Page 51 of Must Love Flowers
“I don’t have his contact information.” This was true, and a way of telling Joan, who obviously would have his number, that she was reluctant to reach out to Nick with an invitation. He might get the wrong idea. Joan’s son might believe she was interested in a relationship, and she wasn’t. Well, maybe she was, butif that relationship didn’t work out it might impact the one between her and Joan.
“I’ll invite him to dinner,” Joan suggested, “and you can ask him then.”
“Please don’t on my behalf,” Maggie said. She feared putting Nick on the spot like that would do more harm than good. “You can invite him to dinner, of course, but please don’t mention the movie.”
“Why not? I thought you two had resolved your differences.”
“We have,” she said, and went back to reading her book, not wanting to belabor the subject.
No more than thirty minutes later, Nick popped in unannounced.
Joan looked pleased to see her son. “This is a welcome surprise,” she said as Nick confidently walked into the family room.
“I like surprising my mom,” he said, kissing Joan on the cheek. His attention swerved to Maggie. “It’s a lazy Sunday afternoon, I thought I’d check in to see what the two of you were up to.”
Joan didn’t hesitate. “Maggie wanted to go to the movies, but all her friends are busy.”
Nick perked up like this was the best news he’d heard in weeks. “I could see a movie. Let’s go.”
Maggie’s spirits immediately lifted, although she didn’t want to look overly eager. “You don’t need—”
He interrupted her. “I want to. What time is the next showing?”
“Don’t you want to know which movie I’d wanted to see?” she asked, tickled by his enthusiasm and a bit wary of it at the same time. “It might not be one that interests you.”
“I’m okay with whatever it is, as long as it isn’t a chick flick.”
“Is there something wrong with chick flicks?” she wanted to know, staring him down.
“Well, yes, they’re…you know…”
“I don’t know, so kindly enlighten me.” Maggie was amused, watching him squirm, knowing he was about to dig himself into a hole. She’d enjoy seeing him attempt to dig himself out.
Nick looked to his mother for help. Joan blatantly ignored him.
“Nick?” Maggie asked again. “What’s wrong with a chick flick?”
Seeing that his mother wasn’t coming to his aid, he buried his hands in his jeans pockets and said, “They’re…girly.”
“Girly,” she repeated, letting him know by her tone she considered that ridiculous.
Nick sighed and shrugged. “Okay, fine. If you want to see a chick flick I’ll go, but you’re buying the popcorn.”
Maggie laughed. “Deal.” She reached for her phone and checked the movie times and purchased the tickets online.
“What are we seeing?” Nick asked.
“It’ll be a surprise. I bought the tickets, so you’re buying the popcorn.” She didn’t want Nick to think of this as a date as much as two friends spending a Sunday afternoon together.
“That sounds fair.”
Good, he understood her intention. “We don’t have a lot of time if we’re going to make the show,” she said, setting aside the book and bouncing up from the chair. Edison yawned and stretched his stubby legs while arching his back.
“That’s my cue to take him outside,” Joan said, rescuing the puppy from the chair and heading out the front door.
Maggie grabbed her raincoat and purse while Nick waited at the front door.
Joan stood on the porch steps out of the rain, while Edison quickly did his business.
