“While I appreciate the… interest, I’m not dating her.” My mother was more than interested in her children’s lives. I was pretty positive she had somehow convinced Darrin and Lynn—through some weird telepathic co
mmunication—to have kids right away.
“Oh.”
With a laugh, I threw some fruit into the blender along with some protein powder. “Don’t sound so devastated. She’s a nice woman, and I wouldn’t mind getting to know her better. She’s a breath of fresh air after all the women in Chicago.”
“Oh!” she squealed. “Tell me more!”
“Mom, don’t get your hopes up.”
“Don’t get my hopes up? Michael Murphy, the last time you were even remotely interested in a woman was years ago!”
I rolled my eyes and poured some almond milk into the blender. “It was more like ten months ago, Mom.”
“Lori?” She scoffed. “Oh, please, Mike. Even I know that was a booty call.”
My eyes widened in horror as I held my finger over the button to blend my shake.
“What did you just say?” I asked.
“Nothing, nothing. Moving on. Now, what has made you not ask Syd—”
I hit the button on the blender, drowning out my mother’s voice. “Sorry, Mom. I can’t hear you right now.”
She simply spoke louder.
“Blond hair? Dark hair?”
I pushed the next button, and the blender got louder.
Finally, my mother stopped talking, and I stopped blending, removed the pitcher, and poured my protein drink into my Yeti cup.
“Ha-ha. I know what you were doing, Michael.”
“What do you mean?”
“Fine, we don’t have to talk about her. You will let me know when you ask her out though, won’t you?”
“Mom, was there a reason you called other than to check in and say hi?”
“Yes. Actually, there is.”
Her voice turned grave, and my heart felt like it stopped for a quick moment. “Is anyone—”
“Everyone is fine. I thought I should give you a warning.”
“Okay,” I said, sitting down and tossing the stick Maggie Maye had brought into the house with her. It probably wasn’t the best idea to play fetch in the house, but desperate times called for desperate measures.