“You two are earlier than I expected, make yourselves at home, I’ll be just a minute and we’ll get a dolly to bring up your stuff.”
For the next five minutes they pace the living room as they wait Wren still amazed at the lengths her Mom went to, to acquire all her pictures. While Norman stands transfixed by the image over the mantle. Margret’s sudden reappearance startles them and leaves Wren in a slight shock.
“All right let's get this stuff up here so we can all get to work.”
Wren just stares at her Mom.
“Everything all right, Wren?”
“I’m sorry Mom I still haven’t adjusted to your presence or appearance yet that’s all. I mean…you look good, I just have to adjust that’s all.”
“Okay, but maybe being around me more will help.”
They pick up a small flat cart from building maintenance then load up the stuff from the trunk. They deposit it all in the spare room and then they return the cart and Margaret gives them each a set of keys to get in and out of the building and the automated gate to the lot.
“Bye-bye Wren, I’ll be off about three so I should be home by three thirty and if you're in I’ll see you then.”
“Bye Mom I’ll see you this afternoon.”
After telling Norman good bye she heads back up to the apartment and puts their stuff away. About an hour later she is sitting down at her Mom’s kitchen table with the laptop and a cup of tea looking up Pete Applegate.
“Seventy eight hundred Watson road, suite four, five foot five, brown hair, fair skin, drives a two thousand three BMW, black, mother bought it for his graduation, still lives at home, will do anything or anyone, bi-sexual, might be doing his own mother.
Now that is just sick!”
About this time her phone rings with the call that her new computer system is ready to be picked up. She calls Norman to let him know and is informed that his order is ready at the hardware store as well.
“I guess we can pick up the stuff this evening after work.”
“That works for me, do you think we should take your mom along and buy her dinner? After all, she is letting us stay in her home while we pack to leave.”
“I don’t see why we couldn’t, but I need to do a little reconnaissance work tonight as well.”
“I’m glad this is wrapping up. I'm getting tired of worrying about you.”
Wren hangs up the phone and heads down to her bike. She throws her leg over and moments later is heading off to look over the situation. In fifteen minutes she’s cruising past the old apartment buildings. She turns into the lot and slowly drives through. The building is easy to find in the group and unlike Adam Edwards these are only four family flats making it easy to find number four. The black BMW sitting directly in front confirms that he still doesn’t have a job. She leaves the area taking note of a fire escape that should offer a good view of her quarry. She prepares to return to her Mom’s when her phone starts vibrating in her pocket. She pulls off to the side and pulling off her helmet answers the line.
“This is United Parcel Service and we have a delivery for Mrs. James and the ship ticket specifically states to call before delivery.”
“I can meet you at the Spring court address in say half an hour.”
“That works for me.”
The rest of Wren’s afternoon is spent packing the first and largest portion of the Cabella’s order into the shipping container as tightly as possible so as to ensure ample space for the coming supplies. When she is done she is wet with sweat and it is about time for her Mom to be getting home. She locks up the container, hops back on the bike and goes back to her Mom’s to clean up. Soon she is easing her bike up to the residents entrance and riding through the gate. Up the elevator she goes until she is on the eighteenth floor. Heading down the hall lost within her own thoughts as she finally gets to her Mom’s door. She enters with her key still feeling uneasy and weird about staying with her Mom. She steps inside and as she closes the door she hears voices from further inside the room. She listens carefully for a minute then realizes that her Mom is apparently entertaining her boyfriend, with a shudder she heads to the other end of the apartment to clean up.
Wren takes her time cleaning up using unscented soap, and making sure to shave carefully. When she is done she slips into a simple white sundress and sandals then starts packing the Predator into a duffel bag to come along. It’s a good hour after her arrival when she emerges from her room and she just catches a glimpse of her Mom escorting someone into the entrance hall. When Margaret returns she is alone and reddens slightly at the sight of Wren.
“Wren, I did not know you were home. How long have you been back?”
“About an hour.”
