Page 20 of No Apologies
“It was food poisoning. It’s passed now and my heart is fine.”
“Honey, I love you and I only want to keep you safe. Did you see a doctor? Tell me you called the doctor.”
“I didn’t need the doctor, Mom.” Her voice rose despite her best efforts, “I told you it was nothing. I’m fine now. Do you see me standing in front of you? I’m dressed and I’m going to work. I’m fine!”
“You always say that.”
“Because it’s always true.” She smiled when her mother rolled her eyes, certain she was the only person in the world with a mom that rolled her eyes at her children, “I’m fine just, take it from me, don’t get sushi at the market.”
Her mother smiled at her joke and some of the tension left her face. Skylar hated to admit it, but when her mother smiled, they looked so much alike it was disturbing. Same blonde hair and blue eyes and sharp features, and since her mom had killer genetics they looked like they could be sisters. She chose not to freak out about that fact like some girls would, instead she liked to remember that when she aged she’d still look years younger than she should.
“You’re sure you’re okay?”
“Yes Mom.”
“Your father and I were very worried.”
“I’m sorry about that. I didn’t call because I didn’t want to worry you over nothing.”
“Darling, you’re our daughter, we worry no matter what. Do you see these gray hairs? That’s all you.”
“Very funny.” She smirked when her mother attempted a joke of her own.
There wasn’t a single gray hair on Melanie Holland’s head. If, God forbid, there had been, she would have booked an appointment at the Red Door Salon immediately. Skylar didn’t take offense that her own mother would never let her touch her perfectly coifed and highlighted hair. Her mother had been relocated from her beloved Tulsa to this tiny little dust town when she fell in love with Skylar’s father but no matter how many years or changes they made, you could take the girl out of the city but not the city out of the girl.
She knew her mom was proud of her. She did well with her salon. But she figured the day the woman let her cut or color her hair, hell would freeze over.
“Next time you’re sick, call us and let us know. Please? I don’t like finding out at the market that my own daughter is sick from a third party.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry.” Skylar furrowed her brow, “Who told you anyway? Owen and Jem are out of town.”
“Trey told me.”
“Oh…” She fidgeted at the mention of her boyfriend.
She’d forgotten about him. Again. Because she was a terrible person.
Trey knew she was sick. She’d told him but only because he’d wanted them to go out when he called originally. If he hadn’t wanted to make plans, she wouldn’t have told him either. She didn’t like being sick and she didn’t like talking about being sick. She hadn’t wanted anyone to know because she hadn’t wanted anyone to come barging in, trying to take care of her.
Except Colt.
She mentally bitch slapped herself for that wayward thought. No, she hadn’t minded Colt showing up at all. He’d forced his way in, uninvited, and she hadn’t fought him at all. Not like she should have.
“You saw Trey today?” She cleared her throat.
“Yes, at the market. He was doing some shopping this morning and we ran into each other.” Her mother smiled again, “That boy is so sweet. He carried my bags to the car for me and everything.”
“He’s a really nice guy.” She agreed wholeheartedly.
“When you first told me you were dating one of your brother’s friends, I worried. Those boys that work on the rigs aren’t always the most reliable, always on the road, gone for long periods of time, but he’s one of the good ones. He seems to care about you a lot, was worried he hadn’t heard from you. I hope things are going well between you two. They are, aren’t they?”
Her throat felt tight so she nodded, “Uh, yeah, sure.”
“Good. That’s good.” Her mother gave a giggling laugh, “Because I invited him to dinner tomorrow.”
She gaped at her mother, “You invited him to Sunday dinner?”
They had established Sunday dinners when Owen first moved out of the house. Her older brother had taken a job with their father’s oil company working on rigs and been gone for weeks at a time. Their mother had made Sunday dinner with the family a requirement every week he was in town and it had stuck.
