Her Mother's Daughter Read Online Free PDF Page A

you.”
    He saluted her and did the two-step over to the post office door. He shouted over his shoulder, “When are you going to marry me, Bay?”
    â€œWhen pigs fly.”
    â€œRighto.” And out he went.
    Bay shook her head and kept sorting. She was about to grab another bundle when she heard the school bus approach. Most days Ashley sat on the right side of the bus and would wave at her as they rumbled by. For the past week she was nowhere to be seen. There were only eight days left before both she and Matt graduated from high school, so this endearing ritual was quickly coming to a close. It hurt not to see her grinning face in the window.
    Once more Bay steadied herself for Ashley’s rejection, but there she was. She gave a small wave and a half-hearted smile, but they meant everything to Bay.
    When her best friend, Gertie, came up the walk, Bay was smiling from ear to ear.
    â€œHey ho,” Gertie cried. Gertie was single and very pretty, but because she was a large gal, that’s all people saw. Her uncontrollable frizzy hair didn’t help matters. She was always on a diet, yet managed to gain more and more weight as the years went by. She told people she still had her baby weight on, but didn’t tell them her baby was a cat named Jeffrey.
    â€œHi, Gertie. What’s up with you?”
    Gertie leaned her plump elbows on the counter. “Same old, same old. Ashley talking to ya yet?”
    Bay nodded. “Well, sort of. She waved at me this morning.”
    Gertie rolled her eyes, but Bay was used to it. Gertie didn’t know how hard it was to be a mother and that you had to take your small victories when you could get them.
    â€œWhat she needs to do is crawl on her hands and knees and beg your forgiveness for being so damn rude.”
    â€œI did slap her.”
    â€œToo right you did, and she deserved it.”
    â€œOkay, let’s drop it, shall we?”
    Gertie always took the hint. She straightened up. “Any mail for me?”
    Bay walked to the back of the postal boxes and took out a couple of grocery store flyers. “This is it.”
    Gertie was the only one she knew who was happy to get them. Gertie grabbed them out of her hand and flipped through the pages.
    â€œOh, goodie. Ice cream’s on sale this week.”
    â€œSo’s celery.”
    â€œYour point?”
    â€œDon’t have one.”
    â€œGood…oh mercy, look who’s coming.”
    Bay looked up and saw Dermot approaching with his postal key already in his hand.
    â€œOh great, just what I need. He never leaves me alone.”
    â€œHe’s allowed to pick up his mail, isn’t he?”
    â€œNo, he’s not.” Bay pretended to be busy, and Gertie pretended she was reading the flyer.
    Dermot pretended he didn’t see them at all. He walked up to the mailbox, opened it, took his mail, and left.
    The two women looked at each other.
    â€œOh, shit.”
    â€œBay, what is wrong with you? That’s one good-looking man when he’s not in his grimy overalls. He cleans up real good, if you ask me.”
    â€œI didn’t ask you.”
    â€œWell, since you’re a stupid bitch, I guess you don’t mind me taking my chances with him.”
    Bay’s head shot up and when it did Gertie pointed a finger in her face. “The thought of that scared ya, didn’t it?”
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous. Look, Gertie, I have work to do, so you better vamoose.”
    â€œOkay then.” Gertie headed for the door. “I think I’ll doll myself up and run over a box of nails with my car. Might have to get my tires fixed at the garage.”
    â€œGet goin’. And remember, supper’s at six.”
    â€œI’ll be there.” Gertie gave her a wave and was gone.
    Bay and Gertie met in sixth grade. Gertie’s family moved into their grandmother’s house after the old lady died and because her parents were older,