Mommy in Training

“Thanks.” A moment passed. It felt like an eternity.

Filling the gap, Matt gestured to his right. “I, uh, really the like your front windows.”

Minnie turned to where he pointed at her Back To School display. “Thanks. Alice and I tried real hard on them.” Oh, for heaven’s sakes! Tried real hard?

“And, Minnie…I was sure sorry to hear about Paige.”

Just hearing her sister’s name still brought pain. “I appreciate that. She’s missed by a lot of people.”

“I suspect so.” Leaning forward, Matt braced two elbows on the counter. “I heard you’re raising her daughter, Kimber.”

“I am.”

A tiny silence stretched for what seemed like an hour, or maybe just a couple of seconds. No matter what, it felt too long.

Minnie picked up the card and scanned it. “Two fifty-seven, Matt.”

He pulled out a five dollar bill. “I guess we’ll be seeing each other around town some. I’m buying Mrs. Wyzecki’s house. Heard you live right across the street.”

“I do.” She handed him his change. “I sure am going to miss Wanda living there.”

His eyes narrowed.

Minnie realized she’d effectively said she wasn’t looking forward to him being there. Great. Yet another super interchange between her and Matt. “We’re real close.”

“Oh.”

She pasted on a smile. “If you need anything…just let me know.”

“Thanks. I’ll do that.”

Minnie watched as he walked to the door. She was tempted to ask exactly why he’d come back, what he’d been doing since he’d been gone. But it wasn’t the time and, frankly, none of her business.

As a matter of fact, she should know better than to even care. She had Kimber and work. And, well, it hadn’t been all that long since Peter had dumped her like a pile of logs. Only six months.

She did not need to be mooning over Matt Madigan.

At least not anymore.

EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE Kimber would do something that was exactly like Paige. An idiosyncrasy that made Minnie want to laugh and cry all at the same time.

Or, like at that very moment, want to go back to bed and retreat from the world because things were just too hard.

This was one of those moments.

Arms folded across her chest, the five-year-old held her ground. “Why can’t I go down the street by myself? I’m real good on my bike.”

Minnie’s dad had taught Kimber to ride a two-wheeler last week. Now, in the little girl’s mind, there was no turning back.

“Kimber, you just learned to ride. You’re not ready to go out by yourself.”

“I am, too.”

“No, I don’t think so. You don’t even know everyone around here yet. What if you got lost?”

“I won’t.”

“But you could. Sweetheart, if something happened to you, I’d be so sad. Besides, it’s too early to go out and play. It’s only seven. Most people are still eating their cereal.” Minnie pointed to the little girl’s bowl, a pile of soggy rice puffs floating on the top. “Sit down and eat.”

“I’m done.”

“Then you’ll just have to be patient. I’ll have time to go out with you in an hour.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Oh, well.”

“I wish I was home.” With a scowl Kimber went back to her room and closed her door, just as Paige had done when she hadn’t gotten her way.

And Paige had always wanted her way.

For a split second, Minnie glanced at the phone. She could call Mrs. Wyzecki and ask for advice. In a flash, Wanda would stride over and come to the rescue.

It’s what she’d done ever since Kimber arrived. Time and again Minnie wondered why Paige had named her Kimber’s guardian. Not her parents.

Had it been because they were closer in age? Or was it because Paige had figured Minnie would never have her own kids?

Or had Paige just not been thinking? Her sister had always been the type of girl who never thought anything bad would happen.

And usually nothing ever had.

From birth, Paige seemed to have been born under a lucky star. School had been easy for her. So had everything else. She’d never had a weight struggle, never had a pimple that she couldn’t wish off her face.

Boys had liked her, college entrance exams had, too. Paige had not only gotten into every university she’d applied to, but had been awarded scholarship money, as well.

Yep, Paige had been the type of woman who people stopped and stared at. She’d been striking and confident. Polished and successful. Her husband, Jeremy, had been the same way. They’d gotten married in Jeremy’s hometown of Phoenix and began their careers. Two years later, Kimber had been born.

Yes, Paige’s life had been perfect. So perfect she’d never had a problem reminding Minnie of that.

Which was yet another reason she and Paige had never been especially close.

Minnie was trying to do her best by Kimber, who was willful and grieving. But most of the time, her best didn’t seem good enough. Once more, Minnie imagined everyone around her knew it. Peter sure had.

Chapter Three

Matt tried to remember the last time his arms had felt like they were on fire. In high school when the coach had called practices both morning and night? Last January when he’d hired that personal trainer who’d damn near killed him in one session?

As he gingerly stretched his arms overhead, Matt wished he’d been lifting weights with a little more frequency. Maybe then he wouldn’t be glaring at the thirty boxes of hardcover books he’d just sorted, packed and lugged to the garage. They now sat in the middle of two bedrooms’ worth of furniture and a box of cast-iron pots and pans.