“So when you’re done your tea, you can go home, secure in the knowledge we’re both fine,” Charma suggested.
“I’d be happier if you agreed to come back with me and stay in your old room for a while.”
Darcy shook his head, but Charma was way ahead of him.
“That’s not going to work, Mom.We need to get through this ourselves.Besides, when is it going to be a good time to come back here in your mind?In a day?In a week?In a month?How long before you deem it ‘safe’?”Charma put air quotes around the last word.
“Well, I’m not sure it’ll ever really be safe outside of the compound…”
“So we’ll start like we mean to continue—here.Inourhome.”
“You could have your own place if that’s the sticking point.”Mom sat on the edge of the couch, addressing them both.“There are several empty houses you could choose from.It would be cheaper than you’re paying here, I’m sure, and you’d be secure.Safe behind the gates with your family.”
“What about when we have to leave to do groceries?”Darcy asked.
Mom didn’t miss a beat.“You can get groceries delivered.”
Oh, this was a game he was not going to play with her.“And what about when we want to go out to a movie?To a party?To the beach?Or just for a walk to enjoy a beautiful evening?”
She actually opened her mouth to answer him and he had no doubt she was going to find staying in the compound alternatives for each of his points, so he just held up his hand to forestall her.
“My point is, that you are never going to feel we’re safe again even if we hole up at the compound.And frankly, neither will we if we let you coddle us like that.We have a perfectly serviceable apartment of our own and we plan to stay here.”
“There you go you said it yourself—serviceable.”
Charma wondered if she’d lost her mind.He had said serviceable, and it was, so if she was going to trash talk their home…
“At the compound you could have something far better than serviceable.You could have grand, beautiful, a masterpiece of a home.There’s a four-bedroom available at the end of the month.It would be yours just for the asking.”
“What would we do with four bedrooms?”Darcy asked.
“He’s right, Mom.That kind of home should be giving to a family with lots of kids, not a gay couple.Who.Don’t.Even.Want.To.Move.To.The.Compound.”
She pursed her lips, and he could see her mind whirling behind her eyes, looking for more arguments to get them to move out to the compound.Even if only temporarily.
“We are, however, quite willing to visit a lot,” he offered.“Don’t sour that by being unreasonable now.”
“You’re so stubborn.”
“Uh-huh.”Charma nodded.“And where do you think I get it from?”
“Are you suggesting I’m stubborn?”She did that outraged tone so well.
“I’m suggesting that stubborn isn’t a strong enough word,” he noted, voice dry as dust.
“Well, I never.”
That had him snorting.“Baloney.You know you’re a stubborn old shifter.”He left the ‘who already drove me away once’ unsaid.She knew her inability to let the whole continuing the family line thing go had sent him away from the compound in the first place.
“Don’t be calling me old.”
“Sorry, Mom.”
“Thank you.”She drank more of her tea.“I’ll make some cookies for you guys so you have something to go with your tea.”
Charma knew that translated into I’m willing to leave things as they are, for now anyway.He was sure she’d bring it up again.And again.And again.But for today they were done.
“What’s your favorite kind of cookie, Darcy?”
