Page 66 of Burning Love
“You didn’t say much.”
“Because there isn’t a lot to say. I’m not sure we can put a label on it. And do people in their late thirties call someone their boyfriend or girlfriend? I don’t know.”
“You think I do?” Aileen asked, grinning.
“Nope. So drop it, please.”
“Sure.” But she knew her mother wouldn’t.
“I’m going to fold my laundry before we go. The dryer should be done soon.”
“I don’t like to leave it running if we aren’t home anyway,” her mother said.
Talia left her in the kitchen and went to her apartment. One of the best things was the small stackable washer and dryer she had to herself.
Long gone were the days where everyone who lived upstairs had to share the same laundry room. Her mother made them all do their own too. She couldn’t blame her. It was a lot for one person to do with so many kids.
The dryer had ten minutes left, so she changed out of her athletic shorts into a pair of faded jeans, ones that were frayed on the bottom and a little wide on her thighs. She exchanged her baggy T-shirt for a bright yellow one that was fitted and stopped short of the top of her waistline. Since her bottoms were on the loose side, her top wouldn’t be.
Her flip flops were swapped out for her brown leather Birks.
The timer went off on the dryer, she took care of her laundry, then grabbed her purse and put it over her shoulder and went up to get her mother.
“We are matching.”
Her shoulders dropped. Her mother had changed too. Jean shorts, a yellow T-shirt, just a different shade, looser and not showing her belly, and the same damn shoes on her feet.
“I’ll go change.”
“No,” Aileen said. “You’re not. My shorts are longer than yours and darker denim, my shirt is pale, yours is bright. Our shoes are the same. Who cares? It’s fun. I never got to match us when you were younger. Come on, Talia. It’s meant to be.”
If her mother didn’t sound so excited over it, she’d turn on her heel and change anyway, but they weren’t identical.
“Fine. You win.” She was smiling at her mother’s giddiness.
Aileen hooked her arm through hers. “I’m so happy we are doing this.”
They got in the car and she turned to her once she started it. “Are you lonely, Mom?”
This was one thing the family was worried about. Talia was the last one living at home, the last in the same town. If she moved away, that left Elias an hour away, who barely had time to breathe with all the responsibilities of his brewery and now he was in a relationship.
“I’ve got the bookstore,” her mother said.
The one West bought for her years ago. It was a place Aileen had worked part time for years and West bought it when it was going to close.
Her mother put more than part-time hours in. Hosting events and working the counter. It kept her busy but not overworked.
“You do. You’ve got a lot of friends too.”
“Not all genuine,” Aileen said. “I know the difference between those that are there for me and those that know I’m West’s mother.”
“I guess I never realized how hard that was on you too.”
“It’s not hard. I’m extremely proud of all of my children, but I rarely boast about them to anyone other than family.”
Talia nodded. There was a reason.
There were times she hardly ever talked about her siblings. A lot of her friends from high school that were still around reached out for gossip more than friendship.
