Free A Penny for Your Thoughts by Bess McBride Page A

Mom. I remember how many times I sobbed on the stationary in my letters...and how patient you were with words of encouragement. I remember the renewed bout of crying after I found out he’d married and how you let me cry on the phone for as long as I needed.”
    “I can’t tell you how painful it was to hear you hurt so much, Penny.”
    With a mother’s heart, Penny understood how distressed her mother must have been to hear her daughter suffer.
    “I know, Mom. I’m sorry.”
    “ You don’t have to be sorry, honey. I’m here for you. But I hear that note in your voice again when you talk about him.”
    “Yeah, I know. I’ve got to be honest with you. If Matt turned to me tomorrow and said, ‘I love you. Come to me,’ I’d drop everything and run to him. I guess he’s probably the love of my life.” Penny chuckled to diffuse the truth of her last clichéd words.
    ****
    His hands stilled as he closed the last dresser drawer. Sounded serious! What a lot of romantic claptrap. Love of her life! He allowed himself the satisfaction of a snort. Who believed in that garbage?
    Well, he sighed, she wasn’t going to be able to drop everything and go running, not if he had anything to say about it. He sat down on the edge of the bed and looked around the tidy, if unlived in, bedroom. The closet was next.
    She had to have them. They had to be here somewhere. Because if he couldn’t find what he was looking for, he was going to have to come up with a way of making her talk. That address book might just come in handy, he thought. After all, there was Mom on the phone...where ever she was. He was pretty sure Penny would give up anything to protect her mother.  
    ****
    Her mother sighed. “I know he’s the love of your life, honey. I’ve always known it. You’re so stubborn.”
    “Is that what it is?” Penny whispered as a tear rolled down her face. Blurry seagulls flew across the sand to land on the water’s edge.
    “Must be.” Her mother cleared her throat. “Did you ever find out why he refused to write after you left?”
    “Not really, Mom. It seems a little late to ask him now.”
    “Well, are you thinking about getting involved with him again? What about your life in Michigan? Travis?”
    “No, Mom, I’m not thinking about getting involved with him again...not really. A girl can dream though.” She gave a watery snort. “Besides, how would I know if he was interested in me? He never really let me know last time. I had to chase him. He’s always been a little...um...reticent about how he feels.” Penny swallowed hard. “Do you know he never even told me he loved me? Maybe he never did.”
    “Oh, Penny. You guys were together for two years. I’m sure he loved you...even if he never said it. You know men. They’re not like us.” Her mother’s chuckle lightened the conversation.
    “You’ve got that right,” Penny said. “Except Dad. He was a sweetie.”
    “Yes, he was, bless his heart. I can’t believe he’s been gone almost five years now.”
    “Me either,” Penny sighed. “I miss him.”
    “I do too, honey. I do too.”
    “So, what about you, Mom? Dating anyone?” Penny couldn’t resist an urge to tease her mother.
    “What! Me? Oh, please... I’m too busy for men. Way too busy.”
    “Oh, really?” Penny emulated her mother’s skepticism.“Yes, really. In between events at the senior center, my charity work and a trip to Europe this summer, where am I going to find time for a man?”
    “You’ve got plenty of time.”
    “And have him try to spend my Social Security check? I think not.” Penny could just see her mother’s dark eyebrows raised in horror. “Nope, I’m just fine.”
    Penny laughed outright, her first in some time, and it felt great.
    “Oh, Mom,” she said as she wiped a tear of laughter from the corner of her eye.
    “So what about Michigan? What about Travis?”
    “Well, since Matt is hardly going to fall in love with me all these years later, Mom, I