Page 62 of Wedding Season

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“Let me be a cautionary tale if nothing else. Make better choices, Heather. Choices that don’t include trying to get into the local bar with a fake ID.”

“How did you know about that?”

Alex flipped on his blinker as he glanced at Mariella and then back at the road. “Yeah. How would you know about that? Is that true since you’ve been in Magnolia?” he asked Heather in a concerned voice. “Because it’s a horrible idea.”

Mariella shrugged. “I know people,” she told them both. “You could get into real trouble, Heather, and not just the kind where you wind up in a cast.”

“I wasn’t going to drink,” the girl answered grumpily. “But everybody at the office goes to Champions bar for Tuesday night karaoke. They’re always talking about it the next morning, and I feel like a big loser because I can’t take part. The one stupid activity I did do, I wound up with a broken arm. I don’t need to be of legal age to sing along with some dumb pop song.”

Mariella heard the pain in the girl’s voice. She knew it probably had more to do with insecurity than some casual office bonding. She’d looked up high-IQ kids on the internet. Other teenagers who were in the same situation as Heather in graduating early from high school.

It made a difference to be younger than classmates for most of their lives. There was a lot of social awkwardness that went with it.

“Hey.” She unfastened her seat belt when Alex parked in the dirt lot of the recreation area outside of town. “Doogie Howser managed it okay, and you will, too.”

Heather gave her a what-the-hell look. “That was a television show.”

“A really good one,” Mariella countered.

Alex turned as well. “We can organize some staff bonding activities that don’t involve bars or rappelling lines on the side of a rock wall. I’m sure we can come up with something.”

Heather looked unconvinced. “It doesn’t matter. It’s not going to change anything. I’m a lot younger than most of those people, and they’re not even old like you.”

“Ouch.”

Mariella snickered.

“You know we’re the same age,” he reminded her.

“It’s still funny.” They all got out of the SUV, and Heather headed for the restroom while Alex pulled the fishing gear from the back.

“We’ll meet you down by the lake,” Mariella told him.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“I want a minute with her.”

He nodded. “I’m guessing she wanted a minute with you, too, which is why she’s here.”

That thought helped settle the nerves that bounced around Mariella’s stomach. She waited outside the building for her daughter to emerge.

“You could try volunteering at the local rescue or joining some other organization for young people in town. That might be a way to meet people.”

“Kids my age don’t want to hang out with me,” Heather said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “People like me are freaks to normal teenagers.”

“You are a normal teenager,” Mariella answered. “You’re moody and emotional.”

Heather blinked. “Is this supposed to be a pep talk?”

“I’ve told you before I don’t want to replace your mother. I think it’s clear to both of us that I’d have no skill in that area anyway. Maybe we can try to be friends?”

She felt hot pricks of anxiety rise in her when Heather just looked at her. “I thought that maybe you coming back to Magnolia meant...”

“I guess friends would be okay,” Heather said. “Although it probably makes me even more pathetic that I have to have a friend who’s...like...a real adult.”

Mariella flashed a grin. “If it makes you feel any better, I’m known for my immaturity.”

Heather laughed and seemed to relax a bit. “Yeah, I got that.”