Leaving Normal, Stef Holm [ebook reader screen .TXT] 📗

"I know."

Natalie mulled over the very real possibility that this new boyfriend of Cassandra's was not good enough for her daughter. Of course, very few boyfriends of eighteen-year-old daughters were worthy of baby girls. It was just that Cassie seemed to act a little differently when she was with Austin.

There were those times when Natalie had called Cassie, and Austin was in her dorm room with her— something that rather distressed Natalie. She mentally went over all the "girl talks" she'd had with Cassie about birth control and safe sex. Yet it seemed that whenever he was with Cassie she got silly and giggly. Goofy. Cassie wasn't a goofy girl. She'd always been fairly solid, a grounded young lady with a good head on her shoulders.

Austin Mably made Cassandra Goodwin breathless.

No doubt about it, her daughter got that lightness in her voice when she talked about the boy. Natalie could only hope the relationship wasn't too serious, or that it wouldn't last for long.

Cassie needed to focus on her education.

That was a big bone of contention for Natalie. She'd dropped out of college and hadn't pursued her degree. She'd married and taken on a set of family responsibilities. Not that she regretted any of it. She just wanted a better life for her own daughter. Cassie had so much potential. She was an excellent artist—a great visual person who'd always won awards in high school.

A new batch of holiday travelers came through the glass security doors of the Boise airport. Family and friends waited in a designated area. Forgoing the vinyl chairs Natalie and Sarah stood at the top of the escalator. Passengers rolled carry-on luggage through the concourse.

Natalie was anxious to see her only daughter, to reconnect and visit. Give her a big hug and a kiss. To reaffirm the familiar bond. She wanted to hear all about her college life this past month, how she was doing in her classes. Her daughter had always excelled academically and she carried high hopes for becoming an advertising designer. Natalie wanted to know more about who her friends were, although Natalie suspected Cassie had chosen Austin above making new girlfriends.

Cassie hadn't come home for Thanksgiving due to class scheduling and a project she had to complete. Natalie had missed her greatly and was glad she'd be here for a week this time. Part of the time would be spent with her and the other time with Greg.

Sarah scanned the crowd while saying, "What are you going to do if you don't like Austin?"

"What can I do about it? Cassie likes him." Natalie held a white-frost bouquet for her daughter, a welcome-home gift. The sweet smell of white carnations, lilies and roses overpowered the fast-food odors of the airport.

Sarah thoughtfully asked, "Remember Kyle Provant?"

"How could I forget? You dated him in the tenth grade. Dad hated him."

"That's sort of why I dated Kyle—I mean, I thought he was cute. But Dad wouldn't let me get my learner's permit until my grades were better, so this was my one way of getting back at him."

"All I remember about Kyle is that he had to go to juvenile court for car theft."

"Yeah. His house was on Dad's mail route and Dad delivered the court notice. When he came home from work that day he gave me holy hell about it, asked me if I knew I was dating a delinquent. I told him it was no big deal. He had a fit. Said I couldn't date Kyle anymore."

"That's right."

"So my point is—I only picked Kyle because there was something I wanted more than him. And that was to get my learner's permit."

"And this has to do with what?"

"Leverage. I told Dad I'd stop seeing Kyle and get my grades up if he'd let me get my learner's permit."

"Dad never said you could do mat."

"I know. But Mom did. She was always on my side." Sarah smiled, a pair of dimples coming out on her cheeks. "Mom never liked to argue."

Natalie smiled in fondness, an image of their mother coming to her mind. Mom had always been the peacemaker in the house.

"So I'm thinking—why do you think Cassie wants to date a boy you probably won't like? What does she want?" Sarah asked.

Baffled, Natalie shrugged. "She hasn't asked me for a thing."

"Well, there has to be something exciting about this boy."

Tamping down the anxiousness that struck a chord, Natalie uttered with dismay, "She wanted me to up the limit on her Visa and I said no. Oh, God—do you think this is about me not letting her go shopping?"

Sarah folded her arms beneath her breasts. "When I was her age, I might have thought about it." Sarah's stream of thought was cut short, her gaze narrowing. "Is that her? I think it is. She's wearing a red beret."

Natalie stretched on tiptoe to see. She caught sight of her daughter coming toward her on the ramp, a smile on her travel-weary face. A red felt beret was angled on her blond-highlighted hair, her cheeks wintry pale and appearing fuller. She looked exhausted, as if she hadn't slept much last night. The zipper of her coat was undone, the edges hanging open. She wore bleached jeans and a gray sweatshirt, very nondescript. Cassie had always had a snap more fashion flare.

Maybe she really did need to go shopping…

"Doesn't look as if Chicago has turned her into a big-city girl," Sarah commented, waving to her niece.

"She looks great," Natalie replied, her heart warming and a smile spreading across her mouth. "Tired, but great."

Natalie hadn't realized how much she'd missed her daughter until this moment. So much had happened since she'd sent her only child off to college. It was good to have her home so they could catch up, and Natalie could show her Hat and Garden.

Cassie approached with a lightness to her steps, carrying an overstuffed travel bag.

In that moment, the tagalong boyfriend was forgotten.

"Mom!" Cassie said, dropping the bag and putting both arms around