Page 61 of A Dream for Daphne

His mother never did. Not that he could remember.

She always said actions meant more than words and props didn’t mean shit.

Flowers could be considered a prop in some people’s eyes.

Definitely in his.

Then why was he walking around looking at the ground for tools and other things that might have been left out thinkingabout if he had anything to give Daphne when he drove around the bend to see her?

He didn’t and going into town would be stupid when she knew he’d be there soon.

He walked back to his truck and made sure the doors to the equipment were locked. He had the keys with him to all the pieces left on the grounds out of the way.

After he got in his truck, he turned it on, hit the AC, and decided to call his mother.

He hadn’t told her about Daphne yet and maybe he wanted some reassurance that he wasn’t going to mess up a good thing.

Didn’t she tell him not to do that?

He hit the button and called his mother on speaker.

“Abe,” his mother said. “Why are you calling me on a Friday after work? You should be out trying to find someone, not talking to your mother.”

He laughed. “Maybe I found someone and wanted to talk to my mother about it.”

“What?” his mother asked, laughing. “You’re joking, right? You always joke about these things.”

“I’m not joking,” he said. “That’s why I’m calling. I’m on my way to see her now.”

“You’re serious?” his mother asked.

“Yes,” he said.

“Tell me all about her before you get there. How much time do I have?”

“I’m two minutes away, if that,” he said.

“Abe! That’s the biggest tease there is. Why would you do that to me?”

He laughed. “I’m not even driving. I met her on the McGill Estate where I am right now. She’s their nanny and lives in the cabin at the back of the property. I’m going over there when I’m done talking to you.”

“Okay,” his mother said. “So you just got done working and are going straight to see her? What’s her name?”

“Daphne Allen. And yes, I am. Why?”

“Because you’ve never done that that I’m aware of. You always go home and shower for twenty minutes first.”

“I’m going to shower at her place,” he said.

“Make sure you clean it afterward,” his mother said sternly. “It’s the same as when you’re home.”

He rolled his eyes. “I will.”

His mother taught him to spray Clorox cleaner in the shower when he was done after work. This way it stopped grime from building up before he could scrub it down over the weekend.

“And since you’re showering at her place, that means it’s been going on for a while?”

No way he was telling his mother the same as he told Easton.

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