Page 45 of Hers to Kiss
“I invited her here tonight so the two of you could catch up. I know you’ve been busy at camp, Keke, and I didn’t want Mom to miss you before you went to California.”
“California?” Her mother’s voice rose a few octaves. “Oh, honey! That’s amazing.” She shook Keke’s shoulders and then kissed her cheek. “I’m so happy for you! Tell me all about it.”
Keke looked at her mother like she was crazy. What had happened to the woman who could barely utter more than “obey your father”? Who always looked sullen and slightly unkempt? The woman before her had on too much blush and eye shadow, her hair done in curls that hung around her shoulders, and Keke caught the sheen of fresh polish on her nails.
This woman was not her mother.
“Mom?” Keke breathed.
“Yes? I’m right here, honey.” She laughed and looped her arm with Keke. “Come sit on the couch. Do you like your sister’s place? It’s just the loveliest. I practically had to kick her out of the house.” She laughed heartily. “I’m so proud of her!” She reached out and approvingly shook Kat’s arm.
“Uh, I haven’t been out of the living room, but it definitely suits her.”
“You haven’t given her the tour?” Disappointment aged Mary’s face by about ten years. Even with all the makeup on, she couldn’t hide the premature aging living with Gregory Kaye had caused. She was still in her fifties.
“I was going to,” Kat said. “Do you want some tea, Mom? The water is still hot. Or we could eat now, if you’re hungry.”
“No, no. Let’s have the tour and then eat. I’ll have tea with dessert.”
It was all clear to Keke. The setup. Kat called Mom over for dinner when she knew her younger sister was showing up.Well played.
“Kat told me you were staying the night,” Mary said as she and Keke followed Kat up the stairs to the second floor. “You should come stay with me when you have a free night.”
“I don’t, actually,” Keke said quickly. “I could barely get this one. I needed a quick break, is all.”
“After camp, then? Could you stay the last night before you fly out to California? When do you leave?”
Keke hesitated, not wishing to give her mother any details. She didn’t know who this new woman was, although the urge to accept her was strong. “By the end of the week. I was going to fly out Friday evening because my audition is on Monday. I haven’t practiced.”
Her mother’s face fell. A dart of guilt hit Keke square in the stomach. Her mother had sins to atone for. Following a YouTube makeup tutorial and getting a new hairstyle didn’t suddenly make everything okay.
Not for Keke.
Kat seemed to take everything in stride, and after what her sister pulled, Keke couldn’t trust her either.
They walked into one of the two bedrooms on the floor. It was a lovely guest room with a bed, nightstand, and a large overstuffed chair in the corner Keke wanted to curl up in after snatching the floral quilt off the bed. Exhaustion started to take its toll on her, and more than dinner, she needed rest. Rest and recuperation were critical to dancers.
“Monday is so soon. What kind of audition?”
“Dance and acting.”
“That sounds nice. I’d love to see your senior performance, if you have the chance.”
Keke caught Kat’s wavering gaze. “I told her about it,” Kat confessed. “Said you received the highest marks out of all the senior dancers in the department.”
Mary squeezed Keke in her arms. Keke had never known her mother to hug her this much in a month.
“That’s quite an accomplishment. I’m so, so proud of you. Your dreams are finally coming true.”
“Yeah, no thanks to—”
“Dinner?” Kat interrupted. “The other room is mine and a bathroom is in the middle of the hall. No big deal. You’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.” She led the way out and all three women descended the stairs.
Once seated at the dinner table, Keke took the opportunity to pour herself some wine. Thank goodness her sister had sense enough to buy alcohol. Keke rarely drank, due to her strict diet, but tonight she would need it.
“Keke, I’ve been trying to get Kat to—”
“No, Mom.” Kat chuckled nervously. “We’re not talking about what I should do. I’m very happy at the bakery.”
