Free Sunrise Fires by Heather LaBarge Page B

see much of what was going on out there until the riders came back around again. The place smelled of two-stroke oil/gas mix that burned in the smaller dirt bikes, and of dirt and dust kicked up by the riders. It was a place to inhale your desert environment and let it settle in your nose.
    And yet I loved it here. I loved to watch the guys ride. And as I watched Ryan in these last few weeks, I wished that I had done it more often these past three years. Ryan was a natural on his bike and seemed in his most joyous and complete self when he was riding. Seeing him like that made me love him all the more.

Chapter Eight
    S uddenly, I only had a week to go before my departure. I no longer had to go to work; the new guy had successfully taken the reins. He was ‘good enough’ but not quite living up to my sales records just yet. A secretly prideful side of me felt satisfaction in that. And Germany was ready for me as well. I had packed my entire dresser and most of my closet, though I did leave behind my sexy lingerie and a lavender sachet in Ryan’s underwear drawer. We’d need those when I came home.
    We went to see Kelsea and drop my car off with her, checking on the house that she now rented from me. Typically, we were a close mother and daughter pair, but now that she was married and trying to get her career off the ground, we talked much less than we used to and saw each other infrequently. I think she had gotten a recent case of the ‘catch-ups’ because her younger brother had already been hired as an opener for a fellow stand-up comic on tour around the United States.
    “I won’t stay, hun. I left Ryan out in his car waiting,” I said as I stood in the foyer.
    She kissed my cheek. “How rude, Mom. He can come in, you know.”
    “I know, doll, but if he comes in, the next thing you know, we’ve eaten up your entire evening. I just came by to drop off the Honda.”
    Her eyes brightened as I waved the key. “Remember the deal: start her at least once a week; drive her at least once per month.” She reached for the key, but I drew back, “Right?”
    “Yeah, Mom. Jesus Christ, I’m not sixteen anymore.” Even though Kelsea was shorter than me, she was a powerhouse of a young woman, shrewd and intelligent, determined and pragmatic; I had no reason to worry.
    “I know, hun. You’ve just been so preoccupied lately and…” I trailed off, having run out of excuses. I scanned around the foyer, formal living room, and as much of the rest of the house as I could see from the main entrance. “Place looks great, baby. Thanks for taking such good care of it. How’s the pool look?”
    “Looks great. Looks really great. And the solar heater made it swim-ready in late April.”
    “That’s cool. I’m so glad you guys can enjoy it. Please keep the service while I’m gone, too. The house will run fine if you just leave everything how I had it. If stuff is already running perfectly—”
    “Don’t change a thing.” She completed my sentence and rolled her eyes. “I know, Mom, I know. Your fear of change is hilarious, considering that you decided to go to Germany.” She looked at me with inquisitive golden hazel eyes, but there was no time nor need to reopen the mental trunk holding all my fears and concerns about Germany. She would understand and likely already suspected, but I really couldn’t revisit it again. She waited long enough to allow me to reply before shrugging and continuing awkwardly. “Well…okay, keep that one locked up for now, but eventually, I suspect we’ll be talking about it.” She twirled the key ring around her finger. “I’ll take her for a spin at least once a week, and I’ll keep the pool service and pay all the bills.” She paused, looking at me mischievously. “I’ll also buy groceries and feed myself. I might go to work, and I might do laundry sometimes, too, though I am considering both of those optional at the moment.”
    “Okay. Okay. I can take a hint.” I hugged her