Page 6 of Paper Hearts & Plot Twists

Miles lifted his wrist and checked the time. “I’m five minutes earlier than I said I’d be.”

“And according to Mom, that makes you about thirty-five minutes late,” Mason explained. He threw his head back with a chuckle. “You know how she is about timeliness. If you’re not early by a longshot—“

“Then you’re late. I get it.” Miles cut his brother off. “I’m on a schedule. I can’t drop everything to be here. She’s lucky I was able to make this work.” He rolled his eyes and gave Mason a pointed look as he followed him through the front door of their mother’s home. It was a charming place that exuded warmth and joy. Mom bought it when they were teenagers and she was rightfully proud of herself. She’d spent years turning it into a perfect home by making her garden, having them help her build a porch, and even painting it a bright and cheery yellow.

“Your work is portable,” Mason replied, turning back to give Miles a pointed stare.

“My portable work still requires a lot of effort,” Miles said. “Not everyone can live their life doing what they want and working when the fancy strikes.”

“You say that, but if you didn’t set such a rigorous release schedule, you definitely could do such a thing. Don’t be jealous that I’m smarter about scheduling work than you are.”

“Do I hear my boys fighting already?”

“No, Mother,” Miles and Mason said in unison, turning toward their mom as she entered the room. Miles hurried over and wrapped her in a bear hug, being careful not to squeeze her too hard.

“Mom, it’s so good to see you,” Miles said.

After a moment, Patty pulled back from the hug but stayed close, holding Miles’s shoulder and taking a look. Her hazel eyes, that matched their own perfectly, twinkled, conveying the happiness she felt. Patty lifted a hand to her head and brushed a strand of her graying black hair behind an ear. “I’m so glad you both made time for me. I’ve missed my boys so much.”

“Mom, we just saw you for Easter,” Mason whined. He plopped down onto the couch, spreading his legs wide, taking up nearly two seats worth of space.

“That was one evening; for more than a month now I’ve been left on my own by the boys I ruined my body to deliver,” Patty said with a dismissive sniff. “If it was up to me, I’d see each of you at least weekly, but I’d settle for twice a month.”

“I try to see you monthly,” Mason bragged. He glanced at Miles when their mother looked away and waggled his eyebrows with a smirk. “Miles should be working to get to my level of devotion, but I suppose his attitude is to be expected from the youngest child.”

“Youngest child, my ass,” Miles grumbled, yelping and ducking as Patty moved to whack his head due to the language that came out of his mouth. “You’re three minutes older. I wouldn’t say you’re a towering spear of wisdom or world experience compared to me.”

Patty plopped herself down on the couch beside Mason and patted the cushion beside her pointedly. Miles followed the non-verbal command and seated himself on the other side of his mother. “I’m so glad the two of you came. I miss you both something fierce. My life isn’t as exciting as what you both have going on.”

“What do you have on the schedule for today? You were pretty secretive about our plans when I called last week,” Miles asked.

“That’s because I know how flakey the two of you can be when you’re not interested in plans, and I wasn’t going to have either of you back out. You’ll find out what we’re doing as we do it,” she said with a hard nod.

They realized exactly what she meant as soon as they followed her directions down the busy roads.

They arrived at the parking lot of a little outdoor shopping complex with a wall of storefronts: Oregon Community Credit Union, Safeway, Bobahead, and finally River Nails and Spa.

“A nail salon?” Miles asked. He took a step back and raised his eyebrows, looking from his mom to the business ahead, trying to ensure she had it correct. His hand reached out and clasped the handle to Mason’s truck door, as though he was seconds away from opening the vehicle again and jumping in to escape far and fast.

“It’s been ages since I’ve been able to pamper myself with a pedicure, but pedicures aren’t luxuries to enjoy alone, so I had to have my boys come with me,” she explained.

“You’re kidding me, right?” Miles asked with a raised brow.

“I am not kidding you. It’s my birthday, and I get fun plans with my kids.”

“Isn’t this a better trip to do with your lady friends?” Mason asked.

“No,” she replied quickly. “Come on.” She started walking toward the salon, stopped, and turned when she didn’t hear Mason’s and Miles’s heavier footsteps following her. “Standing there isn’t going to change my mind.” She gestured with her finger and the boys stepped in line, acting like they were on their way to the executioner’s block.

The bell over the door jingled as the three stepped through. It was a cute room with eight nail stations and a matching number of pedicure seats. Calm nature music played, enhancing the walls covered in a variety of canvas portraits depicting plant and animal life. At the entrance were several plush armchairs. To one side was a wall of colorful polish, and to the other side a bar with a fridge and drink station situated behind it. A young woman hurried to the front desk, leaving her client sitting at her seat while her gel polish dried under the UV light.

“Do you have an appointment?” she asked, getting right to the point. She grabbed a pen and flipped a giant book open, filled with tiny writing.

“Yes, an appointment for three pedicures scheduled under Patricia Bennett.” The woman checked them in on the touch screen and crossed a line through one of the entries in her book.

“Perfect. You guys can sit in seats one, two, and three. Tony will get the water going, and we’ll have someone with you to start your pedicures shortly.” She gestured toward the stated seats and went back to her client to finish her manicure.

The seats were large and black with tables and controllers attached to each. At the bottom was a large purple basin with a faucet. In front of each basin was a padded footrest. By each seat was a rolling cart filled with tools and supplies, while in front of each was a short stool for the pedicurist to sit.

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