“I hear that,” said her mom, then waited. Laura swallowed. There was something about her mother that made Laura feel like she’d messed up before she’d even begun. Possibly by just being born.

“Mom, why did you give Nick my address?”

“Because he asked me for it,” said her mother readily. “Why shouldn’t he have it, you guys are still friends, right?” She paused. “Or have you left that behind as well?”

Laura rolled her eyes. “Mom, I haven’t left anything behind, I just moved out to the West Coast for grad school, I didn’t embark on a continuing five-year mission to explore strange new worlds.” Her mother was a sucker for a Star Trek: The Original Series reference.

It didn’t help. Her mother sniffed, “Well, I’m still hoping you’ll come to your senses.”

“I’m fully sensible, honestly,” replied Laura. “Please don’t share my personal information with anyone else, OK?”

“Who else would want it?” said her mother carelessly.

Wow, thought Laura, thanks for the vote of confidence, Mom.

“I’m grading papers,” her mother continued. “Did you need anything else?”

“No, Mom.” Laura had reached the house, and headed to her room.

“OK, goodbye.” Her mom hung up.

Laura threw the phone on her bed and looked at herself in the mirror just to remind herself she was a grown-ass woman.

“She’s not the boss of you,” she said aloud, and then headed to the shower.

•   •   •

All clean and dressed, Laura took a cup of tea to the patio, found it deserted, and sat on one of the faded yellow chairs. Despite her mother being a major downer, she felt a lot better than she had the night before; a good night’s sleep had clearly been called for. She closed her eyes and leaned her face back to catch more early sun.

“Good morning,” said Bob, appearing through the French doors to the kitchen. Laura opened her eyes and snapped her head up.

“Hey there,” she replied, never at her wittiest first thing.

Bob was wearing an extremely faded T-shirt with a logo for a seed catalog and sweatpants that looked suspiciously like they got slept in. He was moving slowly as he came over to join her, but Daisy fairly flew over the doorstep and trotted down the stairs. Apparently, she’d already finished her double espresso, fresh juice, and croissant, and was ready to seize the day.

Laura looked at Bob, slightly rumpled and puffy from sleep, and realized Polly was right—she was getting used to his face. It was a relief, she realized; she really wasn’t ready for any . . . thing.

Bob smiled gently at her. “Feeling better this morning?”

OK, the smile is still a bit of a stunner, I won’t lie. “Yes, thanks. I guess I was tired.”