Hold Me Close(28)

“We could wear earplugs,” she suggested.

Mitchell waved for the check without ever taking his gaze from hers. “You’re on. Let’s go.”

* * *

It was not even close to what Effie would’ve considered early when she got home just before midnight, though she was ready to argue that it also wasn’t late. She didn’t have to defend herself, though. The house was dark and empty when she went inside.

Polly hadn’t texted her since sending the pictures. Heath had sent no updates. Effie turned on the lights in the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water as she considered whether she ought to start worrying. As it turned out, she didn’t have to, because ten minutes after she got home, Heath and Polly came through the back door.

“Mom! Guess what, I bowled a one-eighty and I beat Heath and his friend twice. We bowled five games.” Polly sounded giddy the way she always did just before she crashed from exhaustion, but her eyes were bright and her cheeks pink with excitement. “It was awesome! Heath said there’s a kids’ bowling league on Saturday mornings, and I should join! He said he could take me.”

“We’ll see.” Effie met Heath’s gaze over the top of Polly’s head. “You should get to bed. It’s late. Make sure you thank Heath.”

“My pleasure.” Heath squeezed Polly and kissed her cheek with a loud smack. “Do what your mom says.”

“Love you,” Polly told him, then gave her mother a hug and a kiss, too. “Mom, next time you need to come.”

“We’ll see.” Effie waited until Polly had disappeared down the hall and her bedroom door closed before turning to Heath. “You should’ve told me you were taking along a friend.”

“Hey, I had made those plans beforehand, and what was I supposed to do?” He helped himself to a can of cola from the fridge and leaned on the counter.

Smug. Jerk. Effie poured the rest of her water down the drain so she didn’t throw it at him.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate to be taking my daughter on your dates. That’s all. I don’t take her on mine,” Effie said quietly, refusing to let even the tiniest hint of anger drift into her tone.

Heath drained the can and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He put the empty can in the sink and moved toward her. She let him pull her closer, but she did not kiss him.

“Jealous?” Heath whispered into her ear.

Effie closed her eyes. All she had to do was turn her face the tiniest bit and she could kiss him. She wanted to. It would be so easy for them to slip back into what they’d been doing with each other, on and off, for so many years.

“No.” She let her lips brush his cheek before she pulled away, turning so it wouldn’t be so easy for him to embrace her again.

Heath took the hint and stepped back. “Effie...”

“It’s fine.” She looked at him sideways with a small smile. “Thanks for taking Polly. I appreciate it.”

“Anytime. You know that.”

She nodded. “Yeah. I do.”

For a moment, Heath looked as though he meant to say something more but thought better of it. “I’ll call you.”

“Sure,” Effie said. “Talk to you later. Thanks again.”

When he’d gone, Effie went to Polly’s room. She was sure the girl would be asleep, but the light was still on. Polly lay wide-eyed, staring at the ceiling.

“Hey, Wog. What’s wrong?”

“Can’t sleep.” Polly turned onto her side, tucking a hand beneath her chin. The earlier giddiness had faded. Now she looked sad.

Effie sat on the edge of the bed. “What’s wrong?”

“Mom, how come you and Heath aren’t boyfriend and girlfriend?”

“We’re better as friends, that’s all.” Effie rubbed Polly’s leg under the blankets. “It’s late. Go to sleep.”

“You used to be. When we all lived together, weren’t you?”

Effie hesitated. “Heath and I have always had a really special friendship. And we always will.”

“I didn’t like Lisa,” Polly said.

Effie held back a smile. “Nobody says you have to. But you could give her a chance. Don’t automatically not like her, Pollywog, just because you think I won’t.”

Polly was quiet for a moment or so, her eyes drifting closed. She wasn’t quite asleep, though. Effie could tell by the breathing. Effie waited.

Polly spoke. “I love you, Mom.”

“Love you, too, Pollywog.” Effie waited another minute or so, letting the sound of her daughter’s breathing soothe her. When she was sure Polly had at last fallen asleep, she turned off the light but left the door cracked so the night-light in the hall could shine in. Polly hadn’t asked for that in years, but tonight it seemed like the right thing to do. To leave some light on in the darkness.


Effie left her own door cracked open, too.





chapter thirteen

“Effie! Hey!” Dee waved furiously from the table in the corner. “Over here!”

Effie waved and pointed toward the counter to show that she was going to grab a coffee first. She got a latte and a muffin and headed for Dee’s table. “Hey.”

“Have you tried the cranberry walnut? Super yummy.” Dee grinned.