From Wolfless Omega To The Rival Alpha's Queen novel · Chapter 4 of 24

Chapter 4: Birthday Dinner

My mother turned fifty-five on Saturday at a small Italian place in Evanston with candles in wine bottles.

She wore her good green cardigan, and she had curled her hair.

I had told her on the phone that a friend might come.

She had said, "A friend," in the voice she uses when she means a man.

I had said, "A work friend," and she had laughed.

Orson arrived at six and held the door for both of us.

He wore a plain dark suit, and he carried a small box wrapped in brown paper.

"For the birthday," he said, and gave it to her.

My mother opened it at the table.

It was a hand-lettered copy of the first poetry book she ever taught from, the one she had lost in a flood when I was ten.

She put her hand flat on the cover.

"How did you know?" she said.

"Keira mentioned it."

I hadn't, and I looked at him.

He did not look back.

For forty minutes my mother asked him questions and he answered all of them with the same dry, careful politeness.

She decided she liked him by the breadsticks.

I could see her deciding.

At seven the door opened and the cold came in, and Broderick came with it.

He had a bouquet of white roses in one hand.

His other hand was at the back of a woman in a cream coat.

"Surprise," Broderick said.

The whole room turned, because Broderick is a man a room turns for.

My mother looked at me.

I kept my face still.

"Mrs. Duggan." Broderick crossed the floor and kissed her cheek. "Happy birthday. I'm so sorry we're late. This is Blair Kingsley, an old friend from my college days. She's staying with me this week."

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