Call it Love by Kress Alyssa

Author:Kress, Alyssa
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, love, humor, family, contemporary, san francisco, baby, perfume, corporate intrigue, accidental baby
Publisher: Alyssa Kress

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The phone rang while Cookie's hands were full of shredded tuna. "I'll get it!" she called out anyway. Quickly she wiped her hands clean on a paper towel and then grabbed the phone.

Chess had made her wary about this call. All weekend he'd warned her that Kate wasn't going to make it for dinner. With a smug air, he'd assured Cookie that his mother would find some excuse to get out of it.

All weekend Cookie had confidently replied that Kate was looking forward to coming over to her eldest son's house for dinner. She'd pointed out that Kate must be awfully curious about Chess's house since he'd never formally invited his mother there in his life—shame on him.

Chess had retorted that he'd never invited his mother because she'd never have accepted such an invitation. She'd only done it this time because Cookie had twisted her arm. He was betting odds against Kate ever stepping over his threshold. Which was just fine with him. The way things had always been was the way they ought to stay, and Cookie ought to mind her own business in the future.

Chess hadn't, Cookie reflected, been very appreciative of her efforts.

"Hello, Cookie?" It was Kate's voice and already sounding suspiciously apologetic.

Cookie grimaced. "Don't tell me you aren't coming."

"I'm so very sorry for leaving it to the last minute—"

"No," Cookie interrupted. "You weren't listening. I said: don't tell me you aren't coming. As in, don't tell me that. You're coming. In fact, you're on your way over right now."

"No, really." Kate sounded flustered. "I forgot about this Fragrance Society meeting. It missed getting noted on my calendar—"

"Forget it."

"But I really must—"

"No, you really must not." Cookie could feel heat cover her forehead. "There is nothing more important for you to do tonight than come over to your son's house for dinner."

A long pause followed this proclamation. Finally, Kate spoke. "Chess doesn't want me there, and you know it."

Cookie closed her eyes. She was between two rock-stubborn people. Maybe she didn't stand a chance here, after all.

She opened her eyes again. "What I know is exactly what Chess will think when you don't show up. I don't care if you have the best excuse in the world. If you aren't ringing the doorbell half an hour from now, Chess is going to know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, beyond any chance of recall, that you don't care about him. Now, Kate." Cookie infused her voice with steel. "Now, Kate, do you really want Chess to think that?"

There was no answer from the other end. Just a moment of silence and then a soft click.

Cookie held onto the phone a moment longer, listening to the mechanical silence. Then she, too, hung up.

Chess walked in from the living room. "Who was on the phone?" He found the bowl of corn chips Cookie had poured out and took a handful.

Cookie removed her hand from the phone. "Kate," she admitted.

"Ah." Chess's expression turned knowing as he tossed a corn chip into his mouth.

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