Mother, Please! by Novak Brenda & Kent Alison & Shalvis Jill
Author:Novak, Brenda & Kent, Alison & Shalvis, Jill [Novak, Brenda & Kent, Alison & Shalvis, Jill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Anthologies, Contemporary, Modern
ISBN: 9781426871405
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 519756
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2004-05-01T06:00:00+00:00
CHAPTER FIVE
âMELISSA.â Rose stood up and smoothed her sundress, showing off her still-fit dancerâs body. âI hope you donât mind, I just wanted to help.â
âActually, Iââ 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 hadnât been gone more than half an hour, but apparently her mother had some serious office talents. âHow did you do all this?â
âItâs easier if you clean up as you go, thatâs all. Maybe you could put each patient sheet away as they leave, open the mail as it comesââ
âI donât have time for that.â She glanced at Rose. âI donât have time for you.â
Rose lifted her chin, only her eyes reflecting her hurt. âBecause I never had time for you.â
âSure you did. After you retired from teaching ballet in London.â Melissa crossed her arms and looked away, knowing she looked defensive, but damn it, she felt defensive. âLook, 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 doesnât mean I have the same bug to act like your daughter.â
âBut you are my daughter,â Rose said softly, coming out from behind the desk. She put her hands on Melissaâs arms, even though Mel stood there stiff as a board. âIâm sorry,â she whispered. âIâm sorry I was a selfish, horrible person when you were young, but for years now Iâve regretted that and you havenât let me in.â
âI wasnât ready.â
âI know. I know youâre still not, but baby, Iâve decided to stop letting you waste what time we have left.â
Melissaâs tummy dropped. âAre youâ¦sick?â
âNo,â Rose said quickly, with a little squeeze of her hands, her eyes shining. âBut I want to hug you for that spurt of panic you just felt.â
Melissa took a step back. âThat wasnât panic. That wasâ¦me just being a healer.â
Rose smiled. âKnow what I think?â
âIâd rather not.â
Rose held up the pink envelopes, every one of them, which Mel had rubber-banded and kept in her desk. âI think youâre going to like me.â
âDonât push your luck.â Feeling hounded, Mel went to the front door and held it open.
Rose nodded and came close. âI can come back and sit at your front desk tomorrow, if youâd like.â
âDonât you have something more important to do? Fly around the world? Dance? Something?â
âNo. I only teach ballet on Saturdays.â Roseâs smile was as stubborn asâ¦Melâs.
Gee, guess she knew where sheâd gotten it from.
âI have nothing more important than you,â Rose said softly. âNothing.â
âNow.â
Roseâs smile faltered. âI was only eighteen when you were born. Iââ
âNo. Please. I donât want to do this.â Her chest had tightened, along with her throat, and behind her eyes was a horrifying sting of tears. âI canât.â
Rose stared at her for a long moment, then slowly nodded.
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