Page 217 of Mayhem and Minnie

“A wild animal encounter,” I tell my mother.

“A wild animal?” she repeats, shocked. “Oh my, Marlowe! Did you get a rabies shot? Please tell me you went to the hospital immediately and got a shot. Those things are so dangerous. A few hours and you can drop dead.”

“You could say so, Mother.” I give her my signature smile.

She narrows her eyes at me.

“Did you or did you not get it?” Before I can answer, she turns to Minnie. “Did he get it, dear?”

Minnie blinks, taken aback.

I look at her, a smile on my lips. Yes, dear, please answer.

“Uhm, he did?”

“Good.” Mother sighs. “That’s good to know. Although I don’t even know how a wild animal got near you to do that, Marlowe. You’re so averse to anything unclean,” she murmurs worriedly.

“Indeed,” I drawl. “But it seems that a little wild cat snuck inside my house and did quite a number on me.”

“I hope you called the authorities, dear. Rabid animals are no joke,” mother continues.

My eyes are still on Minnie.

“She got away. What can I say, Mother, I have a soft spot for strays.”

Minnie blushes and looks away.

“You do? I never knew that,” Mother adds pensively. “Although I suppose there are a lot of things I don’t know about you, though not for lack of trying. At least now that Minnie is in your life, I hope you’ll visit more. I do so miss you sometimes…”

I purse my lips. This conversation is becoming uncomfortable.

Clearing my throat, I take out my perfectly wrapped present and dump it in her arms.

“Happy birthday, Mother,” I mutter uncomfortably.

Her lashes flutter in surprise as she takes the gift from me. I expect her to put it aside and open it later on—that’s the way she’s always done it.

But this time, she tears at the packaging to reveal a pearl necklace and an envelope. She barely glances at the necklace—I’m sure she has plenty of them already—but as she opens the envelope, her eyes grow wide with wonder.

“Two tickets for an all-paid cruise on the Mediterranean,” she whispers. “One in my name and one in Giles’s name.” Glancing up at me, her eyes are moist with tears. “Oh, Marlowe!” she exclaims. “This is truly wonderful, thank you.”

“It’s nothing,” I mumble.

“How can it be nothing when it’s everything? I’ve been praying for the day you’d accept my relationship with Giles and this… Thank you.”

“He’s a good man,” I add rather awkwardly.

She smiles, the lines on her face becoming more accentuated. Still, she looks more beautiful than I remember her looking in her youth.

“He is. He’s the best man I could ever ask for.”

They’ve been together for two decades—officially. In that time, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to asses Giles and his influence on my mother. And though I might not show it, I do care for her happiness.

Giles makes her happy.

He helped her cope after my father’s—extremely fortunate—death.

He put the smile back on her face.

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