Page 66 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell (Rock Canyon, Idaho 7)

“Hey, where’s Dad?”

Her mother glanced up, then went back to scrubbing. “Out with friends at the lodge.”

Uh-oh. Something was not right in Wonderland.

Gracie warily set her purse and jacket down on the couch. “Did you two have a fight or something?”

Her mother slapped her rag against the counter and scowled at her. “Yes, Gracie, we had a fight.”

“Well, geez, why are you biting my head off?”

“Because according to you and your father, I am this horrible person who makes everyone miserable.”

“Okay, that’s a bit of a stretch. I know I didn’t say that—”

“You and your boyfriend think that I don’t respect you and all that you’ve done, but I do. I am very proud of you!” Gracie’s jaw dropped as her mother’s eyes welled up with tears and her voice got choky. “Can’t I also want you to have a plan B? Something stable to fall back on if the market crashes?”

“Mom, come on. I get that you worry, but your backup plan is a husband.”

Her mother dropped the rag to cross her arms over her chest. “Well, don’t you want a husband?”

“Yeah, I do, eventually, but I also want him to be the right guy. You and Dad got married and lived with your parents until Dad was able to get a full-time job, but you were crazy about each other. That’s what I want. I’ve held out too long to settle for anything less than the all-consuming, love-each-other-even-when-we-want-to-kill-each-other kind of love.”

“I want that for you, too, Gracie, believe me I do…but the men you usually date are…”

Gracie grinned. “Douche nozzles?”

Her mother laughed. “I wouldn’t have worded it that way.”

“It’s okay, I know my track record sucks. But Eric isn’t like that. He’s a little rough around the edges, but he’d a good guy.”

She caught her mother’s skeptical expression and insisted, “He is. He came over after Pip went to live with her great-grandmother, and he just helped me, Mom. He comforted me when I needed him.”

Gracie realized that for a man she was only pretending to be involved with, her defense of him was pretty honest and passionate.

Her mother sighed, a small smile tilting the corner of her mouth. “Fine, I’ll give him a chance. I hate his beard, though.”

Gracie laughed. “Oh, I know. I told him he needs to get rid of it, but full disclosure, it is kind of hot. Especially when he—”

“For the sake of our relationship, I will ask you to remember that I am your mother and you will always be a sweet, innocent child in my eyes,” her mother deadpanned.

“Fair enough. So, what was with Dad?”

“He’s just such an ass sometimes,” her mother grumbled.

“That’s helpful.”

“It doesn’t matter. Tell me mor

e about your day.”

Gracie debated telling her mom about the call from Pip’s great-grandmother and finally caved because she was so happy. “Pip’s great-grandmother, who has custody, called me and asked to meet next week. I think she’d going to be okay with me seeing Pip.”

“Is that what you want? Won’t that be hard on you?” her mom asked.

“Actually, it’s harder not seeing her. I can’t explain it, but she was like this light that came into my life. I can’t believe that I found her, only to lose her completely.”

Her mother came around and hugged her tight. “You’re wonderful. Have I told you that?”