Page 54 of Single Teddy
When the pies were in the oven I video called Mom. My screen filled with her rosy, plump face, her round glasses and her kind smile while her strawberry-blonde hair looked as if it had been through a tornado all on its own.
“Long night?” I asked her.
She sighed and took her glasses off with a sigh.
“If I don’t kill my editor after this book I don’t know that I ever will.”
I laughed. “Uh-oh. What changes is it this time?”
“She wants me to change the entire second act to include a brand new character because she thinks she will be a great red herring. Are you freaking kidding me?”
I bit my lip before I chuckled again and offered her my sympathies.
“You know it’s just a suggestion, right? You can ignore her if you want.”
Mom sighed again.
“No. I know. But she’s right. Itwouldmake the book better. That’s why I’m annoyed. That woman is always right.”
“That’s why you’re paying her.”
“Well, my publisher does. Anyway, what’s up with you? Is this what it’s come to? You get your own house and I only get to see you through a screen as if you’ve emigrated to Mars?”
“Hey!” I exclaimed, but she was right. I was having too much fun being independent. “How about dinner tonight? I can bring pie!”
Before Mom could answer, my larger-framed dad appeared behind her and leaned over her shoulder.
“Who is that?” he said with a confused frown. “Is that…does that look like our son, honey?”
Mom slapped his hand playfully and chuckled.
“What? Don’t blame me. It’s been so long I’ve forgotten what he looks like.”
I rolled my eyes with a snort.
“Love you too, Dad. So…dinner tonight?”
“That depends,” Dad said. “How many pies can you bring?”
“Well, seeing as my beach plums are still fruitful…a lot?”
“Perfect,” Dad replied and walked away, passing me back to Mom.
“So, sweetie. How is your new boyfriend?”
“Boy-boyfriend? I don’t have a boyfriend,” I said.
“That’s weird. Ruby said?—”
I groaned. Fucking Ruby! Next time I saw her I’d have to kill her for real.
I reassured Mom there was no boyfriend and gave her an update on my plants before I hung up to start making more pies for tonight.
Two hours later, the whole house smelled divine, making me salivate, but I resisted the urge to dig in and decimate a pie all on my own. Instead, I jumped in the shower, dressed nicely, and drove to Chestnut Hill, and not only because I had a delicious warm pie to deliver. Because I also had a plan.
“Wesley! What a nice surprise,” Teddy said as soon as he opened the door and invited me in.
“Really?” I replied before I could catch myself. I mentally slapped my forehead.
