Free Karma's a Killer by Tracy Weber Page A

it—you lied to me. You told me your mother was dead.”
    â€œFirst, stop calling her that. I didn’t have a mother. A mother doesn’t take off when her child is a toddler, then drop by unannounced thirty years later because she happens to be in the neighborhood.”
    Rene remained silent.
    â€œSecond, I didn’t lie to you; I simply skirted the truth. The last time I saw Daisy, Dharma, or whatever her name is, I was barely three. After that, she was too busy saving the world to spend time with me.” I couldn’t keep the resentment out of my voice. “As far as I was concerned, she was dead.”
    â€œThat doesn’t seem fair,” Rene chided. “And bitterness doesn’t suit you. Seriously, why didn’t you tell me about her? I thought we shared everything.”
    I couldn’t explain my relationship with Dharma to myself, let alone anyone else, but I had to try.
    â€œHonestly, Rene, it didn’t seem important.”
    Rene leaned back and narrowed her eyes, clearly skeptical. “What kind of kid thinks her mother isn’t important?”
    â€œYou’re right. When I was young, I did care. I wanted to see her so much that I ached.” I swallowed to clear the tightness in my throat. “I dreamed about having a mother. I made up fairytales to justify her absence. When I got old enough to understand that none of my stories were true—that she’d simply abandoned me—I got mad. Anger was less painful than feeling rejected. When the anger died down, all I had left was indifference.” I shrugged. “By the time you and I became friends, it didn’t seem relevant.”
    Rene arched her eyebrows.
    â€œOr that’s what I told myself.” I took a long drink of my lukewarm latte.
    â€œDoes Michael know?”
    â€œNot yet, and don’t you tell him, either. He’d just insist on having some sort of family reunion.”
    â€œI thought you promised not to keep secrets from him anymore.”
    â€œI did, and I won’t. I’ll tell him all about Dharma just as soon as she leaves town.” I frowned. “Trouble is, she wants to get together.”
    Rene’s reply was uncharacteristically soft. “What are you going to do?”
    â€œI have no idea. Ignore her and hope she goes away? Invite her over to bake cookies? Go to the Greenwood Spa and get matching mani-pedis?” I tossed what was left of my napkin onto my plate. “Part of me wants to tell her to leave Seattle and never come back, but I can’t. I keep thinking about George.”
    â€œYour friend that was killed last year? What does he have to do with your mother?”
    â€œGeorge deserted his daughter when she was a child, too. I know he screwed up, but he was a good man, and when he finally reached out to his daughter, she turned him away.” Tears burned the backs of my eyes. “I don’t blame her. That’s my first impulse, too. But if she hadn’t, George might still be alive. How can I do the same thing?”
    â€œWhat did you tell her?”
    â€œNothing. I froze. I stood there like an idiot with my mouth hanging open. Dharma told me to think it over and let her know. She’s coming back tomorrow after my Flow Yoga class.” My lower lip trembled. “Why did she have to come back now? I haven’t seen her in almost thirty years.”
    Rene stalled for time by taking a long drink of her mocha. “I hate to say it, but you should prepare yourself to be disappointed. She probably wants something from you.”
    â€œLike what?”
    â€œMaybe she needs money. Isn’t that what long-lost relatives usually come looking for?”
    â€œIf she’s come to harvest the money tree, she’s going to be sorely disappointed. It’s been completely picked dry. Michael and I have put every penny into the kitchen remodel.” I pushed my uneaten bagel to the side. “With my luck