“Yeah,” I admit slowly.“She makes me want to work harder.When I’m with her, I can be myself in a way I never thought I could be with anyone.We think alike.It’s like we complement each other, and I didn’t think it was possible with anyone.”
My mother smiles, reaching out to touch my hand.“You sound happy.”
“I am.”My lips curve.“She’s not perfect, but then neither am I.But when I’m with her, we are both better versions of ourselves.”
“That’s a level of maturity I’ve never seen from you, sweetheart.”Mom looks surprised but also pleased.
“She makes me want to be better, Mom.”I meet my mother’s eyes steadily.“I want to work hard for her.I want to spoil her even when she won’t let me.I don’t think anyone has spoiled her before.I do something as simple as remembering her favorite dessert, and she’s happy.She tries not to show it, but I can see it.”My smile broadens.“And she does small things for me that she pretends are nothing but I see them.You won’t catch her dead with a sewing needle but this morning when I got up, I caught her trying to sew a button on my shirt which had fallen off.She denied it, of course, but I saw her.”
I try not to laugh at the memory of Eve’s wide eyes.You would’ve thought I caught her trying to do drugs.
I rub the back of my neck, uncomfortable under my mother’s scrutiny but knowing I owe her an honest answer.“I think about her when she’s not around.I want her to be happy.And when she is happy, it’s like...I don’t know.It matters more than it should.”
Mom’s eyes soften slightly, but she doesn’t interrupt.
“So yeah,” I mutter.“I am.In love with her.”
The words feel right the moment they leave my mouth.I’ve never said them out loud before, not even to Eve, but they’re true.Somewhere between our bickering and late nights at the office, between spending time entangled with her and watching her work her magic on the Serastra campaign, I fell for her.Hard.
“I never liked the idea of commitment,” I continue, turning a cookie over in my hands.“Relationships always felt like something I’d do eventually, you know?But with Eve...”I pause, searching for the right words.“With Eve, I want it.I want a title to our relationship.I want to tie her to me.”
My mother’s smile is soft, knowing.“You really do sound like you’re in love.”
I laugh lightly, shaking my head.“In college, we never got along.I’d see her in the library all the time, working harder than anyone else.She was always doing some odd job—tutoring, shelving books, whatever she could find.And she was so arrogant.”
“Or so you thought,” Mom prompts.
“Yeah.”I stare at the half-eaten cookie.“I thought she looked down on me when the truth was her life was hard, and she was just trying to make ends meet.I wonder sometimes how things would’ve gone if I’d known then what I know now,” I admit.“If we would’ve ended up together sooner.”
My mother reaches across the table and covers my hand with hers.“Probably not, sweetheart.When you were in college, you were driven, but not intentional.You’ve grown up a lot since then.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I deadpan, but squeeze her hand.
“I’m serious,” she insists.“The two of you were fated to meet now, so that you could grow into the best versions of yourselves.You needed to become the man who could appreciate her, and she needed to become the woman who could see past your...let’s call it your youthful charm.”
“You mean my bullshit,” I translate, and she doesn’t deny it.“Maybe,” I concede.“But I like to spoil her now.She has her own money, but I like buying her ridiculous things.She gets all guarded at first, but then when she realizes it’s from me, she gets this look on her face...”I trail off, realizing how I must sound, like some lovesick teenager.
Mom’s eyes are bright with unshed tears.“That’s because she knows you’re thinking of her.Women like that—knowing that someone cares enough to pay attention to what makes them happy.”She cups my cheek, her palm warm against my skin.“I’m so happy for you, Caleb.You deserve this.”
I clear my throat, suddenly emotional.“Where’s Dad?”I ask, changing the subject.
“At Natalie and Ethan’s,” she says, letting me off the hook.“He wanted to see Sophie, so he made up some excuse to go over there.”She laughs lightly.“I think we might end up adopting a cat if this goes on.”
“Any word from Nick?Have you talked to him recently?”
Her laughter fades, the joy draining from her face.Her voice grows quiet, a subtle grief settling across her features.“He came by yesterday.He looks thin, Caleb.Worn out.”
My stomach tightens.
“I’m not pushing to see Damien,” Mom continues, her voice terse, “even though I want to more than anything.But I can see my son fading away right in front of me.”
“Nick’s not that weak,” I tell her firmly.“You should trust him.He’ll figure it out.”
She nods, but I can tell she’s not convinced.“I hope so.Your father and I don’t want to push him, but I hope things turn around for him.I told him he can come to me for anything.Your father offered to put his properties in Elisha’s name, but?—”
“No, Mom!”I frown.“She won’t be satisfied with just that alone.She’s greedy.She will always want more.”
“That’s what your brother said.Nick wouldn’t let your father do it.”My mother turns her eyes away, but I see the sheen of tears in her eyes.“But what can we do?I can see your father hurting, Caleb.He misses Nick.He wants to see his grandson.”
