Page 109 of Heartless

Tyler and Daphne entered the kitchen then with the latter climbing in my lap. I smiled at her and kissed her nose.

“So? What about you two? How are you really doing with a newborn and all?”

Hannah’s eyes softened as she looked over at Tyler. “It’s been a whirlwind, but I’ve never felt more grateful and content.”

“You really look at peace. I wish I had that,” I said quietly.

Hannah reached across the table and placed her hand on mine. “You will.”

***

My mother whirled around the empty office space I had just rented and made a face.

“What?” I asked.

“Isn’t it a downgrade, honey? From The Gemstone and Annie Foster’s wedding to this?”

I could get into an argument or rent another office to appease her, but maybe it was time for me to accept the fact that my mother was always going to find something to be dissatisfied about and that had more to do with her, than with me.

“I know it’s not perfect, and that’s okay, Mom. I don’t need perfection.” I repeated the words Parker once told me. I knew she wouldn’t understand even if I spent my afternoon explaining, so I continued. “I have a meeting with an A-list couple tomorrow that I can’t name. They could be my first clients.”

“You’re meeting them here?” she asked, her horror evident in her voice.

“No, not here.”

“Oh, thank God. This place needs a complete makeover. Do you need help cleaning up?”

“You want to clean?”

“No, but I can help you hire someone.”

“I think I want to clean it on my own.” I had never worked alone until that moment, and it felt strange but at the same time exciting. “It’s the first time I’m not someone else’s employee. I want the full experience.” My mother looked at me like I had lost my mind and I patted her hand. “I don’t expect you to understand.”

“Good. Because I don’t.”

“I know.”

Sylvia cleared her throat and I knew that I was about to hear something I wouldn’t like. “I’ve been thinking. Remember George? The realtor? From my gym?”

“It’s hard to forget a man that you forced on me despite my clear refusal to go on a date with him.”

“Water under the bridge,” she waved me off and with a laugh. “He has a girlfriend now. Anyway, there is a house listed for sale.” I rolled my eyes, but she didn’t stop. “It’s close by. I’ve already seen it. You’re going to love it.” I shook my head at her but she looked at me with sympathy. “I just want to help you. That’s all. You don’t want to tell me about Parker and how it all ended, and I respect that.” I sent her a look of disbelief and she continued, “Okay, fine. I’m trying to respect it even though I’m dying to know. Have you noticed I haven’t mentioned him in a while?”

“Like you’re not mentioning him now?”

My mother took my hand in hers and squeezed. “I just want to help, honey. There is one thing you still haven’t learned how to do.”

There it was again. The inevitable criticism. This time however I felt relatively calm. Almost like it didn’t really matter what she might say about me. I was who I was and whether she liked it or not, it wouldn’t affect my life one bit. I wondered what Parker would say about my progress.

“What is that?” I asked.

“How not to overwhelm yourself with things that other people can do for you.”

She looked so serious as she shared her wisdom with me that I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“Okay, Mom. I’ll go look at the house George is selling.”

She squealed happily and hooked her hand around my elbow. “Now, let’s talk about that nonsense with the cleaning.”

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