Page 43 of Mic Drop

Friends?

“Thanks for saving my butt out there. Your jam session gave me the time I needed to get this under control.” I point to the ice pack.

“Gotta admit,” Río says, banging his hands on his legs. Once a drummer, always a drummer, it doesn’t matter that he just finished playing a three-hour concert. “It was nice to change things up a little. Our impromptu jam session was the bomb.”

Our manager agrees. “It was. Nice improv out there, guys. What do you think about adding this into our regular shows?”

“Good idea,” I answer for the whole band. Around me, their murmured agreement backs me up. Unlike before our gig, my stomach does backflips. I need to share this with them.

“Listen, guys, Jenna’s mom isn’t going to get better. In fact, she’s going downhill. The doctor gave her a few months.” I hold up my cell. “But I have an idea.”

Chapter 12

Jenna

“We have more flowers in here than a hothouse nursery,” Ma remarks, even as she stops to smell the newest delivery—a multicolored vase filled with white roses. Knuckles white against the side of the table, she plucks a bloom and rubs it against her cheek.

“It certainly is a beautiful addition to your home. And mine. And both clinics.” I smell a red rose from another day’s delivery.

The doorbell rings. “I wonder what your boy sent now?”

I giggle. “Let’s find out.” I rush to the door where a delivery person hands me a couple of pizza boxes. I scramble for a tip, even though Bennett’s told me repeatedly he’s handled everything. “Thank you.”

“What is it?”

Ma makes her way into the living room and stands beside her chair, her hand reaching for the back of it. She’s a fighter. She tires more easily, takes longer and longer naps during the day, but is still relatively mobile. A quad cane rests in the corner for added stability, courtesy of Kara.

I read from the top of the box. “It’s pizza from what’s billed as ‘The Best Pizza Place in Chicago.’” My mouth waters. I love New York pizza but am more than willing to suffer through trying a deep dish all the way from the Windy City.

“Not too boastful, are they?”

“I guess we better try it to decide. You stay here, I’ll heat this up.” I rush into the kitchen and preheat the oven, while putting two slices from the first pie onto a cookie sheet. They’re massive. And saucy. And filled with mushrooms. Yum.

The ring on my left hand catches the light and I stare at it. When Bennett was here last, he put this ring on my finger, and I swear it was made for me. The diamond is a round cut solitaire, so it won’t snag when I’m “working with a patient,” as he said. The setting isn’t too high, either. The fact it’s a flawless two carats on a platinum band makes it timeless. Like the man who gave it to me.

I break free from my woolgathering when the temperature alert bings, sliding the cookie sheet into the oven. I place two plates onto the counter and bring napkins and silverware into the living room. Once the makeshift table is set in front of Ma, I repeat the same for myself. Returning to the kitchen, I take out the hot pizza and bring the full plates with me.

“Oh my, this smells divine,” Ma places her face closer to the pizza and inhales.

At least she still has her zest for food. I pause in setting my napkin on my lap. I glance over at her, watching her chew. “Good?”

“Oh my God. This is fantastic. Don’t get me wrong, I love our pizza out here, but this is different in a really amazing way. What did the note say?”

Bennett always includes a note with his presents. I pick it up and clear my throat. “UC enjoyed this restaurant during our stop in Chicago and I thought of you two. Maybe save me a slice?”

“When’s he coming back again?”

“Today.” I glance at my watch. “In five hours, twenty minutes, and thirty seconds. But who’s counting?”

“Right. Who would do such a crazy thing? How long will he be able to stay this time?”

“Two whole days!”

She smiles around another forkful of pizza. “He was here what? A week ago? How many breaks does UC have anyway?”

“Only these short ones in between gigs. He’s coming up on a two-week break soon, though.” I’m excited to spend fourteen whole days with him. My engagement ring glimmers with its secrets.

“You’ll appreciate that, I bet.” Her fork clatters onto her remaining pizza, about one-half of the slice. She did a good job.

---