Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 145823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
But this time, Claire had told her she would. Otherwise, Finley never would have expected her. My dislike of the woman exploded into pure loathing. How the hell did you not show up to Mother’s Day tea at your daughter’s school? The same way you walk out when she’s a baby.
“Why didn’t she come?” Her little face tucked into my neck as I rubbed circles on her back.
“What can I do to help you, honey?” I didn’t know how to answer her question, so I asked one of my own.
She shook her head and pulled out of the hug, but as her eyes fell, she paused. “You have the necklace!” A smile lit up her face as she snarfled up the snot her tears had brought on. “Do you like it?”
“I love it,” I assured her. “I just haven’t seen you to say thank you yet, so thank you, Finley. It’s beautiful.”
“I picked gold,” she announced with a solemn nod. “Dad found the blue.”
“You chose perfectly. It’s the most beautiful necklace I’ve ever seen.”
She batted away the last of her tears with the back of her hand, and I dug into my handbag for a tissue, then held it up to her nose. She blew, which solved the snot problem.
“Finley, we should really call your mom, or we need to head back in there, sweetheart,” Mrs. Kozier said gently, glancing at me with an apologetic look.
“Morgan, do you want to come to tea?” Fin’s eyebrows popped up as she asked.
Oh, my heart. “If you want me to, honey, I can come in. I’ll just tell the desk that I’m running late for the meeting, okay?”
Finley nodded exuberantly, taking my hand, and her teacher sighed in obvious relief.
The doors swung open behind us.
“I’m here! Finley, baby, I’m here!” Claire exclaimed, her heels clicking down the hall in an obvious rush, flying right by the sign-in desk.
“Ma’am, you have to sign in!”
I stood and turned to face her, Finley’s hand still firmly tucked in mine. It took every ounce of class in my body, but I channeled my manners and schooled my features to hide my disgust.
“What? But…okay.” Claire stopped at the desk and signed in while I tossed Finley’s tissue in the trash can.
“Look, she’s here, honey. She came,” I reassured Fin, whose expression flitted from joy to anger and back again.
Claire’s gaze flickered between the three of us before settling on me as she reached us. “Morgan, so lovely to see you again. What exactly are you doing at my daughter’s school?”
“I have a meeting with the superintendent at eleven,” I answered, sweet as pie. “I make it a habit to arrive early to important events.”
Claire arched a single eyebrow.
“Mrs. Montgomery, our program began forty-five minutes ago—” Mrs. Kozier chided.
I tensed.
“I know, I know,” Claire answered but didn’t correct her name. “But I’m here now, so can’t we just get going?”
Montgomery? Nope. Not today, Satan. A wave of possessiveness I had no right to feel smacked me square in the chest and erupted out my petty little mouth.
“Lewis,” I corrected Fin’s teacher. “Her name is Ms. Lewis.”
Claire narrowed her eyes.
“I’d hate for your mail to get mixed up,” I offered with a tiny, apologetic shrug that wasn’t apologetic in the least bit.
“You’re late!” Finley erupted at Claire.
“I know, baby. I’m so sorry, but I had a call with my agent that just wouldn’t end, and well, I’m here now!” Claire nodded and smiled, sticking out her hand for Finley’s.
Finley looked from that hand to me.
“Well, let’s go!” Claire insisted. “I can’t wait to hear your poem!”
“I invited Morgan,” Fin said so quietly it was barely a whisper.
“That’s okay, Fin,” I promised.
“Finley Montgomery!” Claire chastised. “Why on earth would you do such a thing? Especially when she has an important meeting?”
“You weren’t here!” Fin shouted.
“I’m here now!”
“You can both come in. There’s more than enough cookies,” Mrs. Kozier assured us, no doubt seeing the same storm brewing that I did.
“Morgan?” Fin looked up at me, clearly torn.
“Are you suggesting I share my daughter with the next-door neighbor? It’s our first Mother’s Day tea!” Claire sniffled. “I’ve already missed so much because I work all the time.”
I didn’t mention the five Mother’s Days she’d skipped out on. Finley’s eyes welled up again. Of course she was scared Claire would leave. That was all she’d ever known.
My posture softened, and I tipped Fin’s chin up. “Go ahead and take your mama in for tea, you silly girl. You have a poem to read, and last time I checked, it’s Mother’s Day, not neighbor’s day!” I tweaked her nose with a grin and let go of her hand.
Her shoulders dropped in obvious relief. “You’re not mad?”
“Of course not. The understudy doesn’t get mad when the star shows up! We’ll go shell hunting later to make up for it, okay?”