What a Mother Knows Read Free

“But I’m glad you didn’t have to sleep a hundred years for a prince to wake you with a kiss.”
    â€œFive months was long enough,” Cathy agreed. She glanced at her husband, still deep in conversation with Drew. “You can miss a lot in five months.”
    â€œI didn’t mind missing my fortieth birthday,” Michelle said.
    â€œI’ll drink to that,” Julie said. She picked up the bottle of champagne and read the card. “Who’s Becca? And more importantly, will she mind if I open this?”
    Michelle shook her head. “She’s my best friend from film school. Sorry she’s not here, but she’s a party girl—wouldn’t want it to go to waste.”
    When the cork popped, Tyler looked in through the French doors from the backyard. Cathy’s son Cody, another strapping sixteen year old, wiped his hands on his grass-stained baseball pants and opened the door while Tyler held Bella back. They came inside and headed over.
    â€œDon’t even think about it,” Cathy warned her son as he eyed the bottle.
    Julie poured champagne into party cups and handed them out for a toast. Michelle sneezed, nearly spilling hers. “I think my drinking days are over. I could use a decent cup of coffee, though. Hospital coffee is like watered down mud.”
    â€œThat’s on purpose, my friend,” Lexi said.
    â€œWant us to go to the store?” Tyler offered. “I have my driver’s permit.”
    Michelle nodded at Drew, who was devouring another lemon bar as he spoke with Cathy’s husband. “Go ask your father.” She watched them each grab a slice of cake on the way. “Lexi, could you wrap up a nice corner piece and hide it in the fridge for Nikki? I don’t trust these boys.”
    Lexi chuckled and took a piece to the kitchen. Michelle looked up to see Cathy’s puzzled expression.
    â€œNikki’s back?”
    â€œShe will be tomorrow. Probably sleep all day after that long flight from Australia. You heard she’s an exchange student, didn’t you? Drew says the school in Sydney has a great photography program.”
    Cathy exchanged looks with Julie.
    Michelle noticed. “I know it’s on the other side of the world. But Drew shot a miniseries there and one of the crew knows the host family, so it’s safe. What was she going to do, spend her senior year at my bedside?”
    Cathy smiled. “You must be excited to see her.”
    â€œYou have no idea—ten months of nothing but messages. Feels like forever.” Michelle frowned at Lexi as she returned.
    â€œThe hospital doesn’t allow Skype or cell phones because of the cameras. It’s a privacy issue,” Lexi explained. “Patients do have access to unit phones.”
    â€œYes, but the time change is murder,” Michelle said. “I always end up leaving voice mails. By the time Nikki calls back, I don’t have the phone anymore. The messages the nurses passed along were short and sweet, but she seems happy.”
    â€œProbably because you’re better,” Cathy said.
    â€œShe did sound sad after the accident,” Michelle said. “Visiting hours were so limited and I was pretty doped up. She sent me one of those voice-recorded greeting cards. I play it so often I worry the computer chip will break.” Michelle felt the pinpricks of tears. She sipped her water and blinked them away, smiling. “Now she thinks postcards of the Sydney Opera House are enough.”
    â€œTeenagers,” Julie replied.
    Cathy nodded and looked over at Cody and Tyler, who had given up on borrowing the car and were licking frosting from their fingers. Lexi noticed and took them napkins. “It’s nice to see the boys together.”
    Michelle agreed. “I’m sorry they don’t see each other more. My mother got Tyler into that boarding school before I was well enough to protest.”
    â€œBe