She turned the engine, threw the car into drive and sped from the parking lot. “I can’t let this make me go off the deep end. If I call the girls panicking it’ll look like a back slide,” she said out loud, talking herself down. “It doesn’t mean anything. I need to calm down and wait things out.” Satisfied with her short-term plan, she relaxed. Too wound up to head home, she took a detour and headed for her mother’s house. The only child to a single parent she felt responsible for a portion of her mother’s happiness. She’d worked two and three jobs to keep them both fed and put her through school, so Juliette went out of her way to visit at least once a week. Not that it was a complete chore. She loved her mom. They just had very different views on how she should be living her life.
She pulled up in front of the ranch-style white house with hunter-green shutters and smiled at the brilliant displays of flowers arranged around the large oak in the front yards and in the flower beds in front of the walkway. A yellow beautification from the community group stood out among the dark purple Impatient. She glanced at the clock, 9:00p.m. A secretary for a local insurance company, her mother kept early hours, but the living room lights were on, which meant she hadn’t headed to bed yet. Climbing out of the car, she hurried to the front door and let herself in with a key.
“Juliette?”
“It’d better be. Or do you have some relationship news you need to share?”
“Honey, I’m just fine being alone. A man would only be underfoot. I’ll be out, I’m just setting my coffeemaker.”
Juliette locked the door behind her and sank down on the comfortable beige couch.
“Take your time. I got off work and thought I’d swing by and see if I could catch you.”
Her mother emerged from the kitchen in a lavender robe, bunny rabbit slippers and a purple headscarf. “You came right on time. I haven’t gotten a chance to talk you recently.” Her mother sat down beside her and they hugged. “How’ve you been?”
“Good, I’ve been getting out more.”
“I’m so glad. I know you took the breakup with Peter hard, but there are other fish in the sea. You really had a winner with him though.” Her mother shook her head.
Juliette bit the inside of her lip. She’d never told her mother what had actually happened. It was far too embarrassing. “Just wasn’t meant to be. We weren’t compatible where it counted.” Because I’m sane and he’s a sexual deviant.
“Any new prospects on the horizon? I’d like to have grandkids some day, and you’re my only hope.”
“Mom, I have plenty of time.” Here we go again.
“I know, honey. I just want to see you settled and happy.” Her mother patted her hand. “I don’t want to see you end up like me.”
“Mom, there’s nothing wrong with being like you. You’re amazing.” She squeezed her mother’s hand.
“A person gets lonely after a while. Always love yourself enough to be able to be alone but don’t put things off so long you regret them.”
The wealth of sorrow in her mother’s words made her chest ache. “I won’t, Mom. As a matter of fact… I met someone. It’s new and unexpected, so I don’ t want you to get your hopes up.”
“That’s wonderful. Unexpected? Did you meet him at work?” The joy that lit up her mother’s face reinforced the rightness of the impromptu reveal.
“No, while I was out with the girls.”
“So he’s passed the test. That’s a great way to start off.”
“Mmhmm.” Juliette forced a smile. He hadn’t failed the test exactly, they just didn’t know she was still seeing him.
“Tell me about him.”
“We’re still getting to know each other, but so far he’s very respectful and kind of old-fashioned in that masculine way you know I like.”
Her mother narrowed her eyes. “I’m not sure I like the sound of that. You have to be careful. You want to be the one running the show. A man will control you as much as you allow him to. Always have a backup plan. Money set on the side and enough of yourself held back to continue without him.”
“I know, Mom,” Juliette said. She understood where her mother was coming from, but she didn’t agree. A lukewarm love based on mutual likes and similar goals wouldn’t make her happy. It was all or nothing. She needed passionate, crazy, heated and forever. Life was too short for watered-down versions of what you really wanted.
“You were always so sensitive and idealistic. It worried me to death growing up.” Her mother shook her head and placed a hand over her heart. “Just trust your old mom on this one.”
“Stop calling yourself ‘old mom’, and I do listen to you. I really do. But we both know our wiring is different. You raised me to be strong and independent. No relationship will take that away from me. I’d never let it. That I can promise you.”
Her mother smiled. “I’ll hold you to that one. When am I going to met this mystery man?”
“When I know if it’ll pan out or not.”
“Can I at least get a name?”