“That’s okay,” Stella says. Marian nods. “Drink some decaffeinated tea to soothe your nerves, do some deep breathing, pray about it, and then tilt your head and put your shoulders back and go meet your mother-in-law.”
I shudder at those last words.
“And remember it’s only temporary,” Marian adds. I release my breath, letting that word wash over me. Temporary.
“Thanks, ladies. I should get started on that list.” I paste a smile on my face and wave goodbye. The call ends. My smile drops.
I slump into my chair, still thinking of the word “temporary.” Marian is right. Ruth will not be my permanent mother-in-law. Once Darcy and I divorce at the end of this thing, I’ll divorce Ruth, too. Done. Simple as that.
With that settled, I make chamomile tea, blot my face, whisper a prayer, and head out the door to meet mytemporarymother-in-law.
The walk to Five Four Coffee is short and cool. The March weather is pleasant, and the light breeze is enough to keep me from perspiring. Once inside, I order an Americano under the name of Tohru, sinceFruits Baskethas been my choice of anime lately, and sit in the back corner so that I have a full view of the door as I wait for Ruth Marshall.
Two minutes later, she walks through the door and quickly locates me in the back. I stand up and wave enthusiastically, which translates to an awkward not-sure-if-she’s-a-human look for me. Ruth doesn’t seem to mind because she grins widely and waves back with a wildly flapping hand that matches my energy. Her walk—a bouncing cadence—is cause to believe the lively woman isn’t actually in her sixties.
Her blonde hair is the same color as her son’s, though there are many streaks of gray. Somehow, she works the look. The closer she gets, I’m startled for the second time by her eyes. They are a deep brown that warms the soul of the one looking into them—the complete opposite of Darcy’s icy blues.
“Hello, Hayden. It’s good to see you again. Thanks for meeting me.” Ruth wraps me in a hug, and unlike last time, I let my arms circle around her slim frame. I don’t pull her close, but I don’t have to—she smashes herself against me with enough force to push my boobs to my chin.
Is that what motherly love is supposed to feel like? Hugs that smash boobs? Because that’s how Marian hugged me, too.
“It’s no problem,” I reply, still smushed against the smaller woman. I drop my arms and begin to step away. She releases me. “So, what’s on the agenda for today?”
“Sit down, sit down. Let’s chat for a little while first. I’ll go order coffee.”
“No, let me! What do you want?”
Ruth smiles. “You’re precious. Thank you. I’ll take a skinny vanilla latte.”
“One skinny vanilla latte coming right up.” I grab my purse and walk back to the counter where blue-haired, boring Kale stands with a slight frown. I order and give him the name Ruth. There is no way I’m giving a fake name for my mother-in-law’s drink. The coffee is made quickly, and I return to the table with the coffee in hand.
“Thank you again, Hayden.”
“My pleasure.”What?Do I work at Chick-fil-A all of a sudden? I mentally facepalm myself.
“So, tell me about yourself. Darcy has told me very little.”
I sit down in my chair and try to hide the fact that I feel slighted that Darcy hasn’t spoken about me to his mother. But then I remember this is all a ruse.
“Oh dear. Don’t feel bad. Darcy hardly talks to anyone about anything personal,” Ruth continues before I can respond to her question.
I snort. “No, ma’am, it’s not that. I know better than most people that your son is a tough shell to crack.”
Immediately, I regret the words, but Ruth simply laughs. “Right you are. Having to work side by side with him all day is a tedious task, I’m sure.”
My head wants to nod along with her, and it wouldn’t be amiss to do so, but Darcy isn’t all bad. “You raised a good man, Ruth. Yes, he can be complicated, picky, stubborn, cold, quiet, and demanding, but he is also considerate of his subordinates. He takes care of us and respects us. He values our time and energy. I think he even wants to be more socially involved, but maybe he doesn’t quite know how…” I trail off, contemplating that last tidbit. Darcy is a difficult man, but what if it’s because he has so many walls up? What if he is afraid of something? What if he is more like me than I realize?
“My son couldn’t have chosen a better woman,” Ruth says, dabbing a tissue at the corner of her eye.
“But you don’t even know me yet.” If she knew I was orphaned, grew up bouncing between homes, running away, and the things I have seen and done in my past, she would take back that statement quicker than Kakashi mirroring his opponent’s moves inNaruto.
She reaches out her hand and takes mine, squeezing gently. “Hayden, you listen closely. The fact that you see the person behind my son’s carefully crafted exterior tells me you are what he needs. Just be patient with him, Hayden.” She looks off in the distance before turning back to me. “I also trust his judgment in choosing you. Regardless of when—or if,” she winks, “this marriage ends, you will always have a mother in me. I know you don’t have parents of your own, but I will gladly be a stand-in mom for you.”
Now it’s my turn to cry. “Thank you,” I choke out. “But how did you know about my past?”
“What kind of mother would I be if I didn’t run a background check on the woman marrying my very important son?” The gleam in her eyes says she may be joking, but I don’t think she is.
“Right,” I say, drawing the word out. I lean back in the chair, and Ruth lets go of my hand. “Anything I can share that you don’t already know?” I smirk, and she matches my expression with humor in her eyes. I think we will get along just fine, even if it’s temporary.
