the air. Next-door-neighbor Mrs. Walker must be baking.
Before Quinn knocked on the front door, Mom opened it. “I thought I heard a car,” she said, picking cat hair off Quinn’s shoulder. “It’s nice to see you. It’s been what—over a month?”
Quinn leaned in for a hug. “It hasn’t been that long. Besides, we’ve talked on the phone several times, and I initiated those calls. You could call once in a while.”
Her mother backed away and eyed Quinn. God, not here five minutes and already being judged.
Her mom smiled. “You’re right. I should. It’s just I stay so busy, it’s late before I slow down enough to call. The church rummage sale is taking so much of my time. I meet myself coming and going.”
Quinn held out the bag. “I brought you something.”
“How sweet of you.” She removed the tissue, pulled out the candle, and pressed it to her nose.
“It’s your favorite fragrance.”
“I see that. Thank you.” Mom set the gift on the counter and picked up her glass. “Want something to drink? I have soda.”
“No, I’m fine. So you’re in charge of the rummage sale again this year? If I get a chance, I’ll get together some things I don’t wear anymore and get them to you.”
“The Bible Study Ladies will appreciate it.” She motioned toward the sofa, so Quinn walked over and sat. Her mother followed and eased into a side chair. “How’s your dad?”
“Better.”
“Is he seeing anyone?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Well, I’m sure you take very good care of him.”
She should have taken her mother up on that drink. Something stronger than soda. Quinn swallowed hard. “I have something to tell you.”
“What? That you and Brad are over, and he’s already flown off to New York with another woman?”
Quinn flinched. “How did you…”
“Know? Mary Lou Patterson’s daughter works in the same building as Brad. Water cooler gossip.”
Damn, all this time her mom had known, and had been waiting to throw the news in Quinn’s face. She hung her head. “I’m sorry. I know you expected to have Brad in the family.”
Her mom flapped her hand. “How could you let him get away? You could have had a wonderful life. Travel, social status, a fine home.”
“He didn’t love me.”
“A man doesn’t have to love you, to marry you. He just has to need you for something. Like having a prize to show off. I understand that secretary of his is quite fashionable. It might help if you stopped buying used clothing, and presented yourself as more affluent.”
“There’s nothing wrong with how I dress. The items I buy are almost new. Nobody can tell they come from resale shops.” Quinn glanced down at her shirt and ragged jeans. “What’s wrong with this outfit?”
Her mother’s gaze went from head to toes, then back up again, and settled on Quinn’s face. “Honestly, you look like a throwback to my era. An old hippie. Nobody is wearing large floral prints right now. And those flared sleeves look as if they might set sail.”
“This happens to be a style. It’s called Boho. Short for Bohemian, and believe it or not, it’s in .” Quinn congratulated herself for standing up to her mother. She’d gotten used to the constant disapproval, and most days accepted it. But not today.
Her mother took another drink and ignored the remark. “So if you’re unattached again, I have someone in mind. He’s a bit younger, by four or five years, but he’s attractive, and has an insurance office in that strip shopping center on Washington Avenue. If you want to check him out, he does commercials on channel six during the news.”
This was no time to appear desperate. She couldn’t let Mom have the upper hand. Well, she’d already had it, but it was time to change that. “I’m already seeing someone. A teacher.” What was happening? She was sass-talking her mother. Before she could go on, the doorbell rang, and she went to answer it.
“Hello, Quinn,” Mrs. Walker
Before Quinn knocked on the front door, Mom opened it. “I thought I heard a car,” she said, picking cat hair off Quinn’s shoulder. “It’s nice to see you. It’s been what—over a month?”
Quinn leaned in for a hug. “It hasn’t been that long. Besides, we’ve talked on the phone several times, and I initiated those calls. You could call once in a while.”
Her mother backed away and eyed Quinn. God, not here five minutes and already being judged.
Her mom smiled. “You’re right. I should. It’s just I stay so busy, it’s late before I slow down enough to call. The church rummage sale is taking so much of my time. I meet myself coming and going.”
Quinn held out the bag. “I brought you something.”
“How sweet of you.” She removed the tissue, pulled out the candle, and pressed it to her nose.
“It’s your favorite fragrance.”
“I see that. Thank you.” Mom set the gift on the counter and picked up her glass. “Want something to drink? I have soda.”
“No, I’m fine. So you’re in charge of the rummage sale again this year? If I get a chance, I’ll get together some things I don’t wear anymore and get them to you.”
“The Bible Study Ladies will appreciate it.” She motioned toward the sofa, so Quinn walked over and sat. Her mother followed and eased into a side chair. “How’s your dad?”
“Better.”
“Is he seeing anyone?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Well, I’m sure you take very good care of him.”
She should have taken her mother up on that drink. Something stronger than soda. Quinn swallowed hard. “I have something to tell you.”
“What? That you and Brad are over, and he’s already flown off to New York with another woman?”
Quinn flinched. “How did you…”
“Know? Mary Lou Patterson’s daughter works in the same building as Brad. Water cooler gossip.”
Damn, all this time her mom had known, and had been waiting to throw the news in Quinn’s face. She hung her head. “I’m sorry. I know you expected to have Brad in the family.”
Her mom flapped her hand. “How could you let him get away? You could have had a wonderful life. Travel, social status, a fine home.”
“He didn’t love me.”
“A man doesn’t have to love you, to marry you. He just has to need you for something. Like having a prize to show off. I understand that secretary of his is quite fashionable. It might help if you stopped buying used clothing, and presented yourself as more affluent.”
“There’s nothing wrong with how I dress. The items I buy are almost new. Nobody can tell they come from resale shops.” Quinn glanced down at her shirt and ragged jeans. “What’s wrong with this outfit?”
Her mother’s gaze went from head to toes, then back up again, and settled on Quinn’s face. “Honestly, you look like a throwback to my era. An old hippie. Nobody is wearing large floral prints right now. And those flared sleeves look as if they might set sail.”
“This happens to be a style. It’s called Boho. Short for Bohemian, and believe it or not, it’s in .” Quinn congratulated herself for standing up to her mother. She’d gotten used to the constant disapproval, and most days accepted it. But not today.
Her mother took another drink and ignored the remark. “So if you’re unattached again, I have someone in mind. He’s a bit younger, by four or five years, but he’s attractive, and has an insurance office in that strip shopping center on Washington Avenue. If you want to check him out, he does commercials on channel six during the news.”
This was no time to appear desperate. She couldn’t let Mom have the upper hand. Well, she’d already had it, but it was time to change that. “I’m already seeing someone. A teacher.” What was happening? She was sass-talking her mother. Before she could go on, the doorbell rang, and she went to answer it.
“Hello, Quinn,” Mrs. Walker
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