pullmaker until his affair had gone on for three years. People are sneaky.”
“Oh, Charlene.” Mimi sat back in her chair and sighed. “What am I gonna do? If I lose Kara, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
“She’s not going anywhere. Listen, that girl is tied to you like the umbilical cord was never cut, regardless of how she acts these days.”
Mimi smiled.
“Give it until noon. If you don’t hear from her, then go bang on her door and demand your mama time.”
Mimi looked at her watch. It was nine a.m. “She has class today. Maybe I’ll swing by and try to meet her in the parking lot. I just need to touch base with her. I think I need to apologize, or at least hug her.”
Charlene rested her hand on Mimi’s forearm. “You do that, doll. It’ll make you feel better.”