Page 36 of Save the Drama for your Mama
Melody was watching me, but I couldn’t get a good read on her.
“What did I do this time?” I asked.
She shrugged. “Nothing. I think it’s wonderful how everyone adored your mother, but it’s obvious nobody adored her more than you.”
“Did my gushing give it away?” I asked, chuckling. “She was something special. There’s no doubt about that. The best mother a boy could ask for. Anyway, all that old-school charm and her knack for connecting with people made her characters and stories feel real.”
“No wonder her books were so popular,” Melody said. “I’ve read books like that, where I wanted to be friends with the characters.”
“Mom used to say her social life was research for the next bestseller,” I said. “But you’re right—her down-to-earth approach brought out something special in her stories. I like to think a little of her lives on through them.”
“I have no doubt about that,” Melody said. “I only read romance, but now I’m eager to read some of her books.”
“After you read mine?” I asked before I could stop myself.
Melody shrugged. “Well, yeah . . . I just might read it tonight, unless you let me sleep in here instead of in my bedroom.” She batted her eyelashes again, which was the cutest thing, but not cute enough to get me to agree.
“That would be ano.” I gestured to the cat. “I should get Mambo back home before Alfredo wonders where he is. It’s getting late and he’s usually not out at night.”
Melody nodded. “Of course. He must be hungry, too.” She scratched the cat on top of the head, eliciting a purr from him. “Do you mind if I go with you?”
“Not at all,” I said.
She smiled and picked up Mambo. “Great.”
I headed next door to Alfredo’s house with Melody and Mambo in tow. As soon as we stepped onto the porch, Alfredo flung open the front door.
“There he is!” he called out, taking Mambo from Melody’s arms. “I was worrying about you. Where did you run off to this time?” He set Mambo down, and the cat went inside the house.
“He was in my attic, of all places. He came in through the open window.” I gestured to my left. “Oh, Alfredo, this is Melody.”
Alfredo’s eyes went wide. “Aren’t you just a ray of sunshine?” He kissed the top of her hand like some suave old-time movie star. “Such a pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine,” Melody said, giving him a big smile.
“Are you a writer as well?” he asked her.
I shook my head. “She’s—”
“I am,” Melody said.
I torqued my head in her direction, stunned. “You’re a writer?”
She shrugged. “Well, yeah, but not at your level. I have nothing published yet, but I’m working on it.”
“Huh . . . I had no idea.”
“There are a lot of things you don’t know about me,Coop.” Her sassy wink almost knocked me over.
And she was calling me Coop now?
How did that happen?
Alfredo clapped me on the back. “Looks like Cooper finally found himself a nice girl! And a creative one at that.”
“What? No!” I stammered, shaking my head. “She’s just a friend.”
Melody glanced at me and blinked.
