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disaster as well. The guy had a unique talent for infuriating her and she was sure he knew it!
    She didn’t share her theory with her mother , or the nurse who came in to check on her, or the doctor who finally came to see her six hours later. She told them what happened, got poked, scanned, x-rayed, prodded, medicated and sent home to rest.
    “She has a nasty bump on the back of the head, but no concussion and no broken skin, so she’ll be fine,” the doctor said. “Just keep an eye on her and if anything changes, bring her back.” Then, to Sophie, he said, “Check before you cross the street next time.”
    No. Kidding.
    At home, her mother stuffed her into a pair of fluffy bunny pajamas and bundled her up on the sofa, ignoring Sophie’s protests that she was seventeen, not five and that she didn’t want a nap in fuzzy bunny pajamas!
    “ You heard the doctor!” her mother said sternly. “You need to rest.”
    “I’m fine!” Sophie wailed.
    Her mother handed her the remote, patted her lightly on the shoulder and left to start on supper. No sooner had her mother walked into the kitchen than the doorbell sounded.
    “I’ll get it!” She was tossing back the blanket and running for the door before she could be stopped.
    “No, you won’t!” Her mother stalked determinedly out of the kitchen, dishrag in hand and walked straight to the door. “Lie down!”
    Grumbling, Sophie turned back to the sofa just as her mother swung the door open.
    “Jackie!” Sophie stiffened. She whipped around just in time to see her mother embrace the other woman like they were best friends. She expelled a sigh of relief to find only Jackie and the little demon child at the door. “It’s so nice of you to come by.”
    Jackie smiled timidly. “Of course. I’ve been so worried since I heard the news.” She turned big eyes on Sophie. “How are you?”
    Sophie relaxed, forced herself to smile. “Fine.”
    “Thanks to Spencer,” her mother added, taking Jackie’s arm and guiding her deeper into the living room. “If he hadn’t been there …”
    Jackie patted her mother’s arm. “Don’t think like that. It worked out.”
    Smiling at her appreciatively, her mother reached to close the door just as another figure lurched up the porch and stepped into the doorway.
    No. F-ing. Way!
    “Spencer!” Her mother beamed as though the Pope himself had materialized on her doorstep. “I’m so glad to see you! Come inside!” Her mother all but dragged Spencer inside and slammed the door behind him, barricading him in. She held on to his arm as though it were a lifeline, or maybe she, too, spotted the spooked look in Spencer’s eyes—the one wild animals got just before they gnawed their own legs off to escape. “I never got to thank you for what you did today.”
    Spencer shifted uncomfortably. “No problem.”
    Her mother looked about ready to hug him. He must have noticed, too, because he looked momentarily panicked. Sophie almost laughed. She folded her arms and watched with amusement as her mother did just that. She pulled him into a tight embrace, including the back rub and a kiss on the cheek. Spencer reminded Sophie of a rabbit caught in a trap. She wasn’t quick enough to suppress her snicker this time. Gray eyes rose over her mother’s head and pinned her. They narrowed and she only smiled wider.
    P riceless!
    Finally, her mother pulled away only to frame his face in her hands and smile fondly. She patted his cheek lightly and stepped back. “I was just about to make supper. You’ll all stay, of course.”
    “No—” Sophie said about the same time as Spencer shouted, “We can’t—”
    The adults weren’t listening.
    Jackie beamed. “Only if I can help!”
    The only thing missing as her mother and Jackie disappeared into the kitchen was  bright sunlight and rainbows and the two of them skipping through a meadow of daisies, arm in arm. The whole bonding thing didn’t surprise Sophie. Her parents had a