Page 93 of Surviving Love
“Starvation is part of the charm ofDevious Island.”
She didn’t seem to find my joke amusing. She frowned, and her scrutiny intensified. “You have bug bites all over your arms.”
“They’re on my legs and buttocks too, if you must know.”
She grimaced. “I most certainly do not need to know that.”
I smiled, happy she seemed more like her feisty self. She’d been so docile in the hospital, it had been unsettling. “Well, I made it home safe and sound.”
“Yes. I’m… I’m sorry you had to come home early, just because of me.”
“It’s fine. I wanted to be here with you. Obviously you’re more important to me than a TV show.”
“It sure was lonely with you gone.” She sighed, biting her bottom lip. “The doctor told me I have to exercise every day from now on. I hate exercise.”
“I know.”
“He also put me on a low-sodium, low-fat diet.” She patted her stomach. “I’m already skinny. Why can’t I have fat?”
“Because you had a blocked artery.”
She winced but whined, “But diet food is awful.”
I smiled. “I’ll hire you a personal chef.”
She laughed. “Oh, be quiet. You didn’t win the million dollars, you know.”
“I know.” I sat on the edge of her bed. “But I didn’t go on the show because of money. I have money.”
“No, it wasn’t the money,” she mused. “You went there to find yourself.” Her tone was disapproving. “I don’t know why. You were just fine the way you were.”
Was I?
I shrugged. “I went to prove to myself I could do it. And Iwasdoing it. I wouldn’t have quit. I only came home early because of you.”
“Now I feel guilty again.”
I patted her legs. “Don’t be. You saved me from starvation and more bug bites.”
She studied me. “Did you meet any nice people?”
My first thought was of Jack. “There were some nice people there. Yes.”
Maybe she saw something on my face because she frowned. “Did you meet a boy?”
I frowned. “A boy? I’m not twelve, Mom. I met aman.”
Her eyes widened. “You did?”
I nodded. “I’ll never see him again, but it was fun while it lasted.” My voice was flippant, but my heart hurt at the thought of never seeing Jack again.
“Oh, well, you don’t need him. Who wants to be with the kind of person who goes on reality TV shows?”
I laughed dryly. “I went on a reality TV show, remember?”
“You’re different.”
I sighed, well aware she lived in fear of me falling in love. She had it in her head she’d never see me again if I found someone. Which was nuts. But she’d said many times people couldn’t be trusted and that I should stay single forever. Her tragic marriage to my dad had spoiled her view of love.