“Oh, well…”
“Mom, we are both adults and from where I met you I don’t think you need to explain anything. Let’s just assume that I know nothing, and I really don’t want to know anything.”
“Fair enough. So what are your plans for dinner?”
“We are going to go out and are interested in knowing if you would like to come along. Only you should know I have something to do afterward.”
“Not another like the other night. That scared me to death watching you careening through those tractor trailers, the sparks coming from that guy's bike every time he would try to slip through some gap. How close to the ground do you get?”
“You’ve seen the races that where on television that should give you an answer.”
“I can not see how you do that, it always looks like you are about to hit the ground.”
“One thing is you don’t pay attention to the ground. It’s kind of like if you ignore gravity it will ignore you. So what do you want for dinner?”
“Honestly a nice steak sounds good. What do you think?”
“It’ll do.”
“It’ll do? What sounds better?”
“A nice flame roasted piece of elk with some prairie carrots and a big bowl of black berries with cream.”
“I see what you mean now. I don’t know if I will ever understand you but, I am going to try. Whatever made you decide to ride a motorcycle?”
“Dad had a bike and he would take me out on it, that gave me my very first taste. A guy I dated senior year had a bike but that was all he was good for. I took a class on riding and got my first bike that year. Grandma was actually supportive of it and told me Grandpa had a bike when they were younger. I took that bike everywhere in all kinds of weather, I even took it to see Grandma and Grandpa Robbins that summer. One of my cousins took me to a race because he said I needed an outlet for my “need for speed” and I was hooked. Off road was too dirty and jarring but track and street pushing two hundred miles an hour, now that was for me.”
“Two hundred? How fast were you going the other night?”
“In chasing Josh, a hundred and fifty. Outrunning the helicopter two hundred maybe a little more. Believe me that kind of speed in the dark is not fun and really is totally scary, even to me.
Now you’ve been asking all the questions I have one for you. Have you ever been on a bike?”
“No, I’ve never dated anyone with one and I’ve never had the courage to get on anyone else’s.”
“Want a ride?”
“How? I don’t have a helmet.”
“When I was at the dealer the other day I borrowed a second one in case I needed to take Norman on the bike and I think his helmet will work just fine. I mean I’m not talking about anything over the speed limit. You got some heavy denim or leather?”
“Do I! I’ll be right back.”
They both leave and change coming back to the entrance hall at about the same time. Wren back in her racing leathers Margaret in tight leather leggings and a matching leather jacket over a white tee shirt. Wren is just getting ready to leave a note for Norman when he walks into the room.
“Norman, I was just going to take Mom for a ride on the bike. Would you mind choosing a steakhouse for us and we’ll be back shortly.”
“Okay, how long until you’re back?”
“Oh, give me half an hour, maybe forty minutes.”
The two women leave heading down the elevator to the garage. They walk up to the bike Wren giving her Mom instructions on how to ride behind her and hang on as they go. Wren throws her leg over and her Mom climbs on behind her. She fires up the engine and slowly lets out the clutch as she eases forward. Soon she is heading down Kingshighway and after a couple of stop lights she turns to her Mom behind her who had loosened her grip slightly.
“How are you doing?”
“Fine.”
“Ready for the highway?”
“Go ahead, let's go.”
They head East on interstate sixty-four to fourth street then turn around and head back. Twenty minutes later they are back in the parking lot taking off their helmets.
“Well, what did you think?”
“I think if I had been a better mother our lives would have been very interesting. So how much does something like this set you back?”
“Mom, you are definitely a lot different than I remember. I think I can actually say I like the new you.”
Margaret throws herself around Wren holding her tightly as tears start streaming down her face. She holds her so tightly and so long that Wren actually starts to get uncomfortable.
“Mom it’s a little hot to be standing around in black leather and besides Norman is waiting on us.”
“I’m sorry I just never thought I’d have you back again and to hear you say you like me. I guess the last month has been kind of a whirlwind for both of us.”
“Yes it has, let's go change and get some dinner.”
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