Okay, what the hell is going on now?
“Actually Mom, I am dating someone right now.” I smiled at Ladd and reached out to squeeze his hand. “But why are you calling me about that and how the hell did you find out?”
Mom screeched into the phone in a tone of voice I’d never heard from her before. “Fer fuck’s sake, Connor, what is wrong wit ye? I thought ye were finally over that asshole Troy, an now he calls me and tells me ye’re back together with him?”Oh, holy shit!What the fuck was Troy thinking? He called mymotherto tell her we were together again? Why was he doing this?
“Mom, listen…”
“No, you listen to me, sweetheart, I love ye with all me heart, but I will not let ye do this again. You are too special to put up with this douche-nugget’s shite ever again. I’ll force yer ass back to Scotland before I’ll watch ye go through heartache that profound again.”
Mom was a fierce mama bear, and I had no doubt she would do everything in her power to protect me, even from myself if necessary. Thankfully, she had this situation way the fuck wrong.
“Mom, I don’t know what the hell Troy is up to, but he lied to you. Now, I’m going to put you on speaker in just a second so watch your language.” I pushed the button for speaker, but evidently, she wasn’t quite ready for company.
“Fer fuck’s sake, Connor, I’m not a kid, I’m a lady, and I always watch me fuckin language.”Jesus!I blushed and glanced around the table to see shock, humor, and appreciation—Remy of course—on everyone’s faces.
“Uh, Mom, I’m at my boyfriend’s house for family dinner, and I’d like to introduce you. Ladd Eldridge, meet my mom, Maeve Douglas.”
Ladd, God love him, took everything in stride. “Mrs. Douglas, it’s so nice to speak to you again. I don’t know if you remember me, but we spoke a few weeks ago when you sent the key to the Mason building to me.”
Mom, for once in her life seemed speechless. Then she finally became irate. “Connor, yer new boyfriend is Ladd Eldridge, the architect working on the bar with you?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said sheepishly.
“You mean to tell me Troy called me, lied to me and made me make a complete twat of meself in front of your new boyfriend and his, I presume, whole family?”
“Uh…” I flinched. “Yes, ma’am, that seems to be the case.”
“Oh, fuckin kill me now.” Pause. “Shite, I’m still on speaker, aren’t I?”
“Um, yes, ma’am.”
Then I heard a whispered, “For fuck’s sake, get your shite together woman.”
Then louder, “Uh, sorry about that. Um, hello, Ladd, I’m so sorry for my behavior. I just couldn’t let it go when I thought Troy had his hooks back into Connor. I’m so sorry to have ruined your dinner. Sorry, everyone!”
There was a chorus ofit’s fineandno worriesfrom around the table assuring Mom no harm had been done. Then Ladd added, “Believe me, Mrs. Douglas, I understand. I would be livid if that piece of shit got anywhere near Connor again. He didn’t realize what he had, and now he’s all mine.”
“Oh, Connor, he’s a keeper, sweetheart.” She raised her voice like we weren’t all in the same room, “I love you already, Ladd. We have to get together soon.”
I rolled my eyes. “All right, Mom, we’re still having dinner, so I’m letting you go now.” I was about to grab the phone off the table when Helen snatched it up and took it off speaker while lifting it to her ear.
“Hi, Maeve, it’s Helen Eldridge. Yes, it’s been awhile, I know. So good to talk to you again.” There was a pause, then Helen laughed and got up from the table to walk into the kitchen followed by Lillian, “Yes, he’s my nephew actually. I know, I can’t believe it either. They are so cute together. You won’t believe how sweet. Now, we need to figure out something for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I have a few ideas…” And they were gone.
God help us all with those three making plans.
I looked around the table, and my thoughts were plastered all over everyone else’s faces, too. They all looked scared or mildly horrified at what the plans for the holidays might entail. I snuck a glance at Ladd, and he was staring at me, his eyebrows were pulled together and his jaw tight. He cut his eyes across the table and got into a staring contest with Rhett, then he switched to Remy, all of them concentrating and fiercely serious now. Ladd nodded, then Rhett and Remy nodded at the same time like they had all decided on something, except they had never said a word.
Maybe that psychic thing wasn’t just a twin thing.
James clapped his hands and said, “Seems we have a situation to take care of so let’s finish up dinner and the dishes so we can get this show on the road.”
Cleanup took less than thirty minutes, then Helen and Lillian left after they finally gave me back my phone. I didn’t ask what plans had been made if any. Like a good son, I’d just wait until my mom told me where to be and when.
With the aunts gone, that left the brothers, Taylor, and James with mischievous—evil in Remy’s case—smiles all looking at me. Dear God what were they going to do now?
