Page 71 of Rise After Fall

I tap on the door, and a few moments later, the door swings open.

“Did you find her?”

Clearly expecting my father, Mom is taken aback when she sees me standing there.

“Zoey!”

She flings her arms around me, and I squeeze her in return.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Oh, it’s so good to see you. Come in,” she says as she releases me and takes my hand.

“I can’t stay long. I have a lesson at ten,” I tell her.

“Oh, well, do you have time for coffee and biscotti? I had room service bring up a tray.” Her pleading eyes search mine.

“I guess I have time for coffee.”

She beams, and I join her in the sitting area. She pours us each a cup from the silver carafe, adds cream and sugar to both, and places them on saucers with biscotti.

“Thank you, Mom,” I say as I take one from her hand.

She sits beside me. “This resort is lovely, and your boss is so nice. I hope you aren’t cross with us for popping in like this. I was just so upset after we talked the other day, and when your father walked in on me crying, he set this surprise trip in to motion.”

“What about Patrick and his girlfriend? I thought they were coming to Denver for Thanksgiving,” I say.

“I explained to him that we were coming out to see you and told him about your promise to come home for New Year’s, so he postponed. They are going to have Thanksgiving with her parents and spend Christmas through New Year’s with us. Isn’t that wonderful? We’ll get an entire week with them.”

“I hate to have caused so much trouble,” I say.

She lays her hand on mine. “Oh, no, Zoey. It’s no trouble. Your father and I get to see Patrick all the time. I needed to see my girl.”

She looks down as she feels the chain at my wrist. “You’re still wearing it?”

I look down at the tiny silver four-leaf clover. “I never take it off,” I say.

Her eyes fill with tears. “I wish it had brought you luck that day,” she whispers.

It did. It gave me courage.

I don’t say the words out loud. I simply stand.

“Okay, well, I have to go. If you want, once I’m finished with my morning lessons, you are welcome to come down, and I’ll show you my office and around the resort.”

“That would be great. We could grab lunch if you have time.”

“A quick one, sure.”

“I’ll find your father and Tobias, and we’ll come down at noon,” she says.

I wince. “See you then.”

“I love you, Zoey.”

I stop and turn back to her. “I’m happy you’re here, Mom.”

“Me too.”