Page 19 of Power Plays & Proposals

Lia's phone buzzed and she pulled it out of her pocket. I saw the name Mom flash on the screen. She looked at Hannah who told her if she answered it she shouldn’t answer any questions about today when it came to me and Penelope. Lia stepped away to the corner and talked as quietly as she could into her phone. There was a lot of pausing as she listened to whatever her mom had to say on the other end. But I saw the distress in her posture as it slumped and she tried to reassure her mom that everything was okay.

Just like that, determination straightened my spine. It would be okay for her. I'd make sure of it.

I looked at Hannah, "Write whatever you want me to say and I'll say it."

Chapter 9

My mom's voice sounded stressed and panicked and full of so much worry I wished I could reach through my phone to comfort her. It'd been months since I'd been able to hug my parents, and I wished more than anything that I could’ve right then. Strangers were camping out on the sidewalk yelling and asking for her to open the door. They'd been loud enough that the neighbors had called to complain, and my father hadn’t been able to sleep after his doctor’s visit.

I was glad Hannah had told me not to tell her anything about meeting Penelope and the salon. My mom didn’t need to know I lost my job yesterday. I didn't want to add to her troubles since moving home wasn't an option, and she already worried about me paying off my loans. "I'm so sorry Mom. I had no idea they'd bother you and Dad."

"Oh, Lia, it's not your fault."

But I felt like it was. If I'd just done the cut none of this would have happened. If I'd just done what Erin wanted I'd still have a job and a paycheck. But I looked at Penelope where she was finishing her ice cream and I knew that I wouldn't do anything different if given the chance. I looked at Nate and he was talking with Hannah intently. Seeing her had been a big surprise and relief. If someone had told me that I'd be with her tonight I would have rolled my eyes.

My mom was still talking, and I waited for an opening to jump in, "I know someone who might have advice. Let me talk to them. Keep the blinds closed and don't answer the door or any unknown phone numbers."

"Are you safe Lia?" Mom asked.

I only paused for a moment to consider her question. "As crazy as everything is, I am. Nate got me out of the restaurant fast."

"I’ll have to make him some fudge as thanks."

"Mom." I smiled and for the first time since answering her call, I knew that she was starting to relax too.

"Don't Mom me. That boy might be the cause of all this, but if he's taking care of you I'll send him as many fudge bites as he wants."

I couldn’t help but smile at that. "I hope you're sending me some too."

She clucked her tongue, "Who else is going to hand deliver them?"

"Well, I can't guarantee all of them will make it."

"Ophelia Ray Owens, you will deliver all of them with a thank you card or I'll put you on a fudge ban."

"Yes, Ma'am." I conceded. Maria made a lot of great things, but nothing compared to Mom’s fudge.

"Good. Now you go talk to those people. I have to call Haley and tell her not to come over for movie night tonight. I don’t want her caught in all of this drama."

My little bubble of happiness burst just like that, but I pushed it aside as we said our goodbyes. When I put my phone away and looked at the others, I found Hannah was talking on her phone, and Nate was crouched by Penelope's chair as he spoke to her and took his phone back. They'd given me as much privacy as they could while I talked to my mom which I appreciated immensely.

Nate stood and ruffled Penelope's hair before coming over to where I stood. "Was that your parents?"

I nodded. "Reporters are on their lawn."

"Can they go to a hotel?"

I shook my head, not wanting to tell him that there was no way my parents had the money to stay somewhere else tonight. "I told them to close their blinds and lock the doors."

"That's good." He stuffed his hands into his pockets. "If things get bad let me know and I'll pay for a stay at whatever hotel they choose."

"You don't have to do that." My heart melted just a bit more that he'd made the offer. He'd done so much already and here he was getting sucked into drama he could have avoided if he hadn't been trying to be nice to me.

"This whole thing is my fault. If you weren't out with me, the press wouldn't be harassing your family. In fact, it's a good idea for you to stay somewhere else tonight." He turned back to Hannah and asked her to arrange a room for me, before turning back to me. "Do your parents live close? I can send someone to pick them up and take them to the hotel."

I shook my head. "They live on the west coast."

The lift of his eyebrows told me he was surprised by my answer. "Do you get to see them often?"

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