Read Online Solid Foundation by J. A. Armstrong - Free Book Online Page B

look,” Jameson said.
    “What
look?”
    “The
one your mother gets when she’s about to…”
    “Stop!
I don’t want to know!” Michelle shuddered.
    “I
was going to say open her fortune cookie. But, thank you for confirming where
your mind is.”
    “All
right, so maybe there is someone I might be interested in. We’re just friends.
That’s all.”
    Jameson
nodded. “Well, I hope it works out, Shell. By the look on your face, you like this
woman almost as much as your mom likes her fortune cookies, and that’s saying
something.”
    “So?
You ready to go shopping or what?”
    “Or
what?” Jameson responded. “Is there a what? If this is a multiple choice question, I will take answer B, please.”
    “I
might let you off the hook, but your mom is another story, ” Michelle said. Jameson mumbled something under her breath.
“What was that?”
    “Nothing.
Let’s go. Your mom is going to kill me for not coming home this weekend.”
    “I
doubt it, but why don’t you just have her come here?”
    “To
the condo?” Jameson asked.
    “Yeah.
Why not?”
    “Maybe.
She’s been on a tear with Pearl for this barbeque.” Jameson said.
    “This
barbeque is your wedding reception,” Michelle reminded Jameson.
    “I
know.”
    “J.D.?”
    “I 'm okay . Just too much to do and not enough
time to do it. That, and I don’t know how to deal with Gollum.”
    “Who?”
    “You
know…Gollum,” Jameson repeated.
    “Like
the creature in Lord of the Rings?” Michelle asked. “I’m afraid to ask.”
    “That
little ankle biter that’s following your mom around the last month.”
    Michelle
erupted in laughter. “Jason?”
    “Yeah,
him. The ankle biter.”
    “Ankle
biter? ” Michelle kept laughing.
    “Yeah.
He’s always on her heels and when he’s not he’s on mine or Pearl’s. Ankle biter…slithering
around all the time. He’s Gollum,” Jameson said.
    “Well,
maybe when we pick up your rings later you will be able to banish him,”
Michelle offered through her laughter.
    “What
are you talking about?” Jameson asked.
    “The
One Ring. J.D., you’re the one who called him Gollum. Don’t you get it? Do you
even know the story?”
    “NO!
I know he is a slithering little creature who repeats himself constantly.”
    Michelle
covered her face and shook her head. “He’s just trying to get a feel for you,”
she said.
    “It’s
annoying,” Jameson replied.
    “I’d
get used to it. You’re going to have gnaw marks on your ankles for the next year,” Michelle said.
    “Great.
And, she was worried about Jinx? How can a woman who deals with slimy little
creatures all day be opposed to cats?” Jameson wondered aloud.
    “Well,
you seem to have cured her of that aversion. Maybe Jason will grow on you.”
    “Yeah,
like a fungus,” Jameson replied.
    Michelle
laughed harder. “Come on. Look at the bright side.”
    “There’s
a bright side?” Jameson asked.
    “Sure.
At least Gollum isn’t going shopping with us.”
    “Remind
me not to call you when I need cheering up,” Jameson said.
    Michelle
pushed Jameson out the door. “Let’s go old lady. Slithery creatures are nothing
compared to mothers left waiting, and yours is no better than mine on that
count.”
    “Ugh.
I told her we should have just flow n to
Vegas,” Jameson grumbled. “One more week. Just one more week.”
    “Until
you’re an old married lady,” Michelle said. “Look at it this way, you get stuck
with us for life. Your ankles will only need bandages for about a year unless Mom runs for president or something
crazy like that.”
    “Oh
God, I’ll need a body cast. Let’s go. Explain this ring theory of yours to me
on the way.”
    Michelle
rolled her eyes. She waved to Melanie on the way out. Melanie mouthed her
question to Michelle silently. “Ring theory?”
    “Later,”
Michelle mouthed back.
    “Did
you say something?” Jameson asked.
    “Nope.
Come on. I’ll explain on the way.”
    “Where
is J.D. going?” Bryan