Page 45 of Falling into Place
“Two months.”
“Two months!”
Her mom winced. “I know, I just wanted to make sure it was really ...realbefore I said anything. And I think it is. Real, I mean.”
“Oh my God. Are you blushing?”
“No?”
“You so are! Tell me about him. How’d you meet? What does he do?”
“We met online. They have a site for ‘mature adults,’” her mom said, as if offended by the term. “And he’s a financial planner. We messaged for a few weeks before we met in person, and we’ve gone out four times now. He knows about my gambling history and that I’vebeen clean for a while now. He’s divorced, no kids. He’s really nice, Carly. I like him a lot.”
Carly smiled. “That’s amazing, Mom. I’m happy for you. When can I meet him?”
Her mom nodded, as if that had been where she was going with this. “I told him about you, of course, and said it was important to me that you two meet. I wanted to talk to you about it and make sure you were comfortable before I arranged anything.”
It was strange, because her mom had dated very little. None at all before Carly went to college (that she knew of), and only a couple of times since. Her mom seemed content to be alone, but just like Carly keeping her thoughts about career changes to herself, maybe her mom had done the same.
Had she been worried Carly might be jealous, since she was nowhere near settling down?
“Of course I am,” she said with a genuine smile. “I can’t wait.”
Encouraged, her mom’s eyes lit up. “Great! Maybe we can get lunch or dinner in the next few weeks?”
“Sure, Mom. That sounds perfect.”
Carly spent several hours with her mom, then stopped at the grocery store on her way home. It was almost midnight when she settled down with the remote to queue upThe Proposal, and her phone dinged with a text message.
Brooks:look
Brooks:[image]
Brooks:i took this earlier and your mom was right. fucking tree
Brooks:i don’t mean that, i love that tree. but the majestic bastard is casting shade on my tomato plants all afternoon.
He’d sent all four messages before she could get a single response out, and her smile grew with each one.
Carly:Bummer. I don’t think they’d survive you trying to move them, either. Maybe next year?
Brooks:oh next year it’s on. i’m gonna pot them and find the perfect spot. do you think your mom would come check out my yard and tell me where?
Carly:I’m sure she’d love to.
Brooks:But
Brooks:Look
Brooks:[image]
Brooks:the cucumbers have flowers
Brooks:that’s good right
Carly:Heck if I know
Carly:Stand by
