Chapter 4
When I returned in my clean clothes, I stopped at Mrs. Edith’s desk to use her phone. My fingers punched out the digits that had been in my memory for ages. The number I dialed was the number for my oldest friend, Missy Mulligan Gaston.
Missy and I bumped into each other, quite literally, when we were three years old. Our respective mothers had enrolled us in the same ballet class. Why my mother had believed that I could be a ballerina was a mystery to me. I suspect that it was more a desire that I would learn some grace and balance than a hope that I had any natural ability. It hadn’t worked; at 32 years old, I am still as gangly and uncoordinated as I was at three.
However, that bump was fated, and a life-long friendship forged then and there on the scarred wooden boards of the ballet studio. Now that we are grown, we are still as different as night and day. Missy was born with a natural grace and ease of movement that lent itself to beauty and dance. At 31, she still possesses that same grace; now she also has a timeless style and confidence that speak of a happy woman.
Missy answered on the second ring, “Is it done?”
I laughed at little desperately and proclaimed with bravado, “Free at last; I am free at last.”
Missy snorted in her all too common way. She often did not appreciate my wonderful sense of humor. “Well, where’s this freedom going to take you first? Are you on my street or your mother’s?”
“Neither. I am at Marcus’s office downtown.”
“What are you doing there?”
“It’s a long story and not something we should get into on the phone.”
“Okay, is it serious? Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, Missy, but it might be serious.”
“Do you want me to pick you up at the office?”
“No, let’s meet somewhere. Mother and Marcus are cooking up some scheme, and I want to escape them.”
“Let’s go to Lulu’s. You sound like you need a chocolate fix.”
Missy, you know me so well. Yes, I need chocolate, and the only thing that I need more than chocolate right now is a drink.”
Missy laughed. “Well, then you are doubly lucky since you can have both at the chocolate bar!”
“That’s true! You don’t think I am turning into a lush needing a drink this early in the day, do you?”
“Miranda, it’s never too early in the day for a drink! That’s why they invented the Bloody Mary and the Mimosa; both are breakfast drinks.”
“I should have known that southern etiquette would sustain me in my time of need. When can you meet me?”
“Mitchell is working at home today, so I can leave the twins with him for a little while. Just let me get them settled, and I’ll be on my way. I should be there in about 15 minutes. Is that good?”
“I’ll be there and possibly sampling the wares.”
We disconnected with laughter in the air. It wouldn’t take long to walk the few blocks to Lulu’s. Just thinking about the chocolate bar made my stomach rumble and my mouth water. I pondered the list of things that I might have to eat for breakfast: tarts, muffins, donuts, éclairs, scones, and assorted other pastries, cakes, and pies. It was a sugar lover’s heaven, and I was a devoted follower of sugar, fat, and all things chocolate…That really goes without saying as I am a woman and a southern woman at that.
Then to drink, it could be any number of coffees, hot chocolates, martinis, daiquiris, mimosas, sangrias, and the list could and did go on and on. My brunch musings were interrupted when the office doors opened, and my mother walked out followed by Marcus.
Marcus saw me first, “Miranda, you certainly look much better now. How are you feeling?”
I smiled, “I’m much better, Marcus. Thanks for all of your help today.”
“Think nothing of it. You’re the closest thing I have to a child. I would do anything for you; you know that.”
Emotion welled up in my throat, “I know, Marcus.” I turned to my mother, “And thank you for coming down here with some new clothes, Mom.”
“You’re welcome, dear. It was no trouble and after Marcus called, there was nothing else I could do but come down and check on you. I needed to see you with my own eyes. You understand, don’t you?”
My thoughts turned to my son, Sam. Unlike his father, Sam was truly my golden boy. At times I wondered how I could not see Flynn in him when physically they were so similar. Sam was already tall for his age with a wiry build. His hair was blonde and like his father, he preferred it on the shaggy side. His eyes, however, were green like mine. Yet, when I looked at Sam, I did not see Flynn. I did not even see myself. No, I only saw my Sam. So it was with a sigh, I forgave my mother’s interference. “Yes, mother, I understand. If anything happened to Sam, I would be there in a flash just so I could reach out and touch his precious face.”
My mother smiled, “I’m glad you understand. I wouldn’t want you to think I meant to pry.”
“Never.”
“How about I take you out to lunch?”
“I’m sorry, Mom. I just got off the phone with Missy. I’m meeting her at Lulu’s in about 10 minutes.”
“Oh, you had better get a move on then, or you’ll be late.” My mother glanced at the clock. Her face took on a worried expression that seemed a bit extreme given the subject. “And look at the time. You’ll certainly be late, especially if you’re sore from the fall earlier.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but she cut me off. “I tell you what, dear; Lulu’s is on my way home. I’ll drop you off out front. That will save you the walk.”
I suspected there was another motive behind the offer, but I wisely kept silent. I didn’t want anyone to know I had overheard their conversation while I was supposed to be unconscious. “That’s great. Thanks, Mom.”
“Let’s hurry then, Miranda. Good-bye, Marcus.”
I kissed Marcus on the cheek, “Thanks again, Marcus. I’ll see you later.”