“I lowered my rates to get my old clients back, but they didn’t want to go through the hassle of changing cleaners again. People there used to care about each other, but it’s changed, and as much as I wanna deny it, I can’t anymore.”
“Change like that is so hard.”
“I just miss the town it used to be. Honestly, being here is the closest I’ve felt in years.”
“Are you in a position to move?” I asked. “Hell, we’d be happy to keep you.”
“That’s sweet,” she said. “Before recently, I never would have considered it. My husband and I met there. Hell, he cameinto this world and left it there.” Her eyes grew wet. “I never thought I’d ever wanna leave.”
It was like looking in a mirror. I would never want to sell Mom’s house, not with all the history there.
“Take your time with something like that,” I said softly. “If you can, just think on it. Something might pop up that’ll tell you what you should do.”
“Yeah,” she said. “It just might.” I smiled and gave her a moment to feel her emotions. Then she let out a laugh and wiped at her eyes. “Oh, look at me, crying on a stranger.”
“It’s pretty normal for around here. Don’t worry about it.”
“I at least need to get cleaned up before my son sees me like this. He’s such a worrywart, I swear.”
She went back into the fitting room, and gears turned in my mind. She’d mentioned her son twice, and the more I looked at her, the more I realizedshewasn’t familiar.
Her facial structure was.
“All put together now,” she said when she was done. “I’ll help you put this back.”
“Oh, I’ve got it.”
“Honey, please let me help.”
“It’s nearing five, and Dean’s done working around now.”
“Yeah, he is. I’m sure he—” She paused. “Wait a minute, why did you mention Dean?”
“He’s your son, isn’t he?”
Virginia’s jaw went slack. “How the hell did you figure that out?”
“You look alike,” I replied. “And I’m good at reading people.”
“No kidding. I didn’t mean to lie or anything. I just had to meet you, considering ...” She looked at my stomach.
So she knew.
“I’m not easily scared off.” I shook my head. “It’s great to meet you. We would have to get to know each other eventually.”
“Just know that if you need anything, I’m here. Well, for now I am, until I go home. But I’ll answer the phone. Or drive. Just ask Dean.”
I had a feeling Dean wouldn’t tell me if I did.
“That’s very sweet of you, and I’ll definitely take you up on that. I’m still figuring things out.”
“As you should, I can’t believe you found out so far in!”
“Yeah. That’s what I get for having an irregular cycle.”
“Tell me about it. Mine was terrible and it took me years to get pregnant with Dean. I don’t know if you have that issue, though.”
I let out a laugh. “No, obviously I don’t. Let me at least ring you up.”