"Uh huh, the ones you’ve been readin’ back-to-back since you first discovered her books?’
“Yep. Well not only did I get to meet her at Christmas, but there’s a new one comin' out in the Spring. She says it's a new couple that just had to have their story told,” I explain.
“That’s excitin’,” she replies, brows furrowed. “Still not sure what that has to do with you stayin’ in Alaska.”
I take a deep breath. “That’s because the book is going to be about me and Toby.”
“I’m not sure I’m followin’ you, darlin’.”
“The mountain’s Call that she writes about? The one where the spirit rewards her protectors with their soulmates? That’s not fiction. It’s true…”
Her lips part as she stares at me. “Nooo… really? That’ssocool!” She puts her cup down on the table before launching forward and hugging me. “Always knew you were special, darlin’, but being chosen by the mountain as a reward for a good, honest,worthyman is beyond the definition of special.” Happy tearssting my eyes as I hug her tightly back. She pulls back and studies me. “There’s just one thing though…”
My head jerks and my body stills. "He's a good man, Mom. One of the best. He's thoughtful and kind and is always doing nice things for me. He even makes me a coffee every mornin’, has done since before we ever got together." I catch the twitch in her lips as she shifts back on the couch. “Sorry. I just don’t want you thinkin’ he’s not the perfect man for me.”
“One look at the two of you when you turned up, to the way he’s always watchin’ you and you’re always watchin’ him, even when you think no one’s lookin’. I do not doubt that you two are made for each other. That's not what I was about to say."
I’m the one frowning this time. “OK…”
“I was gonna say that I’m not sure I can read that book now.”
“Why’s that? Is my love story not good enough?”.
“Oh it's not that," she smirks. "I just figure there are things Aster writes in her books that a mother doesn’t need to know about her daughter.”
Beet red, that’s the color my cheeks are now. “Mom!”
“What? You’re an adult.” She shrugs. “You both are. I’m not naive about the path of true love and what it entails. I was your age once too, you know.”
“That’ssomethin’ I don’t need to know,” I mutter, earning a knowing laugh from her.
“Still gonna miss you though. It's your destiny, but that doesn't mean you haven't left a big ol’ hole here.”
I reach out for her hand. “I’ll be back. And y’all can come visit. We’ll have lots of space for all of you.”
“Might just do that. I joked that you should find an Alaskan boyfriend. Didn’t think about you finding an Alaskanhusbandinstead,” she muses, shooting me a wink.
Just then, the back door opens and loud voices fill the air as the men step inside and make their way across the kitchen toward us. Scott leads the way, stopping to steal a few cookies before slumping down in an armchair, looking pointedly at Toby who looks a little rattled, or nervous…
“What did you do to him?” I turn to my brothers. “I swear to all that’s holy, if you two didanythingto him, you’ll be wishin’ you were never born.”
“Damn, Dee. Why are you so feisty?” Dillon says, resting his butt on the arm of Scott’s chair and holding his hands up in surrender.
“Because I love him, idiot,” I say with a sigh, looking over to see Toby’s expression has morphed into the same soft, hooded one I get from the man whenever I say that.
“Love you too, Skippy.”
“Aww.Gaz,he calls her Skippy. That’s so sweet.”
“My girlisa bit bouncy,” Dad says with a laugh.
“Take that back, Dad.”
He grins. “Never. Maybe we can all start callin’ you that too.”
Narrowing my eyes, I can’t hold back my grin. “Don’t you dare, old man.”
Toby’s head watches the volley between us like he’s at a tennis match. Needing to be closer to him, I push up off the couch and close the distance between us, wrapping an arm around his waist when I reach his side.
