Her curious grin melted into a comically gleeful smile as she pressed both hands to her chest and squealed. Shesquealed. "Linden! You should've told me you had such a beautifulguest!" She shot him a wink that said she was in on the joke. "Oh my goodness, you are just gorgeous!"
Then she flung herself at me, gathering me into a crushing hug that stole my breath and seemed unnaturally strong for such a petite woman. Since I was a guest of Linden's but not a wink-wink guest, I wasn't sure how to respond, but after a beat passed, it didn't matter. I had no choice but to return her hug. "That's so kind of you."
She pulled back, holding tight to my shoulders. "Good gracious. Is that a touch of the South I'm hearing from you?"
I laughed because she asked with the mostSteel Magnoliasaccent I'd ever heard, andeveryonemimicked my accent when they met me. What was left of it.
"Oh mygod," Linden murmured. "Mom. Stop. You're being ridiculous."
"Quiet, Linden," she replied, smoothing a hand over the arms of my shirt. Which was her son's. Which she knew. "I'm having a chat with Jasper-Anne."
"Jasper will do, thank you."
"Jasper," she drawled. "So lovely."
He shot me a look that seemed to sayare you good?and I nodded. I wanted to scoff and sayof course I'm good. I could handle far stickier situations than a pop-in from Mom.
He dipped his chin, arched his brows up.Are you sure?
I gave him a nod, a quick smirk.Oh yeah. I got this.
"I'm going to grab that box from the car," he said, pointing to Diana. "Behave yourself."
She blinked. "Whatever could you be implying?"
"That I know your tricks. Behave," he repeated.
The door closed and I was alone with Linden's mother. Wet hair, bare feet, borrowed shirt. Obviously not my ideal look for any introductory situation but I wasn't in the business of getting my ideals anymore.
"I am just so happy to meet you," Diana said, gripping both of my hands and leading me into the kitchen. "Where are you from, sweetheart?"
"Originally, Georgia," I said, allowing her to steer me into a seat. "Then Washington, D.C., and now I'm here."
She gave me a subtle up-and-down glance as she smiled but it was clear she wanted to know what I did, why I was here, and how wonderful her son was to me. "This quaint town must be quite the change of pace for you."
I was prepared to joke about the culture shock but instead answered, "I'm enjoying it."
"As you should." She patted my arm with so much maternal reassurance, I felt tears prickling behind my eyes. "Now, before my son returns and tells me to keep quiet, I just want to apologize for walking in on you. If you're anything like me, you don't meet company until after your hair is set for the day." She touched gel manicured fingers to her dark, silver-streaked bob. "Not because you aren't perfect just like this—because you are just gorgeous—but that's how I'd feel. I'd also want plenty of warning before meeting my significant other's family"—oh, wow, she was going there—"and I should've called ahead. I am learning this, slowly but surely, as my children keep growing up and leading their own lives. I'm sorry for popping in unannounced. I just came from my daughter's house and, because of her aversions to certain foods during this pregnancy, she didn't want to see a jar of preserves. Since my canning closet is full and the food banks won't take home-canned goods, I thought I'd stop here—"
"Jesus, Mom. Don't put her to sleep with the hand-me-down history of your jams, jellies, and preserves."
"Don't forget the marmalades!" She gave me a conspiratorial grin. "I wentto townon the Meyer lemon marmalade this year. I hope you love it."
Since that sounded phenomenal and I did enjoy anything intended for spreading over bread, I said, "I'm sure I will. I love toast."
"She really does," Linden added as he set the box on the countertop.
"Then I've come to the right place. Oh, Jasper, you have to join us for Sunday supper this weekend. We haven't managed to get everyone together since July because Rob and Magnolia were visiting his family and then Zelda was off on her fieldwork adventures and Ash had all those audits in Arizona—"
"Mom. For real. Jas doesn't need a rundown of everyone's schedules." He turned toward us, his arms crossed over his chest. Without the benefit of his plaid shirt, he was all bulging biceps and thick forearms. "Have you thought about selling this stuff? Even if Jasper eats toast three times a day, every day—"
"I've been known to do that."
Diana hit me with another one of her sly winks.
"—we will still have enough spreadable fruit for several years."
"Where would I sell it?" she asked, tossing her hands up like it was a real mystery. "And I don't have the time for that. I just like making my preserves and giving them to the people I love. I'm not interested in any kind of entrepreneurial adventure. Please. I have grandbabies on the way." She shook her head at him like he should've known better than to start with her. "I'm sure you'll manage. Give your clients a jar or two when you visit. They'll enjoy that. A personal touch."
