“Whoa, Mom. What’s up?”
“Are you listening to anything I’m saying?” Her phone rang, saving him. “Hold on.” She took the call, obviously from Jerome because her smile warmed and she told her caller not to worry about anything and that she’d miss him. After she hung up, she said, “Jerome had to cancel. Before you try making some smart remarks, he’s helping a friend who had to go to the hospital. The neighbor broke his leg, and Jerome is watching his grandson while he’s getting fixed up.”
“Hope the guy’s okay.”
She seemed to relax when he didn’t make any comment about Jerome ditching them. “Apparently Harvey, the neighbor, was up on a stepladder painting the living room—they have a cathedral ceiling—and he fell. But he’ll be okay. He had his grandson with him, though, babysitting for his daughter, who’s at work. So while Harvey’s in the hospital, no one’s around to watch the baby.”
More detail than Evan needed or wanted to know. “Mom, it’s okay. Stuff happens, and it sounds like it’s a good thing Jerome”—was late—“hadn’t left his house yet.” More like her inconsiderate beau had been a stroke of luck for the unfortunate neighbor.
“Oh, it is a good thing. But Jerome was sincerely sorry for holding us up and missing out on meeting you. He really took to Reid and Naomi.”
“Good.”I can’t believe she introduced her boyfriend to Reid before me. What the hell?
“What has you so distracted today? You’ve barely touched your coffee.”
They paused while the waiter came by to take their breakfast order, since they no longer had to wait on Jerome. After he left, Evan said, “I met a woman who’s really nice. And I’m getting to know Smith much better. A lot going on.”
“Oh? Tell me.”
Thishe knew and welcomed. Breakfast with his mom, where they shared the important parts of their lives. A mutual respect for each other and each other’s situations.
Evan did his best to remain blasé about Kenzie. Show too much interest and his mother would be all over her. Show too little and she’d wonder why he’d mentioned her at all. He also steered clear of asking her for any information on her doctor visits.
Having pondered Kenzie’s take on his mom, he’d started to think he might have been sharing stress over her condition without being aware of it. Which would make her feel a need to shelter him, keeping him far from her health scare. No matter what, he’d be there for her, but cancer took such a toll. She didn’t need his crap on top of her own.
“You look good, Mom.” She did.
“Thanks. I’ve stopped swimming, but I’m doing yoga now with Jerome. I’m pretty good at it too.”
“I’ll bet. You’ve always been pretty limber.”
“Because I was a top gymnast in my day.”
“I know. I love those old pictures.” The ones in the spare room at the house.
“I was going through some photos the other day and thought you might like them. I found some family pictures of the three of us.”
“I’d like to see them.” He smiled.
She narrowed her eyes on him. “You seem different. Happier.”
Before she could interrogate him, he told her about soccer. “Mom, it was so much fun. I hadn’t realized how much I missed playing.” Not entirely a lie, though his good mood had more to do with a certain hazel-eyed angel.
“How nice. Honey, you were so good. It was a shame when you stopped playing. I always thought you’d go pro.”
“Well, I wanted to. But the Marine Corps drew me. I’m not sorry I signed up.”
“I’m just glad you stayed out of the worry zones. Your cousins weren’t so lucky.”
“I know. Must be why Reid is so messed up now. Oh wait. No. He was always a bossy kid.”
“Evan.” His mother laughed. “He’s such a cutie. I really like his girlfriend. Naomi was sweet but not a pushover.”
He snorted. “Wait until you meet Jordan. She keeps Cash in line.”
“That I have to see to believe.”
“I know. All of us still watch and wait for him to revert to the way he used to be. But it’s like he’s a different man with her.”
