“That’s not bad at all. I like your mom.” Margo Martin was sweet and loving… and completely unable to make the smallest decision without guidance. I didn’t like the way that she stressed Ash out constantly, but I did what I could to mitigate that for him. “And I loveRae.”
Ash’s youngest sibling had come out to their family as nonbinary a few months ago. And while O’Leary was generally a pretty accepting place, Rae might have been the first openly non-binary person in town. The first I could remember anyway. The exhaustion of having to correct people who continually used their dead name and mis-gendered them would take a toll on anyone, and Rae was barelyeighteen.
“As long as Mackie and Karen aren’t there, we’re good,” Iconcluded.
Ash grinned. “Nope. They’re at the beach with her family. Sharing the good news about their coming bundle ofjoy.”
“Excellent.” I was glad there was a new Martin on the way. But I was equally glad I wouldn’t have to deal with Karentonight.
“So, with Maura coming, we definitely have time to run home so you can teach me that lesson.” Ash slid the phone back into his pocket and gave me a grin that made my heart start beating double-time. “I mean, uh, time torun back to the bakery for extrasupplies?”
I smiled deviously at him. “I have a better idea,” I told him. “Stick with me,Ash.”
“Always,” he said, brushing his lips over mine. “Always.”
