Mom's the Word by Marilynn Griffith Read Free Book Online Page A

was thinking—there was no need for that. She was as whipped as she could be. Between her mother banging on the door with a handful of suitcases unannounced as always and the neighbors bringing home the child she’d left sleeping upstairs, things just couldn’t get much worse.
    â€œNow, how far is it from here to the mall, again, sweetie? You know I can’t abide all these trees for long. Rob likes to chop wood so much, you should get him to cut down some of them.” Karol’s mother, Faith Antonia Ware the Second—long story—flipped through the Tallahassee Yellow Pages with a troubled look. “What happened to the beauty salon I went to last time I was here? I don’t see it listed.”
    With a shrug, Karol shook her head. “I don’t know, Mom.” She trimmed her own hair and usually wore it tied back with a bright scarf or picked out in its full glory. Today it was blown out and braided down the center of her head with a ribbon that provided an annoying tickle.
    Karol pretended not to feel it. She didn’t want to feel anything but the warmth of Mia’s back resting against her knees. The little girl had cried at first from all the scolding and Faith the Second’s fierce looks, but Karol’s only daughter had eventually taken refuge in her mother’s arms and fallen asleep.
    If only she could do the same. Karol knew better than to even try. Faith would likely hit her upside the head with the phone book. Some people had mamas. Others had mothers. Karol had Faith.
    If only Daddy had come.
    But Karol’s father hadn’t come, nor would he ever come without calling first. He’d probably never come without being invited. Though his house was always open to Karol and her family, her dad was never one for imposing. Unlike his wife.
    â€œI’m going to ask the girl next door where she goes to get her hair done. Her perm was going, but well-done. High-end. She’ll know where to go. I’m so glad she moved in over there. Better than what’s her name?”
    â€œHope.”
    Karol’s mother gritted her teeth, giving a sharp nod to a snapshot on the wall of herself, Karol and Hope taken at Ryan’s birthday party the previous summer. Faith, Hope and Love the three of them were not. Nor would they ever be. Extreme dislike was the only word she could think of to describe her mother’s feelings for her old friends. The thought of them twisted her mouth in ways Karol hadn’t seen since…her mother’s last visit. The funny thing was that Hope’s mother felt the same way about Karol and Rob. Karol never told Faith that, though. She had enough ammunition.
    â€œAll those children! And that big ole dog. Oh, it was just crazy over there. I don’t know how you stood it as long as you did. You always say that God answers prayers. Well, He must have answered some of mine, ’cause, honey—”
    â€œMom. Please. Don’t, okay?”
    It was Faith’s turn to shrug, with an added warning look to remind Karol that she’d called her Mom. More than once. “Suit yourself, but I say that young couple is going to bring some life back into you. No hard feelings against the Waltons or anything. They treated the kids real good and God knows you needed a friend out in this godforsaken—”
    â€œMom!” Karol was crying now, only she didn’t realize it until she tasted the salt on her tongue and felt Rob’s thumb trail the tears across her cheeks. He would have kissed her if they’d been alone, but she doubted he’d do it with Faith looking on. Outside of their wedding kiss thirteen years before, he never did.
    Until now.
    And not just on the cheek, either.
    Faith let out a disgusted sigh, but amusement danced in her eyes. “Go upstairs, for God’s sake, you two. So crass, I tell you.”
    Karol bit her lip, trying hard not to say all the things that came to mind. Rob saved