His phone buzzed from his pocket. He pulled it out and read the message from Mindy. “Something has come up. I can’t make it for pizza. I’ll explain later.”
Dropping his cell into the center console he sighed. For the last few days every time they made plans to get together something came up.
~~~~~
Hearing Jane’s laughter coming from the kitchen, Mindy hurried in and found her daughter sitting at the table eating chocolate mint ice cream from the container. Every time she and her Pop Pop saw each other the first thing they did was buy ice cream.
Jane looked up and blinked. “Mom, you look like you ran all the way here.”
“I came just as soon as I got your text. What are you doing here? Is everything okay?” She placed a palm over her chest where her heart was beating like a drum. She immediately started assuming something bad had happened.
“Sheesh, Mom. It’s okay. Calm down. Pop Pop picked me up at the airport and we’ve just been hanging out. Grabbed ice cream too.”
“It’s so good to see you here. You haven’t visited since, well, I can’t even remember.” Rusty wore a smile that Mindy hadn’t seen in a while. Maybe his granddaughter was exactly what he needed.
“It’s been a long time,” Jane said.
Mindy pulled out the chair between them and plopped down, dragging her gym bag off her shoulder and dropping it on the floor. “You really didn’t answer my question. Why are you here? And you flew in? That must have cost a fortune.”
“Pop Pop bought the ticket for me.”
Mindy slid an accusing glance his direction. He completely deflected it. “Great, Daddy. What else are you keeping secret?”
“Don’t get mad.” Jane sighed. “I felt bad after I told you about Dad and Sian. So, I thought I’d come for the weekend.”
“Why didn’t you call me? I would have come to the airport to get you.”
“Since Pop Pop gave me the money, I wanted him to do the honor.” Jane smiled widely. “Thanks, Pop Pop.”
“I’m glad I could be of use.”
Mindy exhaled. “I’m fine, Jane. You didn’t have to worry.”
“Fine.” Jane dropped her spoon into the almost empty container. “There’s another reason why I came. I have something to tell you.”
Oh hell. Mindy felt an invisible whack against her head. She was this age and a few weeks into her freshmen year at college when she realized she was pregnant. If Jane walked the same path…
A smile burst over her face. “I’ve met someone, Mom.”
“You’ve met someone?” Mindy dropped back into the chair, grasping the edge of the table. Was she pregnant? Would that be the next revelation?
“I’m totally in love. His name is Jonesy. He’s twenty-one. And he’s majoring in Chemistry.” Her cheeks flushed. “He’s a nerd just like me,” she squealed.
“Honey, you’ve only been at school for three weeks. When did you meet him?”
“The first day of class. He’s in my biology. We doubled up for a lab and hit it off immediately. He asked me to dinner and we ate at the Hot Dog Caddy Shack and spent the night talking.”
Mindy couldn’t speak.
Jane blinked. “Mom, aren’t you happy for me?”
“Of course.” But she couldn’t seem to force a smile on her face. Mindy had never liked surprises.
“But you have that look.”
“What look?”
Jane shaped her face into a duplicate expression. “Like that.”
“Like I’m constipated?” Mindy shrugged, blowing out some tension. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I’m just surprised. Eventually I’d like to meet him.”
Jane and her Pop Pop exchanged a look. Mindy’s stomach turned.
“You will, Mom. Soon,” Jane said.
“How soon?” Mindy heard the toilet flush from the bathroom down the hall.
“Soon. Very soon,” Jane whispered.
“Jane?” Mindy heard shoes hitting the floor and turned in time to see a tall, lanky boy step into the room. His dark hair was cut into a mullet and he had a long row of piercings.
“Hi. You must be Mrs. Sage.” The boy—man—wore a large smile. His shirt read, “Parents don’t like me because I’m cool.”
Jane jumped up and stepped next to his side, grabbing his hand proudly. “Mom, I’d like for you to meet Jonesy.”
Mindy stood and gave her daddy a lifted brow as if to silently say, “You could have warned me.” Planting a smile on her face, she looked at her daughter who wore the same look she had the day she dropped the bomb that she’d decided to let a friend live in the guest room. The friend happened to be a homeless man she saw on a bench outside the mall and invited him home with her. She was fifteen at the time. She’d wanted so badly for Mindy and Branch to be proud because she’d helped someone. “Hi, Jonesy.” Mindy held out her hand.
The young man shifted from one untied boot to the other then stuck his clammy hand in Mindy’s. He shook it enthusiastically. “Nice place you got here, Mrs. Sage.”
“Where are you from, Jonesy?” Mindy pulled her hand away.
“Tampa.”
“Is that where you grew up?”
“My mom and I moved there when my dad went to prison.”
Jane cleared her throat. “Mom, how about we don’t interrogate him before he’s had a chance to settle in.”
“I didn’t realize I was interrogating him. Sorry if that’s how it came across, Jonesy. Jane, can I talk to you alone for a moment?”
“Jonesy, I’ll be back. Sit down. Get to know Pop Pop. I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too, sweet tart.” They rubbed noses.
Mindy stepped out of the kitchen and into the living room. When Jane came in, Mindy said, “Well, sweet tart, you’ve certainly managed to surprise me once again.”
“He’s wonderful, isn’t he?” Her eyes twinkled and her lips pursed.
Mindy knew
