That Reckless Night

He’d know by tomorrow.

Bad news traveled extraordinarily fast.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

MIRANDA WALKED INTO Mamu’s house and within two seconds the anger she’d been carrying on her shoulders dissolved into bewildered hurt. Why would Jeremiah react so negatively the minute she mentioned her son? Even as Talen leaped into her arms and she twirled him around, happy to see him, her mind was still working overtime to solve a puzzle without all the necessary pieces.

“What happened to you, Mama? You didn’t come home last night and I had to stay with Mamu.”

“I got stuck in a snowstorm and had to wait it out until it was safe to leave. Besides, I thought you liked staying with Mamu?”

“I do,” Talen said, nodding his head, but he pursed his lips and said in a grumpy voice, “She made me take a bath and brush my teeth.”

“Good. Because you probably stank,” Miranda said, scrunching her nose playfully at her son. He laughed and she put him down. She stretched and realized her days of picking up her boy were growing short. Talen ran off to get his stuff in the spare bedroom and it gave Miranda a few minutes alone with Mamu. “Thanks for keeping him. I couldn’t get to a phone or a radio until after the storm had passed. It was a rough night but at least I didn’t worry about Talen because I knew he was with you.”

“You look as if you have the weight of the world on your shoulders, child. What happened?”

Where to start? “Long story. Not fit for young ears.”

“He’s not in here. Give me the shortened version of events.”

Miranda didn’t want to share that she’d slept with her boss but she did want some advice, so she sanitized the details. “There’s a guy that I think I really like and I thought he felt the same—or at least I know he did—until I started talking about Talen. Then he turned into a cold fish. He hasn’t even met Talen. Who is he to judge me or my son?” Mamu’s brown weathered face crinkled into a smile and Miranda stared at the older woman, bewildered. “Mamu, how can you find this funny?” she asked. “I’m really upset about this.”

“Young folk always think the world revolves around them. Chances are his issues are his own just as yours belong to you. If it’s meant to be, things will work out.”

“Oh, forget that. This is why I’ve stayed away from any kind of relationship. Too much work and aggravation for too little reward. I have a roaring headache from clenching my teeth so hard after one conversation that went sour.”

“Life isn’t always about the sweetness but the sour, too. Without the dark, there is no light.”

Miranda stared in mild exasperation at the older woman. Perhaps if Mamu had taken less of a passive role in Johnny’s life, the direction wouldn’t have taken a nosedive into the toilet. Oh, that wasn’t fair, she immediately chastised the uncharitable voice that had cropped up in her head. Mamu wasn’t responsible for the choices that Johnny had made.

Miranda exhaled slowly and closed her eyes for a brief moment before opening them again to say, “I know, Mamu. But you didn’t see the way he looked at me. It was as if I’d suddenly shared something completely distasteful and, frankly, it was a huge turnoff. Me and Talen are a package deal. He can’t have me if he doesn’t want Talen, too. It really solidified my decision to remain single, that’s for sure.”

Mamu chuckled, and before she could offer another opinion, Talen came running back into the room with his backpack and coat on. “Ready, Mama,” he announced with a gap-toothed grin. Miranda smoothed her son’s pitch-black hair and smiled. This boy was where her heart resided and that was all that mattered. Jeremiah could wallow in his own misery alone. She wasn’t about to become a part of whatever issues he was carrying with him.

* * *

SEVERAL DAYS HAD passed and Jeremiah had successfully avoided all contact with Miranda. After his less-than-gallant behavior, he didn’t blame her for the cold shoulder but he wished she wasn’t being quite so open about her disdain for him. He supposed he shouldn’t complain—she hadn’t run to Stuart to blab about their indiscretion, so he owed her for that one—but he knew if they didn’t start thawing around each other, the staff were going to start talking.

“Jeremiah...can I talk to you for a minute?” Mary asked, venturing into his office and interrupting his thoughts.

“Of course,” he said, gesturing for her to come in. “What can I do for you?”