“If you say so. But remember, I’ve got that big, new deal coming up this month. I’m going to be extremely busy.”
“But not too busy to help with the wedding plans. I’ve always wanted a June wedding. I can’t wait to start planning.”
She got up from the sofa and grabbed her purse. “I’m off now. Mama and I have a date to start the plans.”
Roger stood and walked her to the door. “Just don’t break the bank on this,” he said.
“Never. If I’m one thing, it’s frugal. Had to be, with my dad leaving us and my mama a nurse. We didn’t have much, but we always managed.” With Tony’s financial help, she’d made it through nursing school without having to take out a huge college loan.
Roger kissed her briefly. As she waved goodbye to him from the elevator, she took one last look at his apartment. With its sleek furniture and state-of-the-art kitchen, everything about the place screamed edgy. It was sure a far cry from the humble home she lived in with her mother on Masefield Avenue.
After Tony died, Lauren had given up an apartment she’d shared with a fellow nurse. Her mama needed her, but in truth, Lauren had probably gotten just as much comfort as her mother had from staying in her childhood home on the outskirts of town.
Pretty soon, though, once she married, she’d be living in the heart of Dallas with Roger.
The drive home at this time of evening wasn’t easy. Dallas traffic bottled up and she found herself on the road rocking out to Carrie Underwood singing about bad boys and payback.
It was a good twenty minutes later when she pulled onto Masefield Avenue. A man holding a ledger under his arm was just leaving the house. He nodded to her.
“Evening, miss,” he said.
“Hello.” Puzzled, she slowed her steps and watched him get into a car and drive off.
She entered the house. “Mama?”
“In the kitchen, honey,” Loretta said.
Her mama glanced at her as she stepped into the room. The table was littered with papers and paint samples. “Well, I finally got that estimate to paint the entire house, inside and out. And looks like if I agree to have them start tomorrow and pay them cash, he’s gonna give me a nice discount.”
“Mama? What are you talking about? We have a wedding to plan. We can’t have painters in here.”
“Honey, actually it’s the perfect time to have the house painted. I’ve delayed it for so long because it’s a nuisance to have workmen here and everything all covered up. You know what the smell of paint does to my sinuses. But, if we take Cooper up on his offer, we can move into his place until the wedding. That’ll give the workmen more than enough time to get the house done.”
“Mama, it was awfully sweet of Cooper to invite us to stay at his ranch, but he wasn’t serious.”
“Oh, yes, he was. He called up today asking when we were coming.”
“He did not.”
“He did. That Cooper is as fine as they come.”
“He’s still feeling guilty about Tony, Mama. That’s all it is. He doesn’t really want us underfoot.”
“Well, it’s too late for that now. I told him yes.”
“Mama, you didn’t.” It wasn’t like her mother to be this impetuous.
“Honey, this house hasn’t been painted since your father left. You know how many years that’s been? More than fifteen. The paint’s peeling in every room! I’ve got the money saved up for this, and it’s the perfect time.”
“But how...what am I supposed to... Mama, I can’t believe you did this without checking with me first.”
“It’ll be fine, darling. You’re taking time off to plan the wedding starting Monday so you won’t have to commute to the hospital. It’ll be like a little staycation, isn’t that what they call it?”
“Yes, that’s what it’s called, but that means staying at your own house.”
“Oh. Well, no matter. I’ve given Turner Painting a cash deposit. So pack a bag or two, sweetheart, and don’t forget your wedding binder. We’re moving to Stone Ridge tomorrow.”
Copyright © 2018 by Charlene Swink
ISBN-13: 9781488091933
Upstairs Downstairs Baby
Copyright © 2018 by Catherine Schield
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