All I Ever Wanted(78)

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"Whoa, that feisty new color looks good on you, in more ways than one," Arabella said, amazed at the change in her mother.

"Joe likes it. He says-"

"La, la, la, la!" Arabella put her hands over her ears and her mother laughed.

"Okay, I got sidetracked. The point is, Bella, that if Heartbeat travels, you don't have to be with them all the time. You can still pursue your own dreams, whatever they may be. I hope that you'll spend part of your time here. And now that I'm retired, we can do some traveling. Hang out." She closed her eyes for a moment and pressed her lips together. "Make up for lost time."

"I'm down with that."

"Great . . . Wait, that means yes, right?"

Arabella laughed. "Yes, and I'm looking forward to it." Her mom's eyes got misty. "Hey, I hear a phone ringing and it isn't mine. Is ‘Bad to the Bone' really your ringtone?"

"Joe put it on there thinking it was funny. I have no clue how to remove it."

Arabella laughed. Joe always seemed so straitlaced. It was going to be fun getting to know this side of her stepfather.

"Oh, I must have left my cell phone in the dining room where the rest of the cookies are cooling. I hear it now."

"Okay, I'm going to use the bathroom while you check your phone," Arabella said, and walked down the hallway to the small first-floor half bath. She shook her head and then smiled. Her mother with red hair? Drinking wine? She vaguely remembered her having the occasional special-event cocktail. But seeing her loosen up? Talking feminism while in an apron, baking cookies? The thought went through Arabella's head that women no longer had to choose one thing or another. . . . Her conversation with her mother reminded her what previous generations had accomplished to give her that freedom.

Arabella could hear her mother talking to someone in a low tone in the dining room, so she lugged her suitcase upstairs into her old bedroom. Flicking on the light, she had to smile at the frilly, pink room. Remnants of her childhood were scattered on the shelves and walls. She was suddenly glad that Cynthia didn't want to live here so Arabella could keep the memories intact. Eventually, she'd make changes to the décor, but for now, she needed the comfort of the house that had meant so much to her.

When Arabella reentered the fragrant, warm kitchen, her mother was uncorking another bottle of wine. "Really, Mom?" Arabella asked, not that she minded. 

"I just think that tonight deserves a celebration," Mindy said, jumpy with excitement.

"Well, you don't have to twist my arm about it. It's been a long drive and a chill evening drinking wine sounds perfect. Are you staying the night, or will Joe come and pick you up?"

"Yes, I'd love to stay over. Let's order pizza and have a slumber party."

Arabella laughed and felt the earlier tension melt away. Her mother topped off their glasses and then raised hers in the air. "Cheers!" she said, and tapped her glass to Arabella's. Her eyes misted over. "I love you, Arabella. Oh my goodness, this is just so wonderful!" She stomped her feet on the floor. "I just love unexpected good news."

"Is there something you're not telling me?"

"Oh!" Her eyes widened. "No! I'm just so excited at this unexpected . . . visit! And here I thought it was going to be a boring night baking cookies."

"You didn't seem bored. And since when do you drink wine?"

"Oh, since I've retired I've taken up new interests. I went to a wine tasting and didn't know what I was missing! Joe is into craft beer and so we have date night. It's just something new and fun. Well, the book club might be a bit of an excuse for . . ." She tapped her glass. "Shhh!" she said, and laughed. "Not that we don't read the selections. My turn is next and I'm going to pick a juicy romance novel, not something sad and depressing." She gave Arabella a wide smile. "You have to love a happy ending."

Arabella thought of Jimmy's book and nodded. "True."

"Please tell me you'll stay for a few days?"

"Sure I will. I'd planned on it. And I was going to call you as soon as I was settled in. My decision to come here was sudden," she said with a touch of guilt.

"Oh, no, you don't."

"What?"

"Feel bad for doing what you needed to do."

Arabella smiled at her mother. "Having you here was a nice surprise. And you're right, we need to hang out and make up for lost time. Let the slumber party begin!"