Page 83 of Shape Of My Heart
Over the last few weeks they’d messaged and called each other as often as they could, but that probablywouldn’tlast.
The football season started in ten days. She’d really wanted to be there to support him and watchhimplay.
Everything was different now. She hadn’t been his PA in eight weeks, so she was sure he had someone else. And…she had to be realistic, he was Joshua Mancini. She was certain he’d had someone else in other respects too. Amy wasn’t his girlfriend. Men like him didn’t have girlfriends, and if they did they’d always have someone on the side. She wasn’t like the walking Barbie doll types he’d been with, and that told her everything she needed to know. She didn’t fit into hisworld.
“There you are.” Her mother came into her room with a tray of food from thebarbeque.
“Mama, you shouldn’t be serving me. I should be taking careofyou.”
“Sweet girl, that is all you’ve been doing this whole time, and all your life.” She rested the tray on her desk and sat on the edge of the bed. Amy turned tofaceher.
Jill, her sister-in-law, had cut her mother’s hair so that it was now shoulder length and had what she called Farrah Fawcett flicks. Her mother looked good, younger even with the great hair style and peach summer dress that hugged herfigure.
“I’m supposed to look after you.” Amysmiled.
“You do and I love you for that. But I’m supposed to look after you too. So, talk to me. I know what’s up with you, but I’m just going to askanyway.”
Her mother’s deep southern accent was always refreshing to hear. That and the animated expressions she’d make as shetalked.
“It’snothing.”
“Nothing? No girlie, I know the look of pining all too well when I see it. I also may have been off my face on anesthetics, but when I saw your football angel I knew you weren’t justhisPA.”
She hadn’t exactly told her mother about her relationship with Josh. And it seemed like she might nothaveto.
“I’m that transparent, huh?” Amy twiddled her fingers and looked down at the plaid pattern on her bedsheets.
“It wasn’t you. It was him.” Her mothersmiled.
Amy lookedup. “Him?”
Her smile brightened and her green eyes sparkled with delight. “Oh yes. So the question is what are we goingtodo?”
Amy didn’t follow what she meant. “I’m not sure what you mean. Things have changed a lot. I’ve been away for awhile.” And Josh most likely replaced her in all departments. Any woman could have landed in his lap and then they’d end up doing the wilddance.
“That shouldn’t matter. I wish that I could have someone look at me like that.” Her mother looked away and Amy knew the sudden lost look in her eyes was for her father. “But my time haspassed.”
“You’re thinking about Dad.” Amy was always grateful that she could be upfront and speakhermind.
“I’m always.” She looked back to her. “No one has seen him in over twenty years, but I still think of him. I stupidly thought he’d come back when I got so sick. I thought some magical force would bring him backtome.”
This was Amy’s biggest fear. Becominglikethis.
“It’s time to stop thinking about him,” she told her, hating to break herheart.
“Yes. Definitely. It’s definitely time to stop.” She nodded with a soft smile. Amy was glad to hear her say that, and glad she looked so determined. It seemed like her illness was a wakeup call in every sense of its meaning. “Anyway, back to you. I don’t needyouhere.”
“Mama, that’s way harsh.” Amygiggled.
“Oh no, I don’t mean to be. But it’s true. Tristan will be able to help me out if Ineedit.”
“What are yousaying?”
“I’m not saying anything, I’m just telling you that I don’t need you here. You can decide for yourself what you’d like to do with that info.” Shesmiled.
Amy smiled back and thought about it. She’d taken many risksbefore.
Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to takeonemore.
For her it was worthatry.
