Page 48 of The Sound Of Silence

After closing up the shop, I walk the long journey to my parents' property, arriving there when it’s dark.

Kicking off my shoes, I let myself in and follow the sounds of chatter to the kitchen, finding my mom and dad with one of their neighbors, Maeve.

“Willow!” Mom practically squeals when she notices me. “Just the person I wanted to see.”

I stop in my tracks, raising my hands as if I’m under arrest and frown. “Why? And hi, Maeve.”

Dad laughs at my antics, while my mother ignores me.

Maeve smiles with a cup of tea raised to her mouth. “It’s lovely to see you, dear. I heard you looked beautiful at your dad’s celebration.”

“She was gorgeous,” Mom says before I have the chance to respond, and then immediately launches into her question. “Now that you’re living with Jesse, we want the gossip.”

My brows rise, and when I glance over at Dad, I find his hands raised just like mine were.Don’t worry, Dad, I know you’re not part of the “we.”

“You want the gossip on your own daughter?” I ask, hoping Mom will hear my words and realize what she’s asking.

“Yes.”

“Well, I’m sorry to disappoint… There’s nothing to tell you. It’s only been two nights.”

Maeve frowns as Mom sighs, like I’ve ruined their entire evening.

“What makes you ask?” I say, even though I should drop it. “You’re acting as if you were expecting something.”

Mom bites her cheek and looks to Maeve before her eyes meet mine again. “We were just talking… Did you notice they’re not veryaffectionatewith each other?”

I did. “Nope. Not really.”

“Oh. I just always remember Pippa being so flaunty with her relationships, and they don’t seem to… I don’t know.”

“We might be wrong,” Maeve adds. “But I saw them at the diner and she just seemed different.”

I’ve definitely noticed it; I just hadn’t realized anyone else had.“I’m sure it’s just that she’s grown up and she’s taking this relationship more seriously.”

Mom thinks on that for a moment and her face lights up. “Of course. That’s it. Oh Maeve, it had to be that.”

Or it’s fake.Woah.That idea clearly keeps popping into my head as a way for me to eradicate my guilt.

“Enough about that then. Are we going to talk about the elephant in the room?” Mom says with a frown.

The what? Shit? Moms always know. Butterflies swarm my stomach as I subtly clench my fists to stop my hands from shaking.

“Ah… what elephant?” I ask.

She gives me a look that says I’m not fooling anyone as Maeve smiles beside her. I look to Dad for help again, but he’s not even looking my way anymore.

Mom’s face morphs into something akin to giddiness, and I internally groan.

“I want to know all about the handsome mystery man you were dancing with,” she says with a bounce to her eyebrows.

“Me too,” Maeve adds. “Your mom filled me in, said he knows Jack and Elaine.”

I don’t know Jack and Elaine, butthank God that’s all it is. I release a breath and sigh, my muscles instantly relaxing now that I know she’s talking about Alex. “What about him?”

“For one, who is he? And two, why did Jesse cut in? It looked like the two of you were connecting.”

“Who?”Dammit.

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