Her Mother's Daughter by Lesley Crewe Page A

long, you’ll tell me I should change my hair and quit my job and criticize the way I’ve raised Ashley.”
    â€œThat’s not true, Bay. I haven’t come here to do anything but introduce myself to your family and spend some time with you.”
    â€œWhere were you last summer? That’s when I needed you.”
    â€œI’m sorry I wasn’t here.”
    â€œSo am I.” Bay turned around and ran downstairs. She was going out into the garden but had to stop in the kitchen because there was a pot boiling over and smoke coming out of the stove. “Oh, for the love of…”
    The smoke alarm went off and Merlin howled just as Ashley and Matt came through the door. Chaos reigned for a few moments, as Bay ran to the back door with a flaming pan of lasagna. Ashley took a tea towel and waved it under the alarm while Matt flapped the front door back and forth.
    When the noise stopped, Ashley gushed over the furniture arrangement. “I love it. Look at this place. It’s so cool.”
    The sisters reappeared at the same time at either end of the kitchen.
    â€œDon’t you love what Tansy did with the living room, Mom?”
    â€œOh yes, I love it.” She put the casserole on top of the stove.
    â€œIs supper ruined?” Tansy asked. “I’ll go and get us something else, if you like.”
    â€œNo. I’ll go.” Bay grabbed her wallet off the counter and left the house.
    Ashley crooked her thumb at the back door. “What’s up with her?”
    â€œNothing. Come and tell me about your day.”
    When Bay came back with a pizza, everyone was in the kitchen. Tansy and Ashley were talking a mile a minute, while Matt sat back with a grin on his face. Bay took a deep breath before she placed the pizza on the table.
    â€œEat up, everyone.”
    Matt looked up at her. “Thank you.”
    The other two smiled but continued to talk, so Bay got the plates and glasses and Pepsi. Matt jumped up to help her.
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œNo problem.”
    Bay cut the pizza and put a slice on everyone’s plate. “How was your exam?”
    Ashley didn’t hear her, so Matt jumped in. “Mine wasn’t too bad. One more to go.”
    â€œThat’s great. I bet you can’t wait for high school to be over.”
    Matt ate a big bite. “You can say that again.”
    â€œDo you have a summer job?”
    Matt nodded. “I’m working for my uncle at his construction company. I’m the designated slave.”
    Bay smiled at him. “You’re young enough to recover.”
    â€œI hope so.”
    As they ate, both Bay and Matt looked over at the other two, but they were talking about fashion and Tansy was telling Ashley about every store in New York. Ashley looked spellbound.
    Matt smiled at Bay. “She likes your sister.”
    Bay agreed.
    â€œI’m happy for Ash. It makes her feel better to have another family member around.”
    â€œShe said that?”
    Matt nodded. “You know how she worries.”
    Bay frowned slightly before she leaned closer to him. “Does she worry often?”
    â€œMore than she should.”
    Ashley looked over at Matt as he finished his pizza. “Are you talking about me?”
    â€œNope.”
    â€œYou better not be,” she smiled.
    Matt wiped his mouth on a napkin and stood up. “I better get going anyway. I have to study. Thanks for dinner.”
    â€œYou’re welcome,” Bay said.
    Ashley rose from the table. “I’ll walk you out.”
    â€œBye, Matt,” Tansy said.
    Matt waved and they were gone.
    â€œI wish Ashley could visit New York,” Tansy sighed. “She’d die of excitement.”
    Bay didn’t say anything as she got up from the table and took the dishes to the sink.
    â€œYou’d come too, of course,” Tansy added.
    â€œSome day.”
    Tansy stood up and went over to Bay. “Don’t take this