Page 23 of Sycamore Circle

When he didn’t text right back, she clicked on the other text from the unknown number.

I still miss you.

She could practically feel all the blood leave her face as she stared at the screen.

Still ? Who was texting her? She couldn’t think of who it could possibly be. It wasn’t like Tony missed her. Plus she already knew he wasn’t that kind of creepy texter.

She frowned, glanced back at Chloe, debated whether or not she should delete the text, finally deciding to keep it. Just in case she needed to show it to someone. After staring at the screen again, she set it down.

“Hey, Mom?”

Taking a breath, she tried to sound carefree and not freaked out. “Yes?”

“Are you still texting that guy? Bo?”

“No.” She tried to shake off the twinge of uneasiness she was currently feeling. “I’m done. Why?”

“I don’t know. Hey, are you two going to start dating?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Are you ever gonna start dating, Mom?”

As much as she wanted to shrug and not answer, Joy decided that it would be better to be honest. She smiled. “Maybe. I’ve been thinking it’s probably time to give dating a try. One day soon.” Since Tony had found someone—well, several someones—to date over the last three years.

“Is Bo like Dad?”

The comparison was almost laughable. “No.”

Chloe sat up taller. “Really? How come?”

“Well, Bo is younger than Dad.”

“Is he younger than you?”

“Yes. Likely by several years.” Feeling her cheeks heat, she continued on. “He’s also, um, a little rough around the edges.”

Her daughter’s eyebrows went up. “Really?”

“Really. He, um, is nice though.” She jumped to her feet. “There’s nothing for you to wonder about, anyway. Like I said, I’m just getting to know Bo.”

Chloe stared at her for a long minute, then seemed to come to a decision. “Want to watch Stranger Things with me?”

“Yeah, that sounds great. Let me stir our soup then I’ll come sit with you.”

“’Kay.”

After adding barley and stirring the soup a few times, she sat back down on the couch. Chloe’s eyes were at half-mast. She’d be sound asleep in minutes.

Sitting next to her, Joy rearranged the blanket around her daughter’s middle and tried to relax.

But all she could seem to think about was what she might have said yes to, if it wasn’t pouring down rain, if she didn’t have a cold, and if she didn’t have a daughter to look after.

Or if things were different.

She was wondering what things would be like if she was someone else.

CHAPTER 9

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