Page 27 of The Good Guy on My Porch

She studied me for a long moment and my heart fluttered, sure that this time she was going to call me out on my lie. Instead, she smiled. “I’m happy for you, Dilly. Bummed that I’ve missed my chance to set you up, but happy for you. And Buddy seems like a great dog, look at him being so sweet with the kids.”

I shifted in my seat, so I could see the kids on the floor. Buddy’s head was in Simon’s lap and he and Jenny were petting the dog gently. Their faces were now all smiles, their demeanors calm and sweet.

Carrie sighed. “This is the happiest they’ve been all day. Maybe a pet would be worth all the extra work.”

Simon’s head popped up at that. “I’d do all the work, Carrie. Please can we get a dog?”

“I need to discuss it with Cody first.” Simon and Kayla still called Carrie and Cody by their first names, because they remembered their parents too well to call them Mom and Dad. Jenny called Carrie Mom, because she didn’t remember her mother, but she called Cody by his first name.

“That means no,” Simon mumbled.

“It means a pet is a big decision that we need to discuss as a family,” Carrie said.

“Sorry,” I mouthed at her, but she just smiled and shook her head. She had more patience and love than anyone I knew.

“How’s your Mom doing?” she asked.

I started. When my mom had first moved to her apartment and decided to never leave it, people around town had asked questions for a while and then they just stopped. It was as though most people had forgotten about her, even Carrie. “She’s great. She’s got so much work coming in now, she barely has time for me anymore.”

She smiled, but there was wariness in her eyes. “And she’s happy never leaving her apartment?”

“She’s never complained to me. She likes her solitude.”

“Maybe…You know, I’ve never visited her. Since she moved out of the neighborhood and started working from her apartment, I haven’t been to see her once. When we were kids, I saw her every day. She’s such a sweet woman and I’ve…” She wrapped her arms around her middle. “I’ve abandoned her, I guess.”

I put a hand on her shoulder. “Mom chose to live alone, to stop seeing her friends. You didn’t do anything wrong. Where is all this coming from?”

“Norma Jane said she ran into your Aunt Melly and the two of them…I don’t think they had an argument, but your Aunt made Norma Jane feel that she’d let your mother down, that we all had. Norma Jane’s talking about visiting your mother, and it got me thinking that I should, too.”

My heart sank right to the bottom of my stomach. This. This was what woke me in the middle of the night, that word would get out about my mother, that people would find out what she’d really become, what a terrible daughter I’d been to her. They’d know how sick she was, and they’d wonder if I was the same, if I’d lock myself away in an apartment one day and never come out. They’d want to help, but they wouldn’t know how, and my mother would be terrified by their visits.

People wouldn’t understand. I knew they wouldn’t because no one I’d ever tried to talk to about my mother had understood. Not my friends in college, not a single one of the men I’d ever dated, no one ever understood. They figured there had to be an easy fix, that if she didn’t get help it was because she was manipulating me, and I was being a doormat by letting her get away with it. They didn’t believe me when I said she was sick and couldn’t help herself.

“That doesn’t sound like Aunt Melly,” I said. “And no one abandoned my mother. She made her own choices and she’s happy.” I linked my hands in my lap to stop myself from crossing my arms over my chest and looking like I was holding something back. “If she wanted to see anyone, she’d call them. Really. She likes her quiet and she adores her work.”

“Okay,” she said. “But if that ever changes. If she does want to see someone, call me. I’d love to spend some time with her.”

“Of course. I will absolutely do that.” By which I meant not before hell froze over.

My cell rang, and I grabbed it. My Mom’s name flashed on the display. “Hi, sweetie,” I said, eyes on Carrie.

“I need you,” my mom said, her voice choked with tears. “Your aunt is threatening to take me out of here. You have to help me.”

“Of course. I’ll be right there.”

“Don’t rush,” she said. “Take your time and be careful driving. It’s overcast today, and the visibility is not what it is on a sunny day.”

“I’ll be careful. I’ll see you soon.”

She hung up and I slipped the phone into my back pocket. “That was Jerome,” I said. “I’m so sorry to cut this short, but he…” Shit, what was a story I hadn’t used before. “His parents called suddenly to announce they’re stopping over and he needs my help getting his place presentable for visitors.”

Carrie did not look impressed. “He called you to drop what you’re doing and come over and clean for him?”

“Help him clean,” I said, only realizing then what a terrible lie I’d concocted. “He had a huge party at his place last night and there’s no way he can get it cleaned up on his own.”

She pursed her lips, thoroughly disapproving now, but trying to be a good friend and not badmouth my new beau. She stood and gathered up her kids, who were as reluctant to leave as she was.

“Have a great trip,” I said. “Text me lots of pictures.”

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