Sunny stood there and took the hit. It could have sent her to her knees. But she wasn’t going to let it happen.
Darn it.
She closed her eyes and sucked in a breath.
Maybe her messages hadn’t gotten through. Her mom was calling on an unknown number, so perhaps she’d lost her phone. It wasn’t like she was very good at checking it.
“My wedding, Serenity.”
“You’re getting married? I thought you were already married to that Jeff guy.”
Seriously? Why had she even bothered her in the first place?
“It was Greg. And we got divorced. I’m marrying Duke. The man I now live with.”
“Oh. I don’t remember you talking about a Duke.”
“That’s because we never talk,” Sunny bit out.
Don’t let her get to you.
“You know that Phoenix and I don’t like to be shackled to technology. The Government is listening to you through your phones and computers and CD players, you know.”
CD players?
Was she for real?
Sunny sighed. “I know, Serenity. So, if you’re not calling me about my wedding, then why are you picking up the Devil’s instrument to call me?”
“Honestly, Sunshine. We didn’t raise you this way. You know we don’t believe in the Devil. Phones are an instrument of the man.”
Nobody said ‘the man’ anymore.
Then again, no one really used CD players either, so . . .
“What do you want?” Sunny asked. She was fast losing patience with the other woman. Why should she give her any of her time, when she obviously never thought about Sunny at all?
“Really, Sunshine, when did you get so snappy? You weren’t like this when you were with us. You were always so serious as a child. So rule-driven.”
“I’m surprised you remember what I was like as a child.”
“Of course, I do. You had the sweetest smile and these huge eyes. And the best hugs.”
Okay, so that’s why she never completely wrote her parents off.
Because sometimes they showed hints of being the parents, she always hoped they would be.
“Why are you calling?” Sunny asked.
“Ah, well. It’s about the RV.”
She frowned. “What about it?”
“It broke down.”
“Oh, no, are you both all right? Are you stranded somewhere?” Why hadn’t her mom led with that?
“No, of course not. We called some friends who didn’t live far away, and they came and got us. They opened up their home to us. Such amazing hospitality.”