Free Bygones by Lavyrle Spencer Page A

to make us some kind of shirttail relatives or something.”
    Bess set down her sandwich. “Yes, it certainly does.”
    â€œI want you to know right up front that Jake and I couldn't be happier. We think the sun rises and sets in your daughter. From the first time Mark brought her home we said to each other, Now there's the kind of girl we'd like for a daughter-in-law. When they told us they were getting married we were just delighted.”
    â€œWhy, thank you. I know Lisa feels the same way about both of you.”
    â€œOf course, we were a little surprised about the baby coming but both Jake and I sat down and had a long talk with Mark, just to make sure that he was doing what he wanted to do, and we came away assured that he had every intention of marrying Lisa anyway, and that they both wanted the baby and are quite excited about it.”
    â€œYes, they told us the same thing.”
    â€œWell we think it's just wonderful. Both of those kids really seem to have their heads on straight.”
    Once again Bess felt a twinge of regret, perhaps even jealousy, because she knew Mark and Lisa as a couple so much less intimately than this woman seemed to.
    â€œI have to be honest with you, Mrs. Padgett, I haven't met Mark many times but last night at supper he certainly seemed straightforward and sincere when he told us this marriage is what he wants, what they both want.”
    â€œWell, we've given them our blessings and now the two of them want very much for all of us to meet, so I suggested a dinner party here at our house and I was hoping we could get together on Saturday night.”
    â€œSaturday night . . .” Her date with Keith; but how could she put one ordinary date before this? “That sounds fine.”
    â€œSay seven o'clock?”
    â€œFine. May I bring something?”
    â€œLisa's brother, is all. All of our kids will be here, too—we've got five of them—so you'll get a chance to meet them all.”
    â€œIt's very kind of you to go to all this trouble.”
    â€œKind?” Hildy Padgett laughed. “I'm so excited I've been getting up nights and making lists!”
    Bess smiled. The woman sounded so likable and breezy.
    â€œBesides,” Hildy went on, “Lisa volunteered to come over and help me. She's going to make the dessert, so all you have to do is be here at seven and we'll get those kids off to a proper start.”
    When she'd hung up, Bess sat motionless in her swivel chair, melancholy in spite of the plans she'd just made. Outside, dusk had fallen, and in the window downstairs the brass lamps were lit, throwing fern-shadow through a plant that hung above the display. In the loft only the desk lamp shone, spreading a wedge of yellow over her work and her half-finished sandwich on its square of white, waxy paper. Lisa was twenty-one, and pregnant, and getting married. Why did it sadden her so? Why did she find herself longing for the days when the children were small?
    Motherlove, she supposed. That mysterious force that could strike at unexpected moments and make nostalgia blossom and fill the heart. She longed, suddenly, to be with Lisa, to touch her, hold her.
    Ignoring the work that needed attention, she leaned forward and dialed Lisa's number.
    â€œHello?”
    â€œHi, honey, it's Mom.”
    â€œOh, hi, Mom. Something wrong? You sound a little down.”
    â€œOh, just a little nostalgic, that's all. I thought if you weren't busy I might come over for a while and we could talk.”
    Thirty minutes later Bess had turned her back on her best design time and was entering the setting of last night's confrontation with Michael. When Lisa opened the door Bess hugged her more tightly and a little longer than usual.
    â€œMom, what's wrong?”
    â€œI guess I'm just being a typical mother, is all. I was sitting there at the store, getting all misty-eyed, remembering when you were little.”
    Lisa gave a foxy grin.