Poker Posse 1: Looking at Rose Read Free Page A

reached up and cupped Rose’s face in her soft hands. “I wish I could take those feelings away, but I can’t. You’re a strong woman who knows who you are and what you want. But I do understand how you feel.”
    Rose shook her head and turned back to the bench. “How can you, Mama? You’re normal-sized. You’re not like me.”
    “Rosamund Leigh Whittman, you aren’t the only one who feels like an outsider. How do you think it feels for me when I’m around my friends?”
    Confused, Rose swung around and watched her mother tap her foot in irritation with her arms crossed over her ample chest. “But they’re your friends. You’ve known them since you all were babies.”
    “And there are times I wonder why I’m with them. I’m nothing like them.”
    “But—”
    Viola held up a finger as she ticked off each point. “Betty Jo has a PhD from MIT in electrical engineering and worked for NASA. Mabel has law and political science degrees from Duke and was mayor of Magnolia three times. Twice she ran unopposed. Lucy has worked as the nursing supervisor at the county hospital, not to mention being the head ER and Trauma nurse in one of Savannah’s busiest hospitals. And Raelene. As fickle about men as that woman is, she found the time to get herself an MBA and develop and run a premiere marketing and advertising firm. Now tell me, why wouldn’t I feel inadequate next to them?”
    Rose was stunned by her mother’s revelation. She’d always known about the accomplishments of her mother’s friends. Norah, Ellie, Mirrie, and Ari had always been proud of their mothers’ careers just like she was, but it amazed Rose how close to her own feelings her mother’s were. “You have a master’s degree in library science and you ran the school district library program for thirty years. I think that’s equally amazing.”
    “And you own and run your own store and online catalog business. What I’m trying to say is—”
    Rose interrupted. “I get it, Mama. We all feel different, not quite right, sometimes.”
    Viola seemed relieved. “Yes.”
    With the part in hand, Rose moved back to the car. “I get it, but it’s just a little hard when I tower over everyone.”
    “Not everyone. There’s Parker Greene; he’s as tall as you.”
    “True, but he’s a guy, and he looked better with Mirabeth when they were married. She’s the closest to my height, but she’s only five eight.”
    “Height isn’t everything.”
    Rose snorted and worked to loosen the bolts securing the connector to the battery cable. “It is when most guys can’t look you in the eye.”
    Viola laughed and settled back onto the stool. “Baby, very few men look a woman in the eye.”
    They’d had this conversation a few times when she was a teenager and right before she left for the culinary institute, so Rose finished her mom’s statement for her, “Especially when it isn’t the head on their shoulders they’re thinking with.”
    “Exactly.”
    Ibraham looked her in the eye. Always. In the year she’d known him, Rose couldn’t think of a single instance when he was talking to her that his gaze ever dipped below her chin. Not that she’d be offended by his attention. Oh no, offended was the last thing she’d ever be if he decided to take his friendly pats or pecks to the next level. Just the thought of doing more with Ibraham had Rose’s temperature rising. Her body ached. While she scraped the corrosion from the battery cable, Rose decided it was a good thing she still had to take her shower before she headed over to Miss Lucy’s house, where Helena was playing hostess for the night. She’d have to take care of that particular ache after her mom left.
    “Honey, I can call Ray.”
    Rose was startled from her thoughts by her mom’s comment. She rolled her eyes at her juvenile reaction, then smiled at her mother. “Uncle Ray had two engines and a transmission to rebuild, not to mention a few oil changes lined up. If you wait for him