Page 18 of Ice Princess

“I’ll come by later,” I tell her, softening my tone.

She nods, grabs her purse and walks to the exits.

I’m relieved that she didn’t argue. I’d hate for Rebel to stick around, waiting for news of mom’s condition, and get verbally lashed by the Ladies.

“Carol, are you okay?” Victoria murmurs, rubbing my mom’s shoulders.

Marjorie and the Davis sisters crowd around her too.

Mom shakes her head pitifully, but her mouth curves up at the edges and a part of me thinks she’s loving all the attention.

“Wait up, Rebel,”a man says in the distance.

I glance up and see the suit from earlier chasing Rebel down. He says something to her and then walks with her outside.

Frustration nips at me, yet there’s nothing I can do but watch. I can’t abandon my mother—even if I’m half-convinced she’s just putting on a show.

Dad skates to a stop in front of us, his eyes searching mom’s frantically. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”

“It’s too stuffy in here.” Mom pulls at her collar.

“We’re under a tent.” I point to the giant canopy mom rented. At that moment, a rough breeze blows through the party area, further proving my point.

Mom gives me the stink eye. “I know what I feel, Gunner.”

“This way, honey. Let’s get you to the house.” Dad coos to her, “What happened? You seemed perfectly fine earlier.”

“It’s all because of thathorridgirl,” Marjorie whines, keeping up with mom while holding her purse. “That Rebel Hart, she?—”

“Thanks, Marjorie.” I snatch mom’s purse away from Marjorie, effectively cutting off any reason she has to follow us.

Dad, mom and I use a shortcut, cutting through a path that takes us to the edge of the orchard.

At home, I open the screen door for them, and dad helps mom into the living room. He deposits her gently into the sofa, fussing over her.

“Tell me what you need, Carol. Should we call Dr. Mark?”

Mom shakes her head.

Dad notices her massaging her temple. “I’ll run up and get the headache medication.”

“We put the meds in the car, remember? They’re in the extra first aid kit in the pickup.”

Dad frowns. “The truck is parked all the way at the northern entrance. Gunner, keep an eye on your mom while I run and get the medicine.”

I nod.

The moment the screen door slaps shut behind my father, mom’s face smoothes out. She straightens, cranes her neck to peer through the window and then looks at me. “You want to explain yourself, young man?”

“What happened to your headache?”

“I asked first.”

“It’s exactly as I said. Rebel and I are dating.”

She barks out a dry laugh. “I’ve never seen youtalkto that girl. And now you’re suddenly dating?”

I nod sharply.

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