Fearless The King Series Book One - By Tawdra Kandle Page 0,39
tripping story from History.
“That’s classic Nell,” Anne said. “And it’ll escalate until she finds someone else or gets bored.”
“I’m hoping for the boredom,” I replied, standing to stretch. “I think my mom has chocolate chip cookies she made yesterday in the kitchen. Are you interested?”
“Chocolate? Cookies? I’m in,” Anne rolled off the bed to stand. “I shouldn’t. I can’t carry it like you can—they’ll show on my hips in five minutes. But who cares? You only live once.”
I really love shopping with my mom. We work well together, and we know when to team up and when to split off. We found several sales racks full of cropped pants and capris, and I was able to choose a few serviceable zip up sweatshirts and jackets.
But my nerves about the afternoon were playing havoc with my good time in the morning. The whole time we were out, I was fidgety. In the dressing room, my fingers fumbled with buttons and zippers. I tried not to snap at my mother as she wandered through aisles and flipped hangers along a rack. I even let down my guard to probe her mood a bit, trying to gauge how much was real desire to shop and how much was deliberate dawdling. Her vibes were serene, which irritated me all the more.
Finally, she looked up at me, smiling as though she were oblivious to my impatience. “Well, are we done here? Do you think you’re set?”
I tried to keep my voice light. “I think so.” And so we were on our way home.
Once there, I grabbed my bags and flew to my room. I dropped my purchases on the closet floor and grabbed the outfit that Anne and I had selected. Somehow everything was pulled together before Michael arrived in front of the house half an hour later.
He came to the door this time, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt with the words SAWOOD NURSERY splayed across it. He smiled when he saw me at the door.
“Hey! You look great. I guess you and Anne had a good time?”
“Thanks, and yes, we did. It was so much fun.” I could feel ebullient waves of excitement bouncing off him. “So did you try to prepare your parents to be disappointed? Did you tell them maybe your earlier descriptions weren’t so accurate?”
Michael rolled his eyes at me. “They’re excited about meeting you. I told them you were nervous, and I think they found that endearing.”
I groaned. “Oh, great.”
“Tas? Is that Michael?” My mother appeared. “Hello,” she smiled in greeting. “Are you two heading out now?”
“Yes, if that’s okay.” Michael addressed my mother with a mix of respect and deference. “And my mother wanted me to ask if it was all right for Tasmyn to stay for dinner tonight—that is, if you want to?” He turned to me, and I nodded, glancing at my mom expectantly.
She hesitated only a moment before nodding her approval. “But not out too late, please,” she added.
I called good-bye to my father, kissed my mother’s cheek quickly and pulled Michael out the door before there could be any more small talk.
As he got into the car, Michael looked at me and laughed. “You look like I’m carrying you off to your execution.”
“No, really, I’m looking forward to it,” I assured him. “We’ll hang out at the nursery, and I’ll get to see where you live. It’ll be fun.”
“Tell me about your parents. I want to know what to expect.”
Michael looked thoughtful and then smiled. I could see the love he felt for his mother and father in that smile.
“Well, they’re pretty cool. They love what they do, they love each other, and they love my sister and me. Matter of fact, I was going to tell you their story when we got to the nursery, but it might make you feel better to hear it now.”
“That sounds a little ominous. Don’t tell me they hear minds, too?”
He gave a shout of laughter that echoed in the car. “No. At least not that I know about. Although sometimes my mom makes me think she does.”
I shook my head. “Mine does the same thing. It’s just a mother thing. So tell me the story.”
He glanced at me sideways, and I sensed that he was slightly apprehensive about sharing something with me. “I was going to tell you this the other day, but I was afraid it really would send you running.”