Hope's Chance(45)

I knew why I was glowing. Hell, I was probably radiating with happiness. “Nothing is new. Just trying to get settled in at Dads.”

“Well you look fantastic. What have you been up to?” She asked.

“Nothing really. I like to run in the morning. The neighborhood is really quiet. I painted my room. I’ve been doing some reading, and a lot of swimming.” I admitted.

My mom turned her attention back to the dirty dishes. “Have you seen Rylee lately?”

Oh crap! I didn’t know if she had talked to Rylee’s parents. This was horrible. “Yeah I saw her the other day. We went to the beach.” I winged it.

“Her mother said she has been spending a lot of time with you at the new house. She said she is practically living there. Doesn’t your dad and his, whatever she is, have a problem with that?” My mother asked while she dried her hands off with a dish towel.

“Um, no, Dad works a lot and Buffy doesn’t mind.” I lied.

“I still can’t believe your father is involved with someone named Buffy.” My mother snapped.

“Actually her name is really Matilda. Her mother named her after her dying grandmother.” It was something Chance had told me one night during one of our pillow talks.

My mother calmed her tone. “Well I guess Buffy is better than that. So…What is she like?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “She is actually nice. She keeps Dad in line. Her cooking is really good, her brother said that she went to culinary school after she graduated, but never pursued a career in it.”

I realized what I had said too late. “Her brother?”

“His name is Chance. He lives out back in the guest pool house.” I confessed.

“I wasn’t aware. Is he older than his sister?” She asked.

Shit!

“No, he is twenty something I guess. I never really asked. He is working on the house for them. I only see him in passing and at meals.” Wow, another big fat lie.

“Is he handsome? Does my little girl have a crush on an older man?” She joked.

If she only knew…

“No Mom. Geesh.” I said defensively.

“Well I just hope that your father had the sense to tell him how young you are. I wouldn’t want him staring in your window like some common peeping tom.”

I rolled my eyes. “So how have you been?” I asked while trying to change the subject.

My mom led me into the living room. I noticed a bunch of boxes laying around the room.

“It has been hectic. With work and packing I haven’t had much time to do much else. There is something that I wanted to talk to you about though, before you hear it from anyone else.”

“I think I already know.” I confessed.

She seemed shocked. “Oh honey I didn’t want you to find out this way. I wanted to be the one to tell you, but I just haven’t had the time. So are you okay with it?”

“Yeah I was shocked but I guess it will be okay, as long as he is happy I shouldn’t care right?”

My mother looked utterly confused. “Honey who is HE?”

“Dad. Isn’t that who you are talking about?” I asked.

“No! Does he have news that you know about?”

Darn darn darn!

“Well, I didn’t want it to come out like this, but he and Buffy are engaged.” I confessed.

She put her hands in her face before looking up at me. Her lips were tight and her brows creased. “For the love of…That. God. Damn. Son. Of. A. Bitch! How could he just up and marry the first floozy to come along. Well I hope she takes him for everything he has, it will serve him right.”

I shook my head and buried my hands into my face. “Mom please!” I stood up and started pacing around the room.

“Sorry Hope. That was uncalled for.” My mother apologized.

“It’s fine. Not meaning to change the subject but what was your news?” I asked.

“It isn’t important.” She said.

“Mom, come on. What is it?”

“I met someone. He is a nurse that works at the nursing home. We only had one date, but he brings me coffee when we share the same shifts. He is so nice Hope. You would really like him. He was married for ten years to a woman that never wanted children. I told him all about you. I can’t wait for you to meet him.” She confessed.

I gave her a big smile and leaned in to hug her. “That is great Mom. I am so happy that you are happy.”

“I got an offer on the house yesterday too. They want to settle before the month ends.” She added.

My heart broke, but I realized it was something that had to happen. “Wow that was fast.. Do you need help moving? Oh my gosh, did you even find a new place yet?”

“As a matter of fact yes. Noah has a couple rental properties and one of them is available. You are going to love it sweetie. It has new carpet and appliances.”

“Who is Noah?” l asked.

“Oh, sorry. He is the new guy I am seeing.” She explained. “Why don’t you come back in the kitchen and I will make us some lunch and tell you all about him.”

For the next three hours my mother wouldn’t shut up about the man in her life. Part of me wondered if she had even remembered the news about my father and Buffy.

When she finally had to start getting ready for her shift, I headed out. After the shock of everything I figured it had gone over better than I expected it to. Although she freaked out about my Dad, it was soon forgotten.