Out of Time (Out of Line #2)(48)
Author: Jen McLaughlin

I’d also found out some more about the commanding officer that sent Finn overseas—who was actually coming to dinner tomorrow night. He always did.

But Dad had been talking about visiting Arnold when he’d come to see me, and then he’d told me that Arnold was in charge of getting high-detailed security for important politicians and politicians’ families.

Is that what Finn was doing over there…wherever over there was? Guarding a politician? That didn’t sound too dangerous. I mean, it’s what he did for me.

I liked the idea of him following some rich snob around Europe. It was safer than the nightmares that plagued me every night. A knock sounded at the door and I lifted my head to call out, “Come in.”

“It’s me,” Mom said, peeking her head inside before opening the door all the way. Her faded red hair was pulled back impeccably in a tight bun, and her light green eyes sought me out. “Are you dressed?”

Her reactions never failed to make me smile. Did she really think I’d tell her to come in if I was naked on the bed? “Yeah, Mom. I’m dressed.”

She came in and closed the door behind her. Tinkerbell, Mom’s little terrier, whined from the hallway. “Tomorrow night’s the Wallington Annual Holiday Dinner.”

I almost rolled my eyes at how she used the official name for it, but held back.

“I know.” I slipped my phone under my pillow in case Finn wrote back. I mean, he used the name Susan—he’d even created a [email protected] account to stay in character—but I still didn’t like to risk it. I sat up and hugged my knees, resting my chin on them. “Dad reminded me last night.”

“I got you a new dress for it.” She reached out and smoothed her hand down my head in the way she always did when I was upset. I was trying to act all happy and cheery, but it was hard when a piece of me was gone. “We’re going to have some extra guests, too.”

“Okay…” I rolled my head her way. “Who?”

“Arnold and his family, the Christensons,” Mom turned her head and stared out the window, “and the Stapletons.”

Why did that name sound familiar?

“Sounds nice.” I wiggled my toes and sighed. “Do you need help setting anything up?”

She laughed, seeming to be relieved about something. “No, we hired temporary help so the normal help could relax before the big event.”

Ha. Only in my life would that sentence make total sense.

Finn would’ve laughed at that, too. My heart panged, and the happiness I’d found moments before simply faded. “Mom, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.” She crossed her legs and perched on the edge of my bed. “What is on your mind? Are you finally ready to talk?”

She wore a flawless pair of black dress pants and a light pink satin top. She looked every inch the lady. As a kid, I’d always wondered if I would turn out like her. If I would end up being soft spoken yet strong. Kind yet stern. Always the lady.

I didn’t think I would anymore. It wasn’t me.

“If I loved someone who wasn’t from our normal crowd, would you approve?” I met her eyes, curling my hands over my calves. “If he made me happy, would you accept him?”

She pressed her lips together. “I don’t know, dear. It would depend on the boy, I guess.” She turned to me, bending and sticking her foot underneath of her thigh. “Why? Are you seeing someone you don’t think we’d approve of?”

“No, not exactly.” I shook my head. “I like a guy who isn’t from our world. He’s not a Christenson or a Wallington.”

Mom nodded slowly. “Would he make your father’s campaign look bad?”

“I don’t think so, no.” Finn’s words echoed in my head. He’d said he wouldn’t fit in on the stage with us, with his tattoos and his motorcycle, but I didn’t care about that. “He’s not a criminal or anything.”

Mom sighed and rested her hand on my back. “Life is hard, and sometimes the heart doesn’t make much sense. Sometimes it knows best, and other times it’s wrong. You have to pay attention and decide when it’s right and when it’s off. If you’re questioning our acceptance of this boy, chances are this time it’s off and you know it.”

“Mom.” I stood up and spun on her. “That’s not true. It’s not wrong.”

“Are you sure about that?” She stood as well, remaining perfectly poised. “If you weren’t uncertain, you wouldn’t even have to ask. You’d just introduce us to this boy, and you’d be certain we would like him. Let’s count the ways this doesn’t add up.”

“It’s not that. I—”

“Hm. Let’s see.” She counted off on her fingers as she said, “Instead of telling us you have a boyfriend, you hide him and pretend he’s not real. Then you ask me if I’d like him even if he wasn’t one of us, whatever that means. Then you tell me the heart is right, even though it’s not.”

She had a point, but I wasn’t hiding him because of what she said. I was hiding him because of his job, and because he wasn’t here.

But I couldn’t tell her that, could I?

“It’s right and you’ll see it.” I put my hands on my hips. “When I’m ready to tell you about it, that is.”

“I’ll look forward to that time.” Her chin lifted. “Until then, I’ll assume we won’t like your boy, because you won’t tell us who he is.” Mom sighed and walked to my side, not even narrowing her eyes or acting the slightest bit angry. “If he makes you happy, we’ll like him.”

I nodded. “Then get ready to knit us matching sweaters for Christmas.”

“Good.” She inclined her head toward my closet. “The dress I bought you is in your closet. I had Frances put it in there this morning.”

“Thanks,” I said stiffly.

She started to walk away, but then stopped again. “You know, I’m not a snob. You seem to think I am. I’ve just been around a lot longer than you have. I’ve seen a lot more than you, and I know how the world works.”

“Maybe I want to change the world,” I said, lifting my chin.

“Maybe you will.”

And with that, she opened the door and left with Tinkerbell trailing behind her, like always.