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I understand now why Jonsie isn’t like the other stuck-up kids at school. It’s because she’s just like her mom. And her mom is obviously incredible.
I look to my friend who must catch on to the fact that my mom’s two seconds away from tossing me back into the car, because her face suddenly falls. My lips curl up into a small reassuring smile as I mouth the words, “it’s okay.” Shoulders slumping, I don’t wait for her to cause a scene. Instead, I turn to make my way back toward the car.
“I don’t know, Nick.” Mrs. Conners’ words stop me in my tracks. “I’m thinking I got it wrong. I originally thought I said Burke, but I really think I said Brooke.”
I glance over my shoulder at them, my gaze shifting from Jonsie to her mom before coming to rest on Nicky.
“You know…” Nicky’s head does that puppy dog tilt again, only it doesn’t make him look sweet and innocent. No, it makes him look like he’s scheming. “Now that you mention it, Ma, I wasn’t paying close attention this morning. You very well could have messed it up.”
Mrs. Conners tsks, pulling Jonsie into her other side before continuing. “Welp, there’s only one way to solve this. Belinda, I know we originally scheduled an hour playdate but I must insist Daphne stay for dinner so Mitch can meet her. That way she can clear up any obvious mistakes I made earlier.”
My heart leaps into my throat.
Who is this woman?
A saint. An actual freakin’ saint.
I turn toward my mother just in time to see her familiar fake smile slip back into place. It doesn’t matter that Mrs. Conners offended her a minute ago. There’s no way she’s passing this opportunity up.
“Of course, Shannon. And don’t worry, mistakes happen all the time. Anyway, I’m sure with how close our girls are, we’ll be seeing plenty of one another.”
“I don’t doubt that.” Mrs. Conners’ smile looks frozen in place as she waves to my mother, who’s already getting back in her car.
“Daphne, be good, sweetheart!” She forces the last word out like it physically hurts her. It’s not a term she’d ever waste on me if there were no one around to witness it. “Shannon, just give a shout when you’ve had your fill, and I’ll send someone to fetch her.”
And with that, Mommie Dearest disappears down the driveway faster than you can blink.
I slowly turn, nervously picking at the skin around my thumbnail. “Thank you,” I whisper, shuffling my feet. “I’m so sorry for her… for how she—”
“Hey, now.” Mrs. Conners steps forward, cutting me off. She drops down to one knee, placing a steady hand over my anxious ones. “I think now’s a good time to go over the rules in this house. Rule number one: We don’t apologize for the actions of other people. You hear me?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I nod.
“Oof.” She snickers. “Rule number two, lovebug—I am Shannon, Shan, Ma, Mama. Hell, I’d take ‘Hey, you’ before I accept ma’am. Okay?”
An unexpected chuckle slips from my throat. “Yes, Shannon.”
She smiles, and unlike the ones she’d been forcing for my mother’s benefit, I can tell this one is real. It warms me from the inside out, making me feel safe. Making me feel like I matter.
Shannon pushes up to stand, and Jonsie rushes to my side, looping her arm with mine. “Okay, what are you wearing?” She giggles as she swats at the skirt of my dress.
“Trust me, I didn’t pick it.”
“It’s ridiculous,” Nicky states matter-of-factly, and I fight the urge to wince.
“What Nicky means to say—” Shannon hops in “—is that while it is a beautiful dress, it’s probably not very practical for an outdoor autumn hangout session. Right, Nick?” She arches her brow at him.
“I’m assuming anything other than ‘yes’ is going to result in a foot in my butt?”
“Yes.”
“Then yes, that’s exactly what I meant.”
“Still rude, I see.”
Nicky turns his attention to me. “Always.” One side of his mouth tips up into a crooked grin and, crap, those stupid butterflies are back.
Jonsie squeezes my arm as she looks between us. “How do you guys know each other?”
