“Mom, you made it.” 22 year old Hayley Monroe exclaimed as she opened the door to her apartment and saw her mother standing on the other side.
“Well of course I did honey. Did you expect me not to?” Collette Monroe, Hayley’s mother asked. She moved into the apartment, carrying a bag and a suitcase with her. “Oh, it’s so good to see you again, honey.” She said, setting down her bundles and hugging her daughter. “You don’t know how much I’ve missed you.”
Hayley responded with a hug of her own. “Sure I do Mom. I’ve missed you too.”
Collette stepped back and looked into her daughters pale blue eyes. “Did you really?” She asked. Collette’s eyes matched her daughters. In fact, the two resembled each other very much so. They both had the same pale blue eyes, fine, straight, shoulder length honey colored hair, both women stood at 5’7 and were both lean and thin. The only difference between the two other than age, was their noses. Hayley had a nose like her father‘s; short, straight and a splatter of freckles over it.
Hayley nodded and hugged her mother again. “Yes, Momma. I have missed you.
”Collette hugged her daughter again, this time a little more tightly. “Good.” Then she moved back and picked her belongings up. “Now, show me this apartment of yours.”
Hayley laughed and closed the door behind her mother. “Well, come this way.” She headed into the living room, Collette following.
Hayley showed her mother around the small, yet quaint apartment, and ended up in the 2nd bedroom, where Collette would be staying. After helping her mom put her belongings away the two sat down atop the four poster bed.
“So...how’s Jesse?” Her mother asked, mentioning Hayley’s steady boyfriend of two years.
Hayley nodded. “He’s doing good. He’s pretty busy with the firm though. I told you he got accepted as an intern, and they require a lot of his time. But he enjoys it.” She smoothed the quilted bedspread that lay across the bed, then she checked her watch. “He should be home in about an hour or so. He was pretty excited you were coming also.”
Collette smiled. “Was he really now? I would have figured he wouldn’t want the mother of his girlfriend around much.”
Hayley shook her head. “Oh no. He said he was glad you were coming. We need to use the guest bedroom. We did get a two bedroom apartment for a reason.”
Collette rubbed her daughters knee and smiled. “And use the bedroom I will.” Then she straightened up. “Oh, did I mention that I got a call from Denise McLean a few days ago?”
Hayley shook her head. “No, I don’t think you did. Denise McLean?” She seemed to be in thought. “Oh, that’s the woman you used to work with, and have lunch every Saturday with, right?” She gave her mother an unsure look.
“That’s correct. You have an excellent memory, that was years ago.” Collette nodded. “Well, I told her I was going to be in town for a week and she invited us out to dinner with her and her son. You remember Alex, right?”
Hayley thought again. “She used to bring him to the luncheons if I remember.”
Again Collette nodded. “Yes, and they’re both going to be at dinner.”
Hayley’s eyes grew wide. “He’s the one who became famous, didn’t he?”
“Yeah, that’s right. He went off to Europe with his group, some Boy something, or something Boys....I don’t quite remember their name.” Collette’s brow furrowed as she tried to remember, then she shrugged. “But anyway that’s not important. The dinner is for Thursday at seven at The Olive Garden. I do hope you’ll be able to come with me. I would love for Denise to see you. Oh, and ask Jesse also, he’s been invited to come too.”
This time it was Hayley’s turn to nod. “Thursday? I don’t think we’ve got anything planned. I tried to keep the calendar open for your visit, so we’d be able to spend time together. So, we should be able to go.”
Collette smiled. “Great! It’s been so long since I’ve seen Denise. I get a Christmas card every Christmas, but it’ll be nice to see her again.” She stood up off the bed. “Alright now missy, it’s time to feed your dear old mother.”
Hayley laughed and stood up also. “Mom, you know you’re not old. You are only 44.”
Collette wrapped an arm around Hayley’s shoulders as the two headed out of the bedroom. “Yes that is old dear.” She told her daughter. “Anything past 40 is over the hill.”
“I thought anything over 50 was over the hill.” Hayley responded, as they maneuvered through the living room and into the kitchen. “Geez, if you’re old, than Grandma must be ancient!”
“You’re grandmother is ancient. Just don’t tell her that!” Collette half whispered.
Hayley laughed and shook her head. “Ok, I won’t.” She turned to her mom as the two came to a stop in the kitchen. “I’m really glad you came down to see me.”Collette pulled her daughter in for another hug. “Me too Hayley. Me too.” Just than a loud grumbling sounded. She pushed Hayley back and held onto her shoulders. “Did you hear that? That was my stomach telling you to feed me.”
Hayley let out another laugh. “Ok then, tell your stomach the food is coming.”
Collette smiled and took a seat on a bar stool at the counter while Hayley rummaged through the fridge looking for something her mother would like to eat. She pulled out a spaghetti salad, forks, plates, glasses, and some soda, and the two sat down to a small, yet very appealing lunch.
Back to:
Main Page
Main Story Page
Unexpected Index
