Finally, I looked to my mother whose lips quivered a bit as a smile broke out on her face. “Y-you’re engaged?”
I shook my head slightly.
“We were married last week while on vacation,” Tyler continued. “We wanted our privacy to share in the moment, just for us, but I am sure there will be another, larger ceremony for both our families once the house is completed.”
“House?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Tyler nodded. He went on to tell her about the house in Cedarwoods, going so far as to promise her one of the bedrooms that would be open for her to live in.
As I suspected, my mother shook her head at the idea of moving in with us. My heart sank. I wanted her close to me, especially now. I didn’t feel right about living in such a large home surrounded by Tyler’s side of the family nearby while my own mother lived alone.
“I think you’ll feel differently once you become a grandmother,” Tyler stated confidently.
My head whipped around to glare at him. He simply smiled and pulled my hand to his, kissing my knuckles.
“Y-you’re pregnant?”
I gasped and shook my head vigorously. “No.”
“I-is that why you married so fast?”
“Ma, no!” I insisted. “I’mnotpregnant.”
“Yet.”
I cut my eyes in Tyler’s direction who gave me a nonchalant look and a shrug.
“Only a matter of time, precious.”
I ignored the tingling in my body at the pet name he used, as well as bit the inside of my cheek to keep the smile off my face.
“Anyway, Ma, I’m sorry you couldn’t be there when we married, but you’re the first to know from either of our families and we … I never wanted you to feel left out.”
My mother sat back in her chair. She reached a wobbly hand out for me to grasp. I took her hand in mine. She turned to Tyler. “My daughter doesn’t m-make impetuous decisions. And she isn’t one to make the same mistake twice. If she said yes, then she must really be in love. You h-have my blessing.”
I squeezed her hand, eyes blinking rapidly to clear away the tears that threatened to spill over.
“And you have my word, you’ll never regret your decision. Either of you.”
I hadn’t even realized the first tear slipped until I felt Tyler reach up and wipe it away with his thumb. Jesus, I usually wasn’t this damn emotional. I swallowed and leaned in for the kiss my husband offered, feeling safer and more secure than I could ever remember feeling.
We spent another hour over my mother’s. Once I told Tyler how much my mother loved sweets, he’d insisted on bringing an entire chocolate truffle cake with us for dessert. They both indulged, and for once, I didn’t admonish my mother for taking a second piece of cake. I was too busy trying to rein in my own emotions after watching Tyler feed my mother her cake once he noticed the trembling in her hands preventing her from enjoying her dessert. Her trembling often got worse at night and when she was tired.
I helped my mother change and get to bed before Tyler and I left for the night. I checked at the front desk to make sure the staff new to check on my mother throughout the night and have someone help her early the next morning. I called her facility daily to check in on her, but still wanted to make sure they knew my mother had someone in her corner at all times.
“You can also add me as the contact person for Mrs. McDonald.”
I was shocked when I glanced up to see Tyler speaking to the head night nurse, who sat at the front desk.
“Oh, and your name is—”
“Tyler Townsend.”
“Your relation to Mrs. McDonald?”
“Son-in-law.”
I quietly watched as Tyler informed the woman of his contact information to be contacted in case of an emergency.
