Page 42 of The Party Line

“Yes,” I replied with a slight nod. “I haven’t dated in a long time, so maybe that’s why I feel sparks every time he’s around. But there’s nodenying that there is chemistry between us. There’s anotherbut, Mama. If you will remember, I’ve been burned a couple of times in the past. I have learned the signs to look for when the relationship is just a flash in the pan, so you don’t have to worry about me.”

“I trust you,” Mama said.

“Good. Now, let’s talk about something that doesn’t put a lump in my throat.”

“Okay. What do I need for this vacation? I’ve lived in jeans and T-shirts from the café most of my life. What do you think?”

“I’d say new jeans, for sure. Yours are getting pretty worn. You and Annie will buy T-shirts at every stop you make, so don’t buy too many to take with you,” I told her. “A couple of pretty outfits, maybe capris and nicer shirts, for going out to eat or fancier places. And absolutely two new suitcases. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen a suitcase in your house, Mama.”

She pulled into a parking space on the west side of the mall. “I’ve never traveled overnight, so I didn’t need anything like that.”

I unfastened my seat belt and threw open the truck door. “That is the saddest thing I’ve heard in years. I’m buying you a set of luggage today.”

She started to argue, but I held up a palm. “Call it an early Mother’s Day present.”

She got out of the truck at the same time I did. “Can I have a red set?”

I slowed my stride to match hers. “Of course you can. Aunt Gracie would be so proud to see you roll a bright red suitcase into the hotel.”

“Should we make reservations?” she asked.

“Only one day at a time,” I suggested. “You might change your minds about the route as you travel. When the company sent my department for workshops, they usually put the bunch of us up in Holiday Inn Express hotels. They are reasonably priced and have free breakfast.”

She opened the door into the mall entrance and held it for me. “Good to know. If you’ve got any more tips, text them to both of us.”

“Will do—and would you look at that?” I pointed toward a display in front of a store. “There’s a sale on luggage.”

“And they’ve got a red set,” she almost squealed. “We are two lucky women today.”

I didn’t feel lucky at all. I was about to have a housekeeper-slash-roommate whom I barely knew. I had feelings for a man I’d only known a short while, who could be trying to get into my pantsandmy land. And my mama—who, along with Aunt Gracie, had been my rock my whole life—was going away for God knew how long.

I could hear Aunt Gracie telling me to put on my big-girl panties; that I was not to treat Gina Lou like the help, the way Davis and Jasper had been treated; and that I could kick Connor out of my life if things didn’t work out. She would also remind me that my mama deserved a nice long trip. If she could really see what was going on right now in Mama’s life, as well as mine, she would be proud as a peacock.

Way back before I started working from home in my pajamas, it wasn’t unusual for me to spend a whole afternoon and evening in a shopping mall. But I had forgotten how hard that had been on my feet and back until that evening. When I got home, I kicked off my shoes inside the front door and padded barefoot to the living room, where I eased down onto the sofa and propped my feet on the coffee table.

“My poor mama stood on concrete floors for eight to ten hours every day,” I whispered. “I should have appreciated her efforts more.”

Someone rapped on the front door. Thinking it was Mama, who might have gotten one of my bags mixed up with hers, I yelled, “Come on in, but you don’t have to knock!”

“Hey, Lila,” Connor’s voice floated down the hallway. In a moment, his tall frame appeared in the archway. “Why is it that I don’t have to knock? Is that part of the friendship-muffin pact?”

“I thought you were Mama. We just got home from the mall in San Antonio,” I explained. “Have a seat.”

He set a basket on the coffee table. “I brought cheesecake and strawberry wine from a little winery on the way down here.”

“Mama and I had tacos in the food court, but we didn’t take time for dessert, so that sounds great. How did you know that I like strawberry wine?”

“I didn’t.” Connor shrugged. “It goes well with cheesecake—and it’s one of my favorites, anyway.”

He sat down beside me and opened the basket, set out two large pieces of cheesecake, and unwrapped them. Then he brought out two stemless wineglasses.

I watched him pour the wine. “I figured you for a beer or whiskey man.”

“I like those, but if I’m drinking wine, I like this kind—especially with cheesecake. It reminds me of strawberries and champagne.” He handed me a glass and then picked up a fork and fed me a bite. “Now, chase that with the wine. I think you’re going to like it.”

Not a one of my previous boyfriends had ever fed me, and I liked the heat that flowed through my body.

“I’ve never had strawberries and champagne, but I can’t imagine that it’s any better than this.” My voice sounded a little deeper than usual, but dang it, the sparks were flitting around like it was the Fourth of July.

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