Page 58 of Protecting Peyton

“Leg,” March repeated.

Duke focused on his plate and chewed his food.

“I mean, who wants to waste good money on a vaginal-rejuvenation procedure if you’re not going to use it?”

Duke choked.

“Not another word, Mom.” March waved a finger at her.

She smiled back. “Ruppie, we’re all grown-ups here.”

I did my best not to laugh.

Karla wasn’t getting the message.

March’s fist clenched. “That’s enough. Now, what’s this Roger guy’s last name?”

“Why? So you can do a background check on him? Or were you thinking of waving your gun in his face?”

“I’m only looking out for you,” he argued.

“Vagina, vagina, vagina,” she retorted.

He sucked in a wordless breath through his teeth.

“See,” she told me. “Shuts ‘em up every time.”

I laughed. I’d have to remember that for my next argument with March.

“Never mind,” he said. “I’ll find out his name myself. Now, what’s wrong with your leg, and what are you going to do about it?”

Feeling sorry for March, I rescued him with a change of subject. “It’s called plantar fasciitis, and I think it’s actually your foot that’s the problem. Karla, I can show you a few exercises that will help, if you’d like.”

She smiled. “Thank you, dear, but the only exercise I’m interested in is lifting my fork to my mouth.” She laughed at her own joke.

I’d heard the joke more than once from my patients, so I settled for a smile.

“Mom, you should be taking better care of yourself,” March said, quite correctly.

Karla finished chewing and ignored her son. “Those earrings of yours are lovely.” Now she was the one wanting to change the subject.

I touched my earlobe self-consciously. “They were a gift from my grandmother.”

She forked another bite. “If they’re old, they must be real.”

“They are,” I admitted.

March sent his mother a glare. “Mom.”

“What?” she answered. “Girls like to show off their jewelry.”

I smiled, remembering Nana. “My grandfather gave her these.”

Karla nodded. “He must have loved her very much. Those are lovely.”

I felt my cheeks redden. “Thank you.” I pivoted. “To be more clear about your foot, I meant stretching exercises. Nothing hard, but they will help with the pain.”

“Mom, you should take this more seriously.”