Smart Girls Think Twice by Cathie Linz

psychologist?”
    “A sociologist.”
    “Close enough. What would you think about a mother who abandoned her kid and then years later shows up out of the blue?”
    “Is that what happened to you?”
    Lulu nodded. “She showed up at my grandfather’s trailer two weeks ago. No warning, nothing.
    My grandfather raised me. He lives in the Broken Creek Trailer Park. His name is Jerry.
    You might have seen him around town. He has a lot of tats, tattoos. Rides a Harley.”
    Emma nodded. She had seen him.
    “I’m living in Skye’s old apartment above the theater here,” Lulu said. “I’ve turned one of the bedrooms into a studio for my work. I’m creating a graphic novel. Not that that has anything to do with my mother. I shouldn’t even call her that. She hasn’t been a mother to me. I don’t even know why she bothered coming back here after all this time.”
    “Did you ask her?”
    “No. I don’t want to know.”
    “Really?”
    “I don’t know.” Lulu scrubbed away a fresh set of tears.
    “Have you talked to Skye about this?”
    “No. Skye would just tell me to kick some butt.”
    Emma’s eyes widened. “She would?”
    “I don’t know. I didn’t want to say anything and ruin the bridal shower for everyone. I don’t even know why I’m crying. I don’t do crying,” she said fiercely. “Ask anyone.
    They’ll tell you that I don’t do crying. Ever. Do I look like someone who cries?”
    “No.”
    “Damn right.” Lulu wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “Crying is for wimps.”
    “Not necessarily. Crying can be a release for a build up of stress. It’s the body’s way of coping.”
    “Did they teach you that in medical school?”
    “I didn’t go to medical school. I’m a sociologist.”
    “Well, I never went to college, but that doesn’t mean I’m stupid.”
    “Right.”
    “You’re just saying that to be polite. You look like the type to be polite. Like Skye’s polite librarian sister, Julia. You’re a lot like her.”
    “Is she here at the shower?”
    “No, she and Luke are on vacation with their daughter. Julia is a good mom. Unlike mine.
    My grandfather is the best, though. He used to be an electrician before he retired. He’s always been there for me. He was my real parent, not her. And that’s the bottom line here.
    It doesn’t matter why she came back. Facts are facts. And the fact is that my grandfather is the one who deserves my loyalty and love. Not her. I don’t owe her anything. It’s so clear to me now. Thank you so much.”
    “But I didn’t do anything.”
    Lulu laughed. “Now you’re being modest. You probably learned that listening technique in college, huh? Letting me figure things out for myself. That was wicked awesome. I’m totally impressed.”
    “No, really I didn’t do anything.”
    “Understood. That’s what you’re supposed to say. Got it. No worries. I’m not really into hugs, but if I was, I’d give you one.”
    “Uh, thanks.”
    “I’ve got to go put my warrior face back on. I’m not one of those emos who are always crying. I just want to make that clear.”
    “Understood.” Emma’s experience on the small campus where she taught hadn’t put her into contact with many emos, but she’d heard the term before, referring to a life-style revolving around a certain type of music, clothes, and hairstyles.
    “Not that I’m totally all goth all the time either,” Lulu said. “I’ve got some emo in me. The truth is that I don’t really fit into any one category. Like Sue Ellen. She doesn’t fit either.”
    “Right.”
    “Not that I’m really like her. I just meant that neither one of us fits into a category. Neither does Skye. That’s why we’re all such great friends. Otherwise I’d never wear that Pepto dress for Sue Ellen. I wouldn’t do that for anyone else. Except Skye, but she’d never ask me to do anything so stupid.” Lulu looked at Emma. “What? You thought I was going to wear something like this to be Sue