Page 14 of Save Me

“Please tell that to someone who didn’t share a womb with him. My brother, and all of the men in my family, for that matter, can be exhausting as hell.”

“And loving and kind and—”

“Possessive as fu—”

“As what?” a third voice interrupts.

My smile is instantaneous when I look up into the brown eyes that belong to my mother.

“Mommy.” I’m on my feet and wrapping her in my arms before I can get the word out.

“Hey, baby.” Those two words always provide a warm feeling in the pit of my stomach.

“Hi, Patience,” Riley greets, hugging my mom as well.

“Sorry I’m late,” Mom apologizes. “The scholarship applications for next year have started rolling in, which means I’m swamped with paperwork.”

Riley waves her explanation off. “You’re right on time. We haven’t even ordered yet.”

As if on cue, the waitress appears to take our orders.

“The salmon burger sounds good, but I think I’ll skip the fish this time around,” Riley says. “I’ll go with the veggie burger.”

My mom and I put in our orders as well.

“Now, what were you saying when I came in?” My mom looks directly at me. Her sparkling brown eyes that mirror my own never leave my face.

I meet her smile, admiring the shoulder-length sisterlocks she started growing again a few years back. Aside from a few gray hairs that pepper her strands, I doubt anyone would guess she’s much older than forty, let alone in her early fifties.

I grin knowing I won at the genetic lottery. I take after my mom in the looks department. Aside from the freckles that trace the bridge of my nose and cheeks. Those are the Townsend genes kicking in.

It’s funny how my dad and all of my uncles have freckles, but they skipped my brothers and landed on me and my younger sister, Stasi.

“Nothing,” I reply.

“Your daughter was calling my poor, defenseless husband names,” Riley interjects.

I snort. “Helpless my foot. That man acts like he can’t go without talking to you for a few hours. Reminds me so much of—”

My mother’s phone rings.

“Don’t tell me …” I mumble. The look on my mother’s face says it all, though.

“Hey, I thought you had a meeting,” she answers. A pause, and then she lets out a laugh. “I can’t cancel on our daughters.” Another pause. “It’s rude.”

I look over at Riley, wondering if she noticed how my mother included her in the our daughters comment.

The small smile that crests on her face tells me she did.

“No, I can’t come to your office after lunch.” My mom rolls her eyes. “Because I have a job, too.”

I shake my head. My father is no doubt trying to convince my mom to blow off the rest of her workday and spend it in his office. He doesn’t even want her for anything. He just likes … no, loves having her around.

“I’m hanging up now. You have a meeting, and I’m having lunch with Ken and Riley.” She looks like she’s going to hang up but then stops.

He’s working overtime to convince her to visit his office.

I hold out my hand. My mom blinks and then grins. “Someone wants to speak with you.”

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