As predicted, Mom went ballistic the moment I walked through the kitchen door.

"You were specifically told to stay away from that hotel and that woman!" Mom trembled so much she had to clutch her hands together to keep them from shaking. It just transferred the extra vibration to the rest of her body. "Sydlynn Thaddea Hayle-what were you thinking?"

Gram sat at the table, grinning at me. I kept expecting her to speak up, but she didn't say a word.

So much for ...