Well played, but not an option. “Mom, I’m not opposed to getting married someday, but I’m also not going to start dating anyone right now. So don’t go matchmaking for me, okay?”
“Oh, all right.” She got up from the table. “I won’t bring up the subject again.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m still proud of you, Tanner, even though you’re a late bloomer in the dating department.”
“Does that mean you’re not kicking me out?” he asked, only half joking.
“I would never kick you out. But you should focus on moving on with your life instead of worrying about mine.” She cupped his cheek with her work-roughened hand. “I love you for it, but I’m fine, and I will be fine on my own, in my own house. Inthishouse.” She removed her hand. “Sleep well, son.”
After she left, he thought about what she had said... and what she didn’t know. His throat tightened again as he remembered the last words his father had said to him.“Take care of your mother and brother.”Tanner had only been eight, but he had taken those words to heart, and over the years he had done everything he could to fulfill his father’s request. And he’d done it without sacrificing anything, or at least not much. Maybe he hadn’t spent all his time partying like his friends had in high school and had missed out on going to college when he had several scholarships for his excellent grades. So what if he’d stayed behind in Maple Falls while a lot of his classmates moved to larger cities or even out of state? And did it matter that he hadn’t dated a lot? He had spared himself a lot of unnecessary heartache.
Still, one thing his mother had said stuck with him. He was twenty-seven, still living at home, and had no relationship prospects. From the outside looking in, he probably did seem like a loser. Was he missing out on something? And why did Anita suddenly come to mind when he thought about the possibility of a relationship?
Because Mom brought her up, that’s why.
As he walked upstairs, though, he knew his mother’s comments weren’t the only reason he was thinking about Anita, enough that he had to remind himself of his own ethics. Even with all the distractions this week, he kept remembering how much he’d enjoyed sharing tapas with her—and he couldn’t get that sexy sigh out of his mind.
He undressed and got in the shower, letting the hot water soothe his tired body. How ironic. He’d known Anita all these years, and worked with her for three, but for some reason it had taken being alone with her and some Spanish appetizers to get his attention.
If only things were different...
But they weren’t, and he couldn’t afford for them to be. Anita was the best waitress he’d ever worked with, and he would have to depend on her to make his plans for Sunshine a reality. He’d even thought about putting her in charge of scheduling staff while he focused on the coffee bar and new menu. He trusted her completely, and he refused to mess up their professional relationship because his timing was terrible. Business came first, and he didn’t see that changing for a long while.
***
Rosa eased down on her bed, the aches and pains from a long day’s work making themselves known in her joints. Normally she was in bed and conked out by now, but the past few nights she’d had trouble sleeping. Her nightly tea wasn’t helping her relax the way it usually did, even thoughshe was feeling more fatigued than normal. And after her talk with Tanner, she knew sleep wouldn’t come easily tonight either.
Her eldest had been uppermost in her thoughts the past few months. She didn’t have to worry about Lonzo, who was doing well in school and made sure to call her once a week to give her updates about his life in Tulsa. He’d started dating someone and said that he might bring her home to meet the family on his next break. Meanwhile, she’d never seen Tanner go out on even one date.
Oh, Tanner... what am I going to do with you?Her handsome, hardworking son. Of course she was biased about him, and she was puzzled that he was still single and seemingly content living with her at his age. Tonight was the first night she’d voiced those thoughts, and she was relieved they had finally talked about the subject.
While she didn’t quite believe him when he said he didn’t feel obligated to her, now he was aware he didn’t have to stay here with her. She would miss him, but he needed to cut the cord he’d mistakenly believed tied him to her and Lonzo. Losing his father so young had been hard on him, although Tanner had rarely shown his grief. Almost from the moment of Alonzo’s death he’d slipped into the role of head of the family, and she’d been too bereft and filled with worry about raising two young sons on her own to stop him from carrying a burden that wasn’t his. She wished she would have seen it sooner.
She picked up the picture on her nightstand and touched Alonzo’s face, eternally handsome in his wedding tuxedo. He wasn’t as tall as Tanner, but they had the same athleticbuild, light-brown hair, and sage-green eyes. Alonzo also had a thick mustache, the height of style back in the day.
She looked at this photo every evening and every morning. Their time together had been brief—far too brief. And yet... Her husband might not be physically here with her, but he was forever in her heart.
Rarely did she look at herself in the photo, but tonight she gazed at the young woman standing close and smiling up at her new husband, young and pretty in the size 4 dress her mother had made. She had become pregnant with Tanner not long after their honeymoon, and she hadn’t seen size 4 since. Alonzo had never minded her weight gain, often telling her he liked her “pretty and plump,” as he used to say.
“You would be proud of our boys,” she whispered to his image, her voice thick. “Tanner has his own catering business. He’s an excellent cook and a loyal son—a little too loyal for his own good, I think. And Lonzo is doing so well in school. He’s dating a girl named Molly, and he’s considering attending graduate school for his master’s in chemical engineering.” She ran the back of her hand over her eyes. “I wish you were here to see what fine men they’ve grown into.”
She lifted her gaze and glanced around her bedroom, memories washing over her. How could Tanner even think she’d consider selling her house? She and Alonzo had papered this bedroom when she was six months pregnant with him. They had searched for weeks before finding the perfect dresser at a thrift store, the only place they could afford to shop at the time. That dresser hadn’t moved from its spot against the wall on the opposite side of the room. The carpetwas old, her mattress was lumpy, and she had worn the same Easter dress to church twelve years in a row.
She wouldn’t change anything about her house. Or her life. She was tired, but she was also happy, and she wanted her sons to be happy too.
After a few moments she set the frame back in its place. Next to their picture, she noticed the card she’d put on the nightstand yesterday. She had an appointment with Dr.Bedford on Monday. He was her new cardiologist and also happened to be Anita’s father. Her general practitioner had recommended him after some of her blood work had come back abnormal. “You should get your heart checked out,” Dr.Earley, her family doctor, had said. “Walter has an excellent reputation, and he’ll take care of you.”
Rosa stared at the card. She had known Walter Bedford when he and the rest of Anita’s family used to live in Maple Falls, and she didn’t doubt he was an excellent cardiologist. But she didn’t have time to see a doctor—not next week, anyway. She’d had abnormal blood work before, although this was the first time she had been referred to a heart doctor. Whatever was going on, it could wait another week or two. She felt fine, other than being tired, and she couldn’t remember a time when she wasn’t tired.
I’ll reschedule tomorrow.
She readied herself for bed and said her evening prayers, adding an extra one for Tanner and his future. As an afterthought she said another quick one—for him to be more open-minded about dating Anita. The more she thought about the two of them together, the more she realized they were perfect for each other. Tanner needed a sweet, kind,supportive woman in his life, someone who was as loyal to him as he would be to her. Anita had that kind of loyalty and had shown it by not leaving Maple Falls when her parents and siblings had, in addition to staying at the same job for many years. Rosa couldn’t imagine her doing anything to hurt Tanner or anyone else.
When she climbed into bed, she flipped off the light and sighed. Ultimately Tanner would have to decide whom he should date. She would have to be patient. But hopefully he would realize that work wasn’t everything. Family was, and she wanted him to start his own—before a prime opportunity passed him by.
Chapter7
