Page 4 of Love Under Review

Opening the old screen door, Danielle noticed the slit in the screen and the peeling paint on the frame. Her mother was usually so meticulous with those kinds of things, appearance being everything in this small town. That must have been where Danielle got her particularity.

Walking in, Danielle dropped her keys into the dish on the table in the entry. “Mom! Are you home?”

The house was quiet for several seconds before Danielle heard a creak coming from what sounded like the family room. Leaving her luggage by the door, she moved in that direction, grateful to see her mother, Mary-Kate, standing next to her favorite armchair, her signature smile aimed at her daughter.

“Dani. I didn’t expect you home this early. Velda and I were taking bets that you’d show up ten minutes before the ceremony this weekend.” Her mother walked forward and wrapped her arms around Danielle’s waist. The smell of her soap wafted to Danielle’s nose, triggering several memories of her past.

“It’s good to see I can actually surprise you two.” Danielle took a step back, grinning.

Her mother sat down again, and Danielle hesitated, feeling like if she got too comfortable, she’d have to spill the beans about her job.

As a media correspondent, Danielle had gone through the full range of emotions as she covered different projects around the world, from contaminated water to the state of some communities in Africa. But her mother just saw it as her running off, trying to avoid things she thought Danielle should want in her life as a twenty-seven-year-old. A home. A relationship. Roots.

Taking a seat on the couch, Danielle leaned back, feeling the familiar spring dig into her back.

“Have you been by to see Becca yet? She’s come by every couple of days over the past month, just gushing about the wedding. I think she’s missed planning everything with you.” Her mother gave her a sad smile.

“You know how I feel about weddings, especially since the last one didn’t go over very well for her. And I helped out quite a bit on that one.” Danielle lifted her hand to inspect her nails, not liking the way her mother’s stare unnerved her. “I had to go to Florida to cover the hurricane, Mom. I’m sure she’ll be a beautiful bride no matter what decorations she’s picked out this time.”

Danielle shifted, hoping to rid herself of the guilt pricking her insides. She could have gotten out of that assignment, but she’d wanted to be there in the action, wanted to be able to report it to the people of Southern California. Her aspirations had always been to make it to national television, but it seemed she might not achieve that dream.

“Did you organize a bridal shower for her?” her mom asked.

Biting her bottom lip, Danielle felt panic take over. “I was supposed to do that?”

“You are the maid of honor. Since she has no family but us, we should do something, don’t you think?”

“Yes. But how am I supposed to pull that off right now? If I had a week I could maybe pull something together. But a couple of days? I don’t even know who to contact to come.” Danielle sighed, sinking deeper into the couch. Why Becca hadn’t fired her as her best friend and maid of honor long before now, she wasn’t sure why.

Her mother reached over and patted her hand. “Well, you’ll just have to make up for it now. Let’s see…it’s Tuesday. So, you’ve got four days before the wedding, and I’ve got a lot of the shower put together. I sent out invitations two weeks ago, and I have several decorations I found when I went over to Grand Junction last month. I suggest you go talk to Velda to figure out food.”

“Mom, you are seriously the best. Thank you.” Danielle breathed a sigh of relief. She could handle the food part. The actual execution of the event would be another story, but she’d reported in gale-force winds before. A bridal shower shouldn’t be hard.

“I knew you needed a little help, so I got the list of people to invite from Colton. It will be a joint party, so the guys will be there too. And then who knows what adventure you’ll be off on next?” As wide as her smile looked, Danielle noted the sadness in her mother’s eyes. She had always encouraged her daughter’s writing dreams, but traveling to dangerous areas of the world was out of her comfort zone. Was it because she never really had that chance?

“I was thinking of hanging out here a bit longer, if you don’t mind.” Looking out the corner of her eye, Danielle watched an excited expression take over the slight frown.

“Really? I would love that, Dani. It’s been so quiet around here, and you haven’t been here for our annual fall hike in years.” There were tears in her mother’s eyes, and Danielle sucked in a breath, wishing the guilt wasn’t driving itself into her chest. Maybe being in Sage Creek was a blessing in disguise. Spending time with her mother always seemed to help sort things out.

The fall hike was something she and her mother started when Danielle was a young girl, months after her father had walked out and never come home. They’d wander up through the trails behind Sage Creek, taking in the beautiful colors.

“If it’s so quiet, you should host a party. Then all the guys will be wanting to date you.” Danielle wriggled her eyebrows and grinned as her mother squirmed at the comment.

“That’s rich, coming from the girl who’s anti-relationship. You know how I feel about that. I had a hard enough time putting up with your father’s quirks until the day he left us. There’s no way I’m going to worry about having another man to cater to in my lifetime.” Her mother was fighting a grin, and Danielle wondered if her mother’s long-held feelings were starting to change. She could imagine how hard it would be to live alone, which was probably why she loved the thrill of airports and hotels so much. The loneliness couldn’t catch up if she didn’t give it a chance.

Danielle raised her hands. “It was just a joke, Mom. If you’re happy, then you shouldn’t change anything.”

Her mother’s hand covered Danielle’s on the arm of the sofa. “Are you happy, Danielle?”

“Of course.” The words came out quickly, but as she let the question turn in her mind, she wondered if it was really true. Would she be happy if she never got to travel again? Report on big events?

“Then I’m happy.” Her mother leaned back and pulled her watch close to her eyes. “It looks like it’s time to head over for book club. Will you come? We could use a little spice.”

Chuckling a bit, Danielle said, “Let me guess. Sharon Crestview will be there.” The woman was around Mary-Kate’s age but tried to take over just about everything she did.

Her mom nodded. “She’s the one who picked out today’s book. One written by an author I’ve never heard of before. MK Malone?” With her mom’s eyes staring at her, Danielle did her best to hide her shock.

MK Malone was a name she was all too familiar with, as it was the pen name she’d chosen before releasing the three cozy mysteries she’d written. Writing had always been a passion for her, but she’d viewed it as something that couldn’t support her in life, and there was no way she could use her own name while she worked for the news station.

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