I pause, letting that sink in. Mom flushes as I stay silent, her weathered hands smoothing the front of her pretty dress. Clearly, she’s feeling embarrassed, although I’m confused why. She’s not one to admit her faults easily, let alone like this.
“Well . . . thank you,” I reply, swallowing.
“I don’t want this to have damaged our relationship. Your sister brought up some excellent points to me after brunch this morning that I should have thought about prior to forcing that man on you. It was never my intention to make you uncomfortable or to feel like your decisions didn’t matter to me.”
My mind focuses on one specific point. “You talked to Kate about this?”
“Yes. She is your big sister, Jillian. When I fail to think about what’s best for you, she doesn’t. We both love you very much, even if I don’t always show it in the best way.”
“I appreciate that, Mom. James just—he wasn’t?—”
“The one. Yes, I know. I’ve pieced that together now. Your boyfriend made that very clear to us all when he had him leave this morning.”
I tongue my cheek before saying, “You heard about that?”
“Oh, yes. James wasn’t particularly quiet when he left. Again, that was an oversight on my part. He always was the worst kind of ass kisser.”
“Mom!” I choke, pressing the back of my hand to my lips.
She rolls her eyes. “What? I do know my fair share of swear words.”
“Yes, but you never use them. Like ever.”
“They slip out when the situation calls for one. Don’t fixate on it, Jill,” she blusters, waving it off.
Kate’s voice joins us, making my grin spread. “What are you doing over here? You’re gossiping, I can tell.”
“Mom’s started swearing like a sailor.”
“No I have not!” Mom argues.
“You’re having far too much fun not to include me. Tell me that we’re gossiping about Jill’s boyfriend. He’s been watching you two since you stole her away, Mom.”
I immediately search for him. He’s not in the spot I left him, but has wandered to the bar. There’s a glass of amber liquid in his hand that he takes a slow sip of. The slight curl of his lip over the rim gives him away. He has been watching.
“I like him, Jillian,” Mom declares in her no-bullshit tone.
Kate pulls me in for a side hug. “So do I. He’s very mature.”
“You’ve hardly even spoken to him,” I tell the both of them.
“Well, is your sister wrong?”
“No.”
“If you’re planning on keeping him around for a while, I’ll have plenty of time to talk to him. Maybe he could join you the next time you come for supper. I’m sure Vince would love the chance to have a guy around,” Kate suggests, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
I nod, leaning into her embrace. “I’d like that.”
“What about Easter? We need to start planning, girls. I have another mouth to feed now, after all. Surely, Grayson can come, Jill?” Mom asks, her mind already running laps.
She’s still speaking when I look back over at him. Still leaning against the bar, he lifts a brow and holds my stare. I nod, answering a question he didn’t have to speak aloud.
Yes, I’m okay. More than.
EPILOGUE
GRAYSON
