Free Love Gently Falling by Melody Carlson

that?”
    â€œI heard someone come in and thought you were burglars.” She approached them, holding out her hand. “My apologies. I can see that you’re simply with the janitorial service.”
    â€œYeah. I’m Mason,” the taller one said cautiously. “And this is my brother, Drew.”
    She shook both their hands. “But I thought this was Johnny’s account,” she said as she went to get her coat and handbag.
    â€œYou know Johnny?” Mason sounded relieved, but still looked slightly suspicious.
    â€œYes. I went to school with him.”
    â€œAt JFK?” Drew asked with interest. “That’s where we go. Mason’s a senior. I’m a sophomore.”
    â€œYou’re in high school and you work for Jolly Janitors?”
    â€œJust part time. It’s how we’re earning money for college,” Mason explained.
    â€œWell, good for you. And I have to say that everything seemed very clean and neat when I got here this morning. Jolly Janitors do good work.” She pulled on her coat. “I’m going to get out of your way now. I assume you lock up and turn everything off?”
    â€œThat’s right, ma’am,” Drew assured her.
    She told them goodbye then hurried out into the cold dark night. They seemed like nice guys, and it was probably a good job for earning college tuition. But as she drove through the parking lot, she wondered about Johnny. What kind of job was it for a man going on thirty?
    Instead of going home like she’d planned, Rita decided to swing by the hospital. Visiting hours didn’t end until eight. If she hurried she’d be able to spend the last fifteen or twenty minutes with her mom. Of course, when she got to her mom’s room, she remembered that her dad would still be there, too.
    â€œSince you’re here, I think I’ll go home,” Richard quietly told her. “I still haven’t had dinner and I’m a little worn out.”
    â€œYes, yes,” she eagerly said. “No problem.” She waited as he bent down to whisper something in her mom’s ear, watching as her mom’s eyes lit up. Then he gently kissed her, squeezed her hand, and said goodbye.
    â€œSorry to interrupt,” Rita told her mom as she went to her bedside. “But I was eager to talk to you tonight.”
    â€œHah-lo,” she said slowly.
    â€œHello to you, too.” Rita said. “How are you doing?”
    â€œGooo…” Donna made a half smile.
    â€œGlad to hear it.” Now Rita began to tell her mom about finding the green chairs. “They’re such cool chairs, Mom. I can’t believe you kept them all these years. Charlene thinks they’d bring a good price on eBay or—”
    â€œNo.” Donna held up her left hand. “No.”
    Rita patted her hand. “I know. Charlene also said you don’t want to sell them. And I agree with you one hundred percent.”
    Donna’s left eyebrow went up. “Yeah?”
    â€œYeah.” Rita nodded. “The chairs are in fabulous shape, Mom. I sat in them and they’re comfortable, too. I think we should put them back into Hair and Now. I think we should bring Hair and Now back to its former splendor. I was looking at the old photos in the back room. It was such a cool place, Mom. I never really saw it as a kid. At least not that I remember. But it would be a great-looking salon. Very uptown.” She paused. “Am I talking too fast?”
    â€œNooo…”
    â€œDo you like this idea, Mom?”
    â€œYeah…”
    â€œWill you let me go ahead with it?”
    Now Donna looked perplexed.
    â€œAre you worried about money?”
    â€œYeah…”
    â€œI have a little money to spare. I’ve been really good at saving. I want to invest some of it in your salon. I think it’s a worthwhile investment.”
    Donna’s left eyebrow arched again.