Sam blinked.
“Score,” Rick said.
“Yeah, like the woman who killed herself. She was in her forties and still making herself miserable over what happened in her childhood. Is that going to be you?” Sam said.
The smirk dropped from Rick’s face.
Lisa came through the small hallway that connected kitchen to living room. “Enough, okay? You’ve each drawn blood.”
Sam handed her the flowers.
Lisa gave Sam a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, sweetie.”
Alex handed Sam a glass of iced tea. “I like having two moms and a baby sister. Dad explained it. Nobody was happy, so they changed who they were living with. He didn’t want me around Mom’s girlfriends until I was old enough to understand. I like girls, too.” He shrugged. “When do we eat? I’m starving.”
Lisa started back to the kitchen. She pointed to her left. “Bathroom’s through here.”
“And the master bedroom,” Rick said.
Lisa returned with a tray of hamburgers and fixings. “Everyone makes their own.”
Sam glanced straight ahead into the dining room that had been made into a bedroom. Curtains were bunched against the cased opening. “I’ll clean up since I did you boys the favor of not cooking.”
Rick withdrew with food into the dining room, whipping the curtain closed behind him.
Lisa looked at Sam. “He’s making progress. At least he argued with you.”
“I can take it.” Sam piled ketchup and onions onto her burger.
“Well, if you do, so will I.” Lisa added onion to her bun.
Alex was halfway through his hamburger. “I have to go pack. Dad doesn’t like to wait with Naomi in the car. She’s our sister. She likes Mom. My room’s off the kitchen.” He dashed away.
Rick emerged from his room with a duffel bag. “See you in two weeks, Mom. You promised to make dinner for me and my girlfriend.” He looked at Sam. “Maybe you, too.”
“Maybe,” Sam said.
“He’s here.” Rick yelled as he stepped out onto the porch.
“I’m coming.” Alex hurried through the living room, coming back to kiss Lisa on the cheek. He held out his hand to Sam.
“Always a pleasure to see you, sir,” Sam said.
“She’s sick, Mom.” Alex ran out of the house.
“Snowboarding term. It means seriously good.” Lisa knew Sam didn’t have a clue.
“Whew,” Sam said, putting the empty plate aside. She hadn’t realized she was so hungry.
“Welcome to my world,” Lisa said. She waited for Sam’s reaction.
“May I have another burger? I love the seasoning.” Sam grinned. “Just enough spice to make it interesting.”
Lisa threw a bun at her.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
“I love the fall,” Sam said. She was nestled against Paul’s shoulder, watching college football on the big-screen television in the corner of her living room.
“That’s not what you say when you’ve been raking leaves all morning.” Paul reached across Sam for the bowl of popcorn. “Where’s the missus?”
Sam elbowed him.
Popcorn shot across the room.
“I’m not cleaning that up,” Paul said.
“She’s out making deliveries to the rich people watching football,” Sam said. “She actually turned down the last several calls she received for meals today. She may bring in a part-time employee. For some reason, she doesn’t take me seriously when I offer to help.”
Paul snorted. He looked across the street. “Speaking of raking leaves.”
They watched Haley and Kelly chasing each other around the yard only to tumble down into the leaves they had just raked into a pile.
“They’re like two kids,” Sam said.
“Like you have room to talk about anyone.” He made a dove sound. “My four little turtledoves.”
Lisa had moved in a month earlier. Sam loved having her in the same house. They were in the process of having the apartment ripped out of the basement and installing a commercial-grade kitchen and one big combination room for the boys.
“I believe that would be six turtledoves if Aaron wasn’t on location this weekend,” Sam said. She had finally stopped teasing the boys about the U-Haul they had used to move Aaron in with Paul several weeks before Lisa’s move.
“Ain’t love grand?” Paul asked.
“I intend to enjoy the honeymoon while it lasts,” Sam said. “I’m in love but also a realist.”
“Amen,” Paul said.
“Did I miss prayer meeting or something?” Lisa came up from the basement. “I’m done for the day.” She sat beside Sam and reached across to punch Paul. “Clean up your mess.”
Paul laughed and picked up the popcorn from the floor. He held up the photograph of Ava and her new gentleman friend that Sam kept on the mantel. “Ava says it’s platonic, but I don’t know. It’s so cute the way she calls him ‘Mr. Wheeler.’ They both have that sparkle in their eyes.”
“I think it’s great,” Sam said. “No disrespect to Max.”
“I’m sure there’s none taken.” Paul kissed the top of Sam’s head in passing. “Drinks while I’m up?”
“Yes, please,” Lisa and Sam said in unison.
Lisa relaxed against Sam. “Rick said to tell you that you’ve beaten him at chess for the last time.” She raised one eyebrow. “I didn’t realize you guys had hooked up online.”
“Ooh, flashback,” Sam said softly. She smiled at Lisa. “I could get used to this.”
“Oh, I won’t let you get too used to anything or where’s the romance?” Lisa asked.
Sam smiled. She thought back to Ava’s prediction for the New Year. It had come true. They had all found just a little romance.
About the author
Mary Jane Russell is a native Virginian—the sixth generation to be raised on the family farm. She retired from local government after thirty-one years of service, during which she set a series of firsts—first female draftsman, staff engineer, project manager, and first female director of economic development.
Her lifelong love has been books and reading; her dream since a teenager was to be a published writer. This made her second career an easy choice. She is encouraged by her Cardigan Corgi, Winnie, and ignored by her cats. She lives with her partner in Roanoke, Virginia, and is discovering the joys of being an honorary grandmother.
She is also the author of The Arcanum of Beth and Murder in City Hall from Intaglio Publications.
Just A Little Romance Page 24