Mother, please! by Brenda Novak & Jill Shalvis & Alison Kent

Author:Brenda Novak & Jill Shalvis & Alison Kent [Brenda Novak & Jill Shalvis & Alison Kent]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Roman
ISBN: 9780373836055
Published: 2004-05-01T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

“MELISSA.” Rose stood up and smoothed her sundress, showing off her still-fit dancer’s body. “I hope you don’t mind, I just wanted to help.”

“Actually, I—” Do mind. Melissa moved closer to the desk, but she could see just how organized Rose had gotten her. The schedule for tomorrow was in the printer tray. The box of office supplies on the floor had been put away. Suddenly the area looked like a functioning receptionist area. She hadn’t been gone more than half an hour, but apparently her mother had some serious office talents. “How did you do all this?”

“It’s easier if you clean up as you go, that’s all. Maybe you could put each patient sheet away as they leave, open the mail as it comes—”

“I don’t have time for that.” She glanced at Rose. “I don’t have time for you.”

Rose lifted her chin, only her eyes reflecting her hurt. “Because I never had time for you.”

“Sure you did. After you retired from teaching ballet in London.” Melissa crossed her arms and looked away, knowing she looked defensive, but damn it, she felt defensive. “Look, thank you for all this, the cleaning and straightening up. But just because you got a bug to start acting like a mother to me doesn’t mean I have the same bug to act like your daughter.”

“But you are my daughter,” Rose said softly, coming out from behind the desk. She put her hands on Melissa’s arms, even though Mel stood there stiff as a board. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m sorry I was a selfish, horrible person when you were young, but for years now I’ve regretted that and you haven’t let me in.”

“I wasn’t ready.”

“I know. I know you’re still not, but baby, I’ve decided to stop letting you waste what time we have left.”

Melissa’s tummy dropped. “Are you…sick?”

“No,” Rose said quickly, with a little squeeze of her hands, her eyes shining. “But I want to hug you for that spurt of panic you just felt.”

Melissa took a step back. “That wasn’t panic. That was…me just being a healer.”

Rose smiled. “Know what I think?”

“I’d rather not.”

Rose held up the pink envelopes, every one of them, which Mel had rubber-banded and kept in her desk. “I think you’re going to like me.”

“Don’t push your luck.” Feeling hounded, Mel went to the front door and held it open.

Rose nodded and came close. “I can come back and sit at your front desk tomorrow, if you’d like.”

“Don’t you have something more important to do? Fly around the world? Dance? Something?”

“No. I only teach ballet on Saturdays.” Rose’s smile was as stubborn as…Mel’s.

Gee, guess she knew where she’d gotten it from.

“I have nothing more important than you,” Rose said softly. “Nothing.”

“Now.”

Rose’s smile faltered. “I was only eighteen when you were born. I—”

“No. Please. I don’t want to do this.” Her chest had tightened, along with her throat, and behind her eyes was a horrifying sting of tears. “I can’t.”

Rose stared at her for a long moment, then slowly nodded.

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