Page 39 of Love Is Brewing

“She won’t think that,” his mother said.

“Not my problem,” he said.

“What’s new with you?” his mother asked. “Something other than new brews or work.”

That was pretty much all he ever reported back to her.

Did he say he had two dates?

Nah. Not going there with her.

It might not turn into anything more.

But he wanted it to.

They both had very demanding careers. Businesses to run.

Wanting something didn’t mean it was going to actually happen though.

“Not much,” he lied. “Same old, same old.”

“You’re lucky some of my other kids are settling down that you’re off the hook.”

“Gee,” he said. “Thanks. You’re busy with Laken’s wedding and I’m sure you’ll be talking to Charlotte soon enough on theirs.”

“I’ll give Charlotte and Foster some time yet to figure that out. But I’ll be flying to New York soon. We’ve got Laken’s shower in a few weeks. She says she has it covered, but you know I’ll want to put my touch on it. Talia will have to fly there too.”

“I know,” he said.

“You’re at work right now, aren’t you?” his mother asked.

“Did you expect me to not be?” he asked.

“If you had much of a life then you wouldn’t always be working.”

“How long does it take for a record to go from being scratched to breaking so I don’t have to hear it anymore? Records were your generation, right?”

“Don’t be a wise guy,” his mother said, laughing.

“It’s a serious question,” he said. He was positive she knew he was smirking.

“Bye, Elias,” his mother said and hung up.

He’d gotten good at that.

When he noticed the time on his phone, he did one more walk-through of the plant and left. No reason to stay other than being home was lonely.

He drove by the police station and twisted his head when he noticed the black Mercedes and the woman he was locking lipswith last night talking to a young woman, then the two of them getting in their cars.

He was still sitting at the light when she pulled into the road. She noticed him and waved.

He smiled and waved back.

She picked her phone up and pointed to it.

He did the same and lifted his hands in a shrug, then pointed to her.

Her head went back in a laugh and then his phone rang in his truck.

---