baby girl was engaged to be married! She sniffed again.
Wow!
What in the world was coming over her?
Madison tilted her head to the side. “Mom, are you okay?” she asked softly.
“I’m fine,” she assured her daughter with a quick, firm nod. “It’s just stupid middle-aged hormones. It sucks.”
“We don’t have to go,” Madison said uncertainly.
Jessica took a deep breath and shook her head. “No. Suddenly a cold, crisp martini sounds heavenly. And I did promise to celebrate your creative-writing position at Cooper. You know I’m so very proud of you, don’t you, sweetie?”
“Yes, I do.” Madison’s smile wobbled at the corners, but she laughed as she tugged Jessica to her feet. “Happy birthday, Mom. I love you so much,” she said, and sniffed hard. “Now, are you ready to have some fun? You do remember how, right? Look, I totally respect your dedication, but sometimes you work too damned hard.”
Jessica clucked her tongue at her daughter. “For someone so petite and cute, you sure have a potty mouth. Learned it from your aunt Myra,” she said with a chuckle, but Madison’s teasing comment hit a little too close to home. Did she remember how to kick back and have a good time? How long had it been?
Since Ty McKenna last summer
snuck into her brain, but she shoved it away. That magical night had scared the crap out of her. Losing her heart to a player like him would just be plain stupid.
She needed somebody solid and dependable.
What?
She didn’t need anybody! She needed to concentrate on the success of Wine and Diner and not be distracted. While there was a buzz of excitement in the air, everyone in town knew what was riding on the success of the season. She was no exception.
“You didn’t answer the question. Mom, are you
ready
to have some fun?”
“I’m ready!” she insisted with more conviction than she felt, and then gave Madison a quick hug.
“Okay, I’m going to freshen up just a bit,” Madison announced with an excited grin.
“Oh. Am I dressed okay?” Jessica glanced down at her skinny jeans and billowy lemon yellow tunic cinched below her waist with a woven leather belt.
“Sure.” Madison reached down and opened the long box containing the necklace. “Hey, why don’t you put this on? It will glam you up a bit, even though we’re only going to Sully’s.”
“Excellent idea.” Jessica brushed her sleek ponytail to the side and tilted her neck forward so Madison could fasten the sterling silver and red coral strand offset by a bold turquoise pendant. “Why, thank you.” While touching the smooth stone, she turned to her daughter with a smile. “What do you think?”
“Lovely, even at your ripe old age,” Madison said with a wink, and then ducked out of the way of a shove. With a giggle, she gestured toward the kitchen. “Why don’t you grab a glass of wine and relax on the balcony while I change out of these sweats? It’s not too chilly out yet. It’s been so unseasonably warm that I put the patio furniture out there already.”
“I think I’ll do that. I just adore the view of the river.” Water always had a calming effect on her. “And it’s great to see so many of the empty units in this building finally being sold or rented by the Cougar staff and baseball players. I’m sure you do a super job showing the model unit.”
“Yeah, I was lucky to land that job. I love living here, so it’s an easy sell. Oh, Mom, I’m so glad that Noah Falcon came back home last year to star in my play. None of this would have happened without him. The stadium is amazing, and I’m so proud of my Jason’s hand in designing it. He has so much more talent than simply doing remodeling.”
“Jason Craig is a fine young man, Madison. Just another reason I’m glad that we moved back to Cricket Creek.”
“Me too. I miss some things about Chicago, but I truly enjoy this little town. And the baseball complex is going to be so much fun!”
“I can’t believe
Wow!
What in the world was coming over her?
Madison tilted her head to the side. “Mom, are you okay?” she asked softly.
“I’m fine,” she assured her daughter with a quick, firm nod. “It’s just stupid middle-aged hormones. It sucks.”
“We don’t have to go,” Madison said uncertainly.
Jessica took a deep breath and shook her head. “No. Suddenly a cold, crisp martini sounds heavenly. And I did promise to celebrate your creative-writing position at Cooper. You know I’m so very proud of you, don’t you, sweetie?”
“Yes, I do.” Madison’s smile wobbled at the corners, but she laughed as she tugged Jessica to her feet. “Happy birthday, Mom. I love you so much,” she said, and sniffed hard. “Now, are you ready to have some fun? You do remember how, right? Look, I totally respect your dedication, but sometimes you work too damned hard.”
Jessica clucked her tongue at her daughter. “For someone so petite and cute, you sure have a potty mouth. Learned it from your aunt Myra,” she said with a chuckle, but Madison’s teasing comment hit a little too close to home. Did she remember how to kick back and have a good time? How long had it been?
Since Ty McKenna last summer
snuck into her brain, but she shoved it away. That magical night had scared the crap out of her. Losing her heart to a player like him would just be plain stupid.
She needed somebody solid and dependable.
What?
She didn’t need anybody! She needed to concentrate on the success of Wine and Diner and not be distracted. While there was a buzz of excitement in the air, everyone in town knew what was riding on the success of the season. She was no exception.
“You didn’t answer the question. Mom, are you
ready
to have some fun?”
“I’m ready!” she insisted with more conviction than she felt, and then gave Madison a quick hug.
“Okay, I’m going to freshen up just a bit,” Madison announced with an excited grin.
“Oh. Am I dressed okay?” Jessica glanced down at her skinny jeans and billowy lemon yellow tunic cinched below her waist with a woven leather belt.
“Sure.” Madison reached down and opened the long box containing the necklace. “Hey, why don’t you put this on? It will glam you up a bit, even though we’re only going to Sully’s.”
“Excellent idea.” Jessica brushed her sleek ponytail to the side and tilted her neck forward so Madison could fasten the sterling silver and red coral strand offset by a bold turquoise pendant. “Why, thank you.” While touching the smooth stone, she turned to her daughter with a smile. “What do you think?”
“Lovely, even at your ripe old age,” Madison said with a wink, and then ducked out of the way of a shove. With a giggle, she gestured toward the kitchen. “Why don’t you grab a glass of wine and relax on the balcony while I change out of these sweats? It’s not too chilly out yet. It’s been so unseasonably warm that I put the patio furniture out there already.”
“I think I’ll do that. I just adore the view of the river.” Water always had a calming effect on her. “And it’s great to see so many of the empty units in this building finally being sold or rented by the Cougar staff and baseball players. I’m sure you do a super job showing the model unit.”
“Yeah, I was lucky to land that job. I love living here, so it’s an easy sell. Oh, Mom, I’m so glad that Noah Falcon came back home last year to star in my play. None of this would have happened without him. The stadium is amazing, and I’m so proud of my Jason’s hand in designing it. He has so much more talent than simply doing remodeling.”
“Jason Craig is a fine young man, Madison. Just another reason I’m glad that we moved back to Cricket Creek.”
“Me too. I miss some things about Chicago, but I truly enjoy this little town. And the baseball complex is going to be so much fun!”
“I can’t believe
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