Charlotte hesitated, unsure of how to respond. She didn't want to lie to her mother, but she couldn't tell her the truth either. Not yet, at least.
"I...I got a good job, Mom," she said finally, trying to sound convincing. "I've been working hard and saving up. This is just a little reward for ourselves."
Mrs. Brown looked skeptical, but she didn't press the issue. Instead, she turned to Charlotte with a curious expression. "And what about Wesley, dear? That nice young man who came to visit me in the hospital? Are you two still...?"
Charlotte felt a flush rise to her cheeks as she quickly brushed off the question. "Oh, Mom, don't worry about that. Wesley and I...we're just friends, okay? Let's not talk about him right now."