She nodded. “Love will do that.” She clasped her hands on the table and glanced down.
“Mom?”
“Evan, I—”
“Your order is ready.” The waiter handed them their plates.
Evan waited for him to leave.
“Oh, this is lovely.” She dug into her eggs Benedict while Evan studied her.
“What were you about to say?”Finally. Just tell me what’s bothering you, Mom.
“Just that I think it’s wonderful your cousins have found someone special.” He didn’t believe for a minute she’d wanted to talk more about Reid or Cash. “You had that with Rita, and I know you can have it again.”
“So can you.”
She nearly knocked her coffee over. “Whoops. Silly me.”
“Mom? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m just a clumsy old woman.”
“Who does yoga, bikes fifty miles a week, and has no problem telling me where to stick it for calling her ‘old,’ so try again. What’s got you so nervous?”
“Oh heck. I’m no good at subterfuge. Jerome and I are thinking about getting married.”
He hadn’t expected that. Evan sat there, not sure what she wanted him to say. Though he knew “congratulations” normally followed one of those announcements, she didn’t look happy about the admission.
“Um, are you happy about that?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” she snapped.
“Mom, I’m not judging you. I’m happy if you are.”
“Are you really?”
Puzzled and concerned, he put his hands over hers. “Mom, stop. I’m not sure what’s wrong, but whatever it is, we can fix it together.”
She stared at him, started to smile, then burst into tears.
“Mom?”
A few other customers looked over at them.
“I’m so sorry. I, you… I’m so emotional lately.” She stood. “I’ll just freshen up in the bathroom.” She took her purse and went down the hall toward the restroom.
Evan sat and picked at his eggs, barely tasting them. Had he somehow lost his mojo with the opposite sex? He used to be good talking to his mom, but now she cried instead of opening up to him. He had Kenzie hooked on sex, but he worried about the past she hadn’t quite gotten over, unsure if he’d do or say something to send her running in the opposite direction. And now that he’d found her, he couldn’t imagine life without her.
Kenzie had jump-started his heart after it being cold for so long. It was as if he saw the life he could have, a perfect amalgam of family and friends and purpose. If only he didn’t step wrong and topple the whole damn applecart.
He’d been loopy about Rita too, and he’d been fortunate to share two wonderful years with her. Not all of the time happy, of course, but every second with her had been worth the pain. Evan knew true love didn’t come around that often. He’d dated a lot, but only Rita, and now Kenzie, had ever left him breathless, heartsick, and agonizing over time spent apart.
He should talk to someone, Reid maybe, and hear out loud that he was going to ruin a good thing by worrying it to death. But he didn’t want Reid to know he was such a basket case. Evan knew he came across as a guy who had his shit together. Sure, he used to stress when working for Peterman & Campbell Accounting. But for the most part, he’d been a success in life.
He shook his head, not used to being so anxious all the time. At least if this thing with his mother would settle, he’d feel better. But not having their relationship on an even keel bothered him more than he could say.
She returned, dry-eyed and smiling.
