say about Heather, ‘Bible in one hand, vodka bottle in the other.’ Good men like women who are spiritual, but they can still be amused by a pro-series party girl. With Heather, they get both in one package. But I guess the package gets tiresome, because she gets as far as the engagement party, but she never makes it to the altar.” Elizabeth rubbed at a dim spot on her china coffee cup and shook her head. “She may know how to work it,” she added, “but she’s about as pretty as homemade soap.”
Amanda couldn’t help but smile. “Is it true that she kept the rings from each of the men she’s been engaged to?” she asked. It wasn’t in her nature to inquire into other people’s private business, but there was something so pleasant about sitting with her mom and chatting, having an amiable conversation for the first time in longer than Amanda could recall. God’ll forgive me, I hope, she told herself.
“She cashed in the first couple of rings,” Elizabeth said conspiratorially, “and I think she lived off the proceeds for a few years. Somehow she really gets guys to pony up when it’s time to go to the jeweler.”
Amanda nodded. “That rock on her finger I saw today was pretty incredible.”
Elizabeth grinned. “You mean Ira?”
Both women laughed. “I’ve met Ira,” Elizabeth said. “He’s a pretty impressive guy, isn’t he?”
“Yeah, but I swear, Mom, I’m not tryin’ to be ugly—putting a ring like that on Heather’s finger is like puttin’ perfume on a pig! I mean, what are these guys thinking?”
“It’s not ugly, it’s true!”
They laughed again.
Then Elizabeth turned quiet, as if someone might be eavesdropping. “You know she’s got a problem with diet pills. She’s always running off to some doctor or other to get another prescription. I hear she’s got like six different doctors writing scrips. Of course, the fact that she drinks like a fish on top of the diet pills only adds color to all her reported ‘episodes.’ ”
“I think she mentioned she had a doctor’s appointment today,” Amanda said with a nod. Suddenly she thought of something off-topic. “Mom, that black Mercedes in the driveway—you didn’t tell me you were thinking about a new car.”
“I wasn’t. It’s actually for you.” Elizabeth’s tone betrayed a sense of wonder. “I wondered when we were going to get around to this subject. Is there something you’d like to tell me?”
“What? No! For me? What do you mean it’s for me?”
“Some young man from the dealer came and dropped it off while you were out. Said it was a welcome-home gift for you.”
Amanda’s jaw dropped. “A Maybach? That’s quite a welcome-home gift. Who could it possibly be from?” she murmured.
“There was a card,” Elizabeth said, sauntering into the living room to get it.
Amanda sat there, amazed. A car? For me? A welcome-home gift? Her first thought was that her ex might have given it to her as a way of saying “no hard feelings,” but that made no sense. There were plenty of hard feelings—enough to last a lifetime.
Coming back into the kitchen, Elizabeth handed her an envelope, which Amanda tore open. The card read: “I heard it would be a while before your car was shipped from California. Welcome home. Let’s celebrate at Al’s at 7:30.”
The card was unsigned.
Elizabeth looked expectantly at Amanda, waiting for an explanation of the mystery suitor’s identity.
Amanda shook her head slowly. “I didn’t know that anybody even knew I was back in town. But after today’s Bible study, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”
“Somebody out there knows and likes you,” her mother said, her tone tart again. “And judging by that car outside, a lot.”
“I guess.”
“Looks like Gigi’s going to be babysitting tonight,” Elizabeth said, putting on a martyr’s face.
“Looks like you are!” Amanda said, getting up to go back outside. She wanted to get a second look at that
Amanda couldn’t help but smile. “Is it true that she kept the rings from each of the men she’s been engaged to?” she asked. It wasn’t in her nature to inquire into other people’s private business, but there was something so pleasant about sitting with her mom and chatting, having an amiable conversation for the first time in longer than Amanda could recall. God’ll forgive me, I hope, she told herself.
“She cashed in the first couple of rings,” Elizabeth said conspiratorially, “and I think she lived off the proceeds for a few years. Somehow she really gets guys to pony up when it’s time to go to the jeweler.”
Amanda nodded. “That rock on her finger I saw today was pretty incredible.”
Elizabeth grinned. “You mean Ira?”
Both women laughed. “I’ve met Ira,” Elizabeth said. “He’s a pretty impressive guy, isn’t he?”
“Yeah, but I swear, Mom, I’m not tryin’ to be ugly—putting a ring like that on Heather’s finger is like puttin’ perfume on a pig! I mean, what are these guys thinking?”
“It’s not ugly, it’s true!”
They laughed again.
Then Elizabeth turned quiet, as if someone might be eavesdropping. “You know she’s got a problem with diet pills. She’s always running off to some doctor or other to get another prescription. I hear she’s got like six different doctors writing scrips. Of course, the fact that she drinks like a fish on top of the diet pills only adds color to all her reported ‘episodes.’ ”
“I think she mentioned she had a doctor’s appointment today,” Amanda said with a nod. Suddenly she thought of something off-topic. “Mom, that black Mercedes in the driveway—you didn’t tell me you were thinking about a new car.”
“I wasn’t. It’s actually for you.” Elizabeth’s tone betrayed a sense of wonder. “I wondered when we were going to get around to this subject. Is there something you’d like to tell me?”
“What? No! For me? What do you mean it’s for me?”
“Some young man from the dealer came and dropped it off while you were out. Said it was a welcome-home gift for you.”
Amanda’s jaw dropped. “A Maybach? That’s quite a welcome-home gift. Who could it possibly be from?” she murmured.
“There was a card,” Elizabeth said, sauntering into the living room to get it.
Amanda sat there, amazed. A car? For me? A welcome-home gift? Her first thought was that her ex might have given it to her as a way of saying “no hard feelings,” but that made no sense. There were plenty of hard feelings—enough to last a lifetime.
Coming back into the kitchen, Elizabeth handed her an envelope, which Amanda tore open. The card read: “I heard it would be a while before your car was shipped from California. Welcome home. Let’s celebrate at Al’s at 7:30.”
The card was unsigned.
Elizabeth looked expectantly at Amanda, waiting for an explanation of the mystery suitor’s identity.
Amanda shook her head slowly. “I didn’t know that anybody even knew I was back in town. But after today’s Bible study, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”
“Somebody out there knows and likes you,” her mother said, her tone tart again. “And judging by that car outside, a lot.”
“I guess.”
“Looks like Gigi’s going to be babysitting tonight,” Elizabeth said, putting on a martyr’s face.
“Looks like you are!” Amanda said, getting up to go back outside. She wanted to get a second look at that
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