“That your Mom?” Bitsy said in my ear.
“Yes.”
“You can come over, bring her too, anytime you want. Just give me a call, ‘kay?”
“Okay.”
There was a hesitation then, “Thanks, Nina.”
“Bitsy?”
“Yeah.”
“You just give me a call too, anytime. Here at Max’s or I’ll give you my cell, but it’s an international number so –”
“Honey, I’m loaded, haven’t you heard?” I laughed again and she said, “I got a pen and paper right here, sock it to me.”
I gave her my number, she read it back and then I offered, “Anytime, Bitsy, okay?”
“Thanks Nina.”
“No, Bitsy,” I said softly, the tears hitting my eyes just as I fought them back. “You don’t know how many times I tried to get Charlie to open up to me. So thank you again for trusting me.”
“Oh honey,” she laughed in my ear, “my pleasure. I’ll lay all my troubles on you, you like it so much.”
I laughed back which helped the tears subside and said, “Take care.”
“Yeah, you too. Hope to see you soon.”
“Bye.”
“Later, honey.”
“Who was that?” Mom asked and I looked to see her standing at the top of the stairs.
“A friend of Max’s,” I told her, hitting the off button and vaguely hearing the answering machine beep again. “Sounded like a friend of yours.”
I sighed because there it was again, Max, his friends and the whole town sucking me in.
“Well, I guess, now she’s a friend of mine too.”
Mom grinned and walked into the room, threw herself on the bed and bounced.
“This room is divine,” she remarked, throwing out a hand then she looked at me. “Tell me all about your new friend.”
“Well... I can’t believe I’m going to say this but it involves murder.”
Mom leaned forward and her eyes got wide. “No kidding? Do tell!”
I stood up and took the phone back to its charger. “Let’s get coffee.”
“Okay, bring mine up here, I feel like lounging,” she said and rolled to her back.
“I thought you wanted to hike?” I asked, Mom gave me a look, lifted up a leg and showed me a slender foot in a strappy sandal.
“In these shoes?” she asked back, I smiled and she finished, “Temporary Colorado insanity.”
“Your wish, Mom, my command,” I replied, leaned into her, kissed her forehead and then walked to the stairs to get my Mom coffee.