Page 8 of Vodka and Chocolate Drops

“How long are you planning to hide out?” her mother asked, entering the kitchen and setting a casserole dish on the table.

Amber jumped. “Technically, I’m not hiding out,” she said, “just catching up on database work.”

Her mom waited, hands on her hips.

Amber had to look away, afraid to think that her mother had allowed her to believe a lie all her life. She trusted her, but if her mother had deceived her, then what other lies about her life did Amber still unknowingly believe?

“I’m not going to town again until everyone has forgotten about me,” she said.

“The gossip isn’t that bad.”

“Yeah, right. Mary Alice and Liz were here last night and already had their minds made up about how everything went down.” Amber sighed and rubbed her forehead, still mad at herself for how trusting and blind she’d been.

Her mom smiled. “Sounds like them.”

“Everyone’s read the book, haven’t they?” It had been out a mere twenty-four hours and Amber had had a ton of texts and phone calls about it from people in town. So far, she had ignored every single one of them. “He got me all wrong.”

“You read it?”

“Of course. I have to know what I’m defending,” Amber said.

“It wasn’t that bad. He got your charm right, I think.”

“Youread it?” Ugh. There were scenes in there she definitely didn’t want her mother reading.

“Yes, and I brought you chocolate drops.” She pulled a cellophane package out of her shoulder bag and set it on the table. Which meant the bookwasthat bad. Although the chocolate could also be a sympathy gift due to her recent breakup, or for the accidental recreational vehicle manslaughter.

“My hips thank you.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“You seem upset.”

“It’s nothing.” Amber debated asking her mother about Philip. She wanted to believe what she’d always believed, but had promised herself that there would be no more secrets in her life. But if she found out her mother had lied about Philip, how many other secrets would come pouring out? Amber wasn’t sure she was ready to deal with a complete life upheaval.

Her mom sat across from her, hands folded, waiting for her to unload.

Amber closed her laptop and pushed it to the side, then wished she’d kept it as a barrier between them. Gloria had always avoided and dodged the subject of Philip with determination similar to that of a running back on his way to the end zone.

“The trailer really was an accident,” Amber said.

“And so you’re mad?”

“I’m upset because Russell kept so many secrets from me…” She watched her mother for her reaction. Maybe she was simply waiting for Amber to bring up the subject so she could lay everything out in the open. Or maybe the gossips were wrong for once.

Gloria eased back in the chair, but said nothing.

“And I feel as though I don’t really know myself any longer,” Amber added.

Her mother tipped her head to the side, watching her.

It was now or never.

“Mary Alice and Liz each gave me a funny look when I mentioned Philip yesterday.”

“Oh?” Her mom got up and began straightening items on the kitchen counter, a sure sign that she was nervous.

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