Page 24 of Kissing Plans

Her mother’s happy smile reassured her more than words. Mae would stop worrying about her future from now on.

“Call me when you need your ride,” Mae added, after stepping into the elevator.

Before rushing to her first staff meeting, Susan checked her phone. She’d heard several beeps announcing texts, but didn’t check them with Mae around. Sure enough there were three texts from Royce.

We’re done with gym. Everything OK at work?

Hmm… Wemeant him and his houseguest. The second text was sent half an hour later.

K left for 1stinterview. Fingers crossed for him. Working in my office.

Royce must have been surprised by her lack of response.Already so busy? Hope all is well.

Pleased with his concern, she smiled.

All is well. Mae drove me. I showed her my office, gave her a tour of the place. She met my colleagues and the dean. Going to a staff meeting now. Mae will pick me up in the evening. Have a good day.

On this good note she strolled to the conference room. As she entered, she caught fragments of conversation. “Blonde… Beautiful woman… American… We never knew.”

No way. The professors and the dean were talking about her mother.

“Hi, sorry I’m late,” she said, her voice just loud enough to interrupt them.

“Not at all, have a seat, Susan. We’re about to start,” Dr. Tristan said, his indulgent tone a surprise. Usually, he insisted on punctuality.

The day whizzed by, with various meetings, presentations, and discussions.

At five, she called her mother. “Mae, I’m done. Park in the same garage we used this morning and meet me in my office. We’ll have dinner on the university grounds.”

She texted Royce.A good busy day. Mae’s coming for dinner here. Will text around 9.

The answer came right away.Have a good dinner.

Using the waiting time to organize her office, she artistically adjusted the two hand-painted frames that her students had given her before she’d left three years ago. One had a picture of her parents with her in the middle in her graduation gown and cap. As they couldn’t travel to the USA to attend the graduation ceremony, her father had insisted on having the picture taken at home. The other picture contained the whole family: parents, children, and grandchildren—the last picture taken with her father.

On the opposite side of the desk, she’d set the vase of pink roses and red carnations the staff had given her to welcome her back. The natural fragrance of lavender and rosemary emanated from a bowl of potpourri and circulated around the room.

A phone rang interrupting her fun. “Susan, I parked. I’m on my way.”

“Wait for me downstairs in front of the elevator. I’m coming.”

She locked her office, strapped her large handbag over her shoulder, and closed the door behind her. On the first floor, she found her mother pacing the hallway and hugged her.

“No problem getting here?”

“Not at all. How was your day?”

“Great. The staff is fabulous. Some of them were my own professors.”

“I hope you’ll be happy here, sweetie.”

Susan led her to a food court.

“There’s an Asian grill that I used to frequent a lot. Its Oriental food is fabulous. Of course, not as good as yours though,” Susan added when Mae raised her eyebrows.

They chose their food at the counter, paid, and sat at a central table. Soon the restaurant filled. “Isn’t that man one of your colleagues?” Mae jutted her chin toward a tall man with gray hair, holding a tray and surveying the area to locate an empty table.

“That’s the dean, Mae, Dr. Joe Tristan.”

---