Out for Justice by Carol J. Post

Author:Carol J. Post
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

ELEVEN

Lexi put the last of the clean dishes into the cupboard and closed the cabinet doors. Music poured in from the other room, a Mendelssohn piano concerto, backed by a full orchestra.

Her mom’s house was always filled with music. If she wasn’t producing it herself, a well-planned lineup of her favorite pieces cycled through a top-of-the-line stereo system.

Lexi stepped into the living room where her mom sat in a recliner, an open book in her lap. Although the leg rest was raised as far as it would go, her injured ankle was propped on a thick pillow, elevating it even farther.

Her mom looked up from her reading as soon as Lexi entered the room. “Thank you, dear, for the wonderful dinner and for cleaning everything up.”

“No problem. But I need to be heading home. Anything else I can get you before I leave?”

“I can’t think of anything.” She heaved a forlorn sigh. “I guess if something else comes to mind, I’ll just have to figure out how to get it myself.”

Lexi squared her shoulders. It was time for the weekly guilt trip, but she wasn’t falling for it.

“I think you’ll do great. You ought to be an old pro by now getting around with those crutches.” She’d had plenty of practice. Not many people could nurse a mild ankle sprain for three and a half weeks.

Her mom chose to ignore the enthusiastic pep talk. She could be as optimistic as the next person. But only when it suited her.

“Sweetheart, I wish you’d consider moving back home, just temporarily. You know, until I can get back on my feet. It’s hard to take care of myself. I’m having to hobble here and there on crutches, and I could really use some help.”

Lexi gathered her purse and bent to place a kiss on her mother’s forehead. For the past four years her mom had dropped hints about her coming back home. But she had gotten really bad in recent weeks. With Lexi’s dad gone and Lexi living on her own, her mom had no one left to control. And it was driving her crazy.

“I’ll keep coming by and helping you with your laundry and cleaning as long as you need me.” She moved toward the door before her mother could say anything else. “Night, Mom.”

As she slid into the driver’s seat of the Mazda, she shook her head. Her mother needed something to occupy her. A pet or a job or something.

No, not a job. Her mother had never worked a day in her life. She had been pampered by her parents growing up, then pampered by Lexi’s dad, to a much lesser degree, all her adult life. And now, thanks to a couple of good insurance policies, she was able to continue her standard of living without having to get a job.

No, what she needed was a pet, some little foo-foo dog that would obey her every whim and gaze at her with undying devotion.

Lexi put the car in Reverse and started to back out of the drive.

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