Page 59 of Love in Overdrive

Chapter 20

Laney slid into the booth across from her mother at Rumor’s Café. The local café was an anchor in Gray Duck Grove and the hub of everything gossip. Laney would have preferred to go someplace quiet to tell her mother about her brush with death, like her house with no prying eyes. No such luck.

“It’s so nice to spend some time together. You’ve been so busy lately.” Her mom’s big, dark glasses reflected Laney’s forced smile.

Laney’s phone rang.

She exhaled, thankful for the distraction, even if she shouldn’t be. Unknown number. She sent it to voicemail. She stared at her phone a minute longer. One question ran through her mind. How could she broach the subject of the robbery without her mom imploding?

The last thing Laney needed was to get sidetracked and have her mother find out from someone else. That would be a global meltdown. There was a reason Sawyer didn’t tell Mom about Laney being missing. She would have called out the national guard if she could.

Laney gripped her new phone so tight, her knuckles turned white. She had to tell her. And she would, but Laney needed to brace herself for the experience first. Knowing her mom, she would not take it well. There would be screams, tears, and a few “poor babies”. Laney just hoped Mom wouldn’t faint.

All she needed was the right opportunity.

Chicken. Quit stalling.

She inhaled deeply and let the air out in a long, slow breath. “Yeah, busy. About that, you heard about the robbery—”

“Hey, ladies. How are you doin’ today?” Betty asked as she sauntered up to their table, menus in hand.

Laney sighed. Just when she’d built up her nerve, she was delayed. She slumped back into the booth.

“Well, I just had my eye exam. Hence the stylish shades. Now, I get to enjoy lunch with my daughter. She’s been so busy lately that we never see each other anymore.”

“No wonder, with all the excitement you had this week.” Betty patted her hand.

Oh, no, no, no. Laney needed a distraction. Pronto. She scanned the table. Nothing. Where was a glass of water to knock over when she needed one? Laney turned to the server with a pleading expression. She shook her head. It looked like a muscle spasm for sure, but she didn’t care. She tried sending mental messages… Please don’t.

“Exciting? What happened?” Her mom’s full attention circled around Laney.

Too late. Betty’s eyes sparkled. She had the source of the hot gossip in her booth, and no way she’d let this golden opportunity pass by.

Laney opened her mouth to answer, but Betty was on a roll.

“Oh, it’s all over the news…”

Fudge nuggets. Call the paramedics, her mom was going to have a coronary, and Laney couldn’t do a thing about it, not once Betty spooled up. Laney dropped her gaze to the laminate tabletop. Pieces of her last two days flowed in and out of her mind as Betty spilled the tea.

Laura reached across the table and latched onto Laney’s hand.

Laney peeked through her eyelashes to find her mother clutching her other hand to her chest. Her beautiful face blanched at the first mention of the armed robber. It somehow grew paler to a chalky white the longer Betty went on.

She had to admit, Betty told the story better than Laney could have herself. The older woman only embellished a bit for dramatic effect. But Laney was thankful Betty didn’t know the whole story, or Laney would be blushing redder than a stop-sign.

Worried about her mother’s lack of color and speech, Laney squeezed her hand, trying to attract her attention. “I was going to tell you. Today.”

Her mother made small squeaking sounds.

“Mom, I’m okay.”

Laura got up, pulled Laney to her feet, and enveloped her in a crushing hug that stole her very last breath from her lungs. Wet tears landed on her neck.

Dang it. Her own nose stung and moisture welled in her eyes. “Really, Mom, I’m okay. I was going to tell you over lunch.”

Another set of arms wrapped around them. Betty. She squeezed them tight. “I’m glad you’re alright, girlie. I’ll bring you two some waters and give you a minute to look over the menus.” Betty moved off to check on another table.

A chime came from her purse. This time, it was a text message. Laney peeled free from her mom’s embrace and checked her phone. It was the same number. She glanced between her mom and the phone. “Mom, I need to check this.” Not really, but both of them could use a minute.