Page 21 of Clean Sweep
“Much better.”
Everyone at the table seemed to share a metaphorical breath as Leslie returned to her seat. Somehow, she’d caught the exact momentbeforenot acknowledging Starla would have become too awkward to salvage.
Impressive.
She sat next to me and I caught a hint of brown sugar in the air. Having her at my side would be easier. I wouldn’t have to stop myself from looking at her every other moment.
“Well, thank you everyone for coming to our little place,” Leslie said with a quick smile. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you very much. Everyone?” She held up two hands, all traces of stress gone. “Let’s eat!”
Relief made Starla a ball of goo as a steady, rambunctious chatter replaced the uncertain quiet. Celeste and Blake joked with Leslie about surviving their teachers, and Starla begged for more embarrassing stories about Landon during high school. Only too happy to oblige, I provided several.
By the time conversation wound down, only the inevitable questions remained. As before, they lingered in the air.
Would Leslie call out their engagement right now?
Or let it slide?
“So, Landon tells me you’re engaged?” she said to Starla. “Can I see the ring?”
I blew out a breath. Right for the kill. Damn, she didn’t hold back. Then again, what mother would?
Starla blinked, then covered her surprise with a smile. “Of course.” Her hand glittered as she lifted it over the table for Leslie to study. Small diamond in the middle of a silver band. Modest was a word for it.
Fake could be another one.
“He proposed a few days ago.” Starla swallowed. Her nostrils flared a bit. Although she seemed to try to keep it steady, her voice wavered a touch. “At an ice skating rink.”
Leslie blinked, as if the confirmation had startled her. The smooth way she bowled over whatever the engagement story brought up was almost seamless.
Almost.
“It’s fast,” Leslie sang with a little smile and a touch of tightness around the edges, “but I can’t wait to hear the story. Will you—”
“First, Mom,” Landon said, “I have some other news.”
Starla sucked in a deep breath as he spoke. My entire body tensed, waiting for a punch that wouldn’t land on me. Leslie tilted her head to one side, eyes narrowed. Oh, a wily woman all right. She already knew something was up. Landon sat across from his mother, right in her cross hairs. He’d put a hand on Starla’s arm and fidgeted with the edge of her sleeve.
“Other news?” Leslie asked.
“It’s about medical school.”
“Oh!” Leslie brightened. “Wonderful. Did you get your acceptance? I don’t see how you couldn’t with—”
Landon let out a shaky breath. “Yes, but . . . I dropped out.”
I closed my eyes.
Idiot, I wanted to say.Never give your Mother a double-whammy.
Over several seconds, Leslie paled. When his words appeared to have sunk in, she opened her mouth, then closed it again. I grimaced. Celeste froze. Starla held her breath, face twisted in an expression that indicated she expected Leslie to self-combust. Blake pretended none of it was happening and plowed into a piece of cornbread.
“What do you mean?” Leslie asked carefully.
Landon’s throat bobbed. He spoke slowly, as if he knew he’d been given an extension on his life for one more minute, and he’d better make the best of it.
“It just . . . it wasn’t right. I know that I had big plans and I’ve wanted to be a surgeon forever,” he said quickly, “but the thought of that much school? I just couldn’t do it, Mom. I’m burned out. The expectations, training, and time away? I want more of a life than that.”
Leslie blinked, only slightly mollified. At this point, I imagined Landon had just about crammed all the shock into his mother he could manage, and I hoped he had nothing left to drop.
