Page 56 of The Wish List
“I’m not sad, Mom.” Trinity drew in a steadying breath. “I’m... I have a date tonight.”
May’s eyes widened. She wore a blue sweatshirt and matching joggers because buttons and zippers were a challenge. Her hair was pulled back into a low bun, and lines fanned out from her eyes and across her forehead.
It wasn’t exactly that the stroke had aged May. For Trinity, the changes in her mother made May look more accessible. Less like the aging icon on women’s empowerment and more like a regular mom. “Who?” May’s lips curved around the one syllable.
“It’s with Ash Davis. Your neighbor and the town’s police chief.” Trinity wasn’t sure why she felt it necessary to say those words out loud. Of course her mother knew Ash. He’d been to visit the other day along with Michaela. May had been excited to see them both.
“He nice. Trinny need nice man.”
A laugh burst forth from Trinity’s throat before she could stop it. “Mom, you wrote the actual book on why a woman doesn’t need a man. You can’t tell me I need someone nice.”
May scrunched her eyes shut like she was concentrating on searching for the word to communicate what she wanted to say. “De-serve,” she said finally, clapping her hands. “You de-serve a nice man.”
Trinity went still as May’s gaze tracked to her stomach. “Trinny not have nice man before.”
She hadn’t spoken to her mother about any of the loser guys she’d dated over the years, and certainly nothing about Dave or the way he’d treated her. Her mother couldn’t have a clue about her history, but what other explanation could there be?
“I haven’t made the best choices,” she agreed when she felt like she could speak without breaking down. “I’m going to do better for this baby and myself, although I might be reaching above my station with a guy like Ash.”
May shook her head. “You de-serve,” she said again. “I sor-ry, Trinny. I made lots mis-stakes. You de-serve better.”
Wow. Weren’t those the words Trinity had longed to hear for so long? May’s eyes shined with unshed tears. Trinity knew that her mother still had a long way to go with her recovery, but the apology had been from the heart. Was it the brain damage speaking? Did it even matter?
“I love you, Mom,” she whispered and leaned in for a gentle hug then turned at the sound of the door to the room opening.
“I can come back later,” Greer said gently from the doorway. “I didn’t realize—”
“It’s fine,” Trinity told him. “Please come in. I’m going to be heading out soon.”
“Trinny has date,” May announced.
“Mom, geez. Greer isn’t interested in my life.”
“Sure I am.” The movie-star-handsome agent wiggled his eyebrows as he approached. “Tell me more.”
“It’s dinner,” Trinity clarified.
“Wiv Ash.” May clapped her hands again. “Nice Ash.”
“Ash is very nice,” Greer agreed. “Good for you, Trinity.”
Trinity felt like she was getting the blessing of her protective older brother. Greer’s relationship with her mom was strange, but she appreciated it just the same.
“Give Trin book,” May said, her gaze intent on the agent.
His mouth opened and closed a few times. Was it Trinity’s imagination or did his gaze stray to Freya’s book on the table? She picked it up and shoved it into her purse. She’d never seen Greer appear flustered, even with Freya, so this was quite the turn of events.
“I thought you wanted the girls to read it when it came out,” he reminded her mother.
Was this about the new version ofA Woman’s Odyssey, and what did it mean?
May shook her head. “Trin reads now. She give to Bef and Frey.”
Greer and her mother stared at each other for several long seconds. Trinity had the impression that the man knew far more about the inner workings of May’s brain than even the doctors at this point. He opened the briefcase he carried whenever he visited May and took out a copy of the updated book.
“This is an advance copy,” he told Trinity as he handed it to her. “No one but you and your sisters should read it.”
She nodded and stared at the cover, which showed the updated title,A Woman’s Odyssey and Return to Her Heart, in bold red font on a golden background.
