Somebody to Love(70)

Yeah. The only decent things she’d written this summer were the postcards to Nicky, so he’d have something from her every day.

“Well, kids, hasn’t this been wonderful?” the children’s librarian said. “Can everyone thank Miss Welles for coming in today?”

“Thank you, Miss Welles!” they chorused, and Parker gave out hugs and autographs. Being with the kids made the Nicky-ache swell, but the hugs were so sweet, given with unhesitating affection. Maybe she could get her master’s and teach.

At the moment, though, she couldn’t afford to go back to school.

When the kids had left, Althea approached, her arm through Collier’s.

“Parker, I’m really, really moved,” Collier said, his eyes still wet. “I’m so moved. Wow. That was beautiful! Such a statement of faith and simplicity. Truly touching, Parker. Where on earth did you get the inspiration?”

A pair. Grow one. “Oh, heck. You know how it is, right? I mean, you’re a writer, too.”

Collier gave a pleased shrug. “I guess I do. Yes. Yes. Hard to put a finger on exactly where ideas are born. The muse strikes when she chooses. Well said. You’re right.”

“Darling.” Althea put a bejeweled hand on Parker’s bare arm. “Let’s have lunch, shall we? Collier knows a wonderful little place in Bar Harbor. He’s friends with the owner.”

Of course he was. “Actually, Collier, do you mind if I steal my mom so we can have a little time alone?” she asked, smiling up at the guy. “I’m going on Skype with my son, and he’d love to see his mimi’s face.”

“Mimi. That’s adorable. Of course. I understand completely. Your son comes first.” He winked, as if showing her he’d Truly Been Listening last night, then kissed Althea on the cheek. “See you later, beautiful ladies.”

“I really think you have a shot with him,” Althea said as they watched him leave.

“I really don’t want one,” Parker said. “Come on, Mom. I was serious about Nicky. Over here.” She waved to the librarian, who was used to Parker coming in every day, and sat in front of the computer. A few minutes later, she was looking at her son’s beautiful face, his twinkling brown eyes, that adorable nose.

“Hi, baby!” she said, the sight of him filling her with a bubble of joy.

“I have a loose tooth!” he announced. “Look!” He grabbed his top front tooth and leaned closer to the computer screen and wiggled. Nothing seemed to move, but Parker cooed anyway.

“Oh, Nick! That’s so exciting! Hey, buddy, look who’s here. It’s Mimi!” She slid over and gestured for her mother to get closer to the screen.

“Hello there, Nicky,” Althea said.

“Hi, Mimi! My tooth is loose! See?” Again he demonstrated the alleged looseness of the tooth. “Guess what? Daddy got me a knife. I whittle now. I’ll make you a bird, Mimi. Or a worm. A worm’s easier because I’m not too good yet. Also, my knife isn’t sharp. Daddy says he’ll sharp it up when I get better.”

As her son babbled on, Parker felt almost dizzy with love. Sweet, sweet Nicky. He didn’t think it was strange that Althea rarely visited; it was simply the way it was. Faraway Mimi, Close-Up Nonny, he’d once said.

“My goodness, you’re such a handsome boy,” Althea said, and her frozen smile seemed to grow a bit. “Are you having fun in…”

“Yosemite,” Parker supplied in a low voice.

“Yosemite?” Althea added.

“It’s great. I’m gonna live here when I’m a grown-up.”

“Is that Althea I hear?” came Ethan’s voice. A second later, his face appeared next to Nick’s on the screen. “Hello, you gorgeous creature.”

“Oh, Ethan, you devil. How are you? I hear you got married. Such a shame.”

Parker rolled her eyes. Ethan had a way with the hot-flash crowd, it was undeniable. Part of his appeal. As her mother chatted with Nicky and Ethan, Parker checked her phone. No messages.

Not that James would call her. Not when they lived in the same house.

Not when he was steaming mad.

That kiss last night…she’d never been kissed like that, just grabbed and…and…owned.

She swallowed. Hot. It was hot in here.

“Mommy! I found a rock this morning. Wanna see?”

“Yes! Hold it up,” she said. Rocks were Nicky’s thing. Ethan had already shipped a box back home, he’d told her, since clearly Rhode Island didn’t have enough.

When she signed off from Skype after blowing twelve kisses to Nicky, she turned to her mom. “Want to have lunch at the diner? It’s really cute.”

“That diner was here when I was a girl,” Althea said.

“Yeah, it’s a classic, isn’t it? Let’s go. I’m starving.”

“And you wonder why you’re getting beefy.”

“Mmm, beef. You’re right. I’ll get a cheeseburger.”

A half hour later, Parker was eating her beef with gusto as Althea picked at her salad, low-fat dressing on the side. “How is everything?” Maggie called as she came out of the kitchen.

“Fantastic,” Parker called back. “Um…aren’t you getting married tomorrow?”