Her mother waved her hand. “You don’t worry about that. I’ve got it all taken care of.”
Aspen frowned at the sparkly silver bracelet on her wrist. “Where’d you get that?”
“Oh, do you like it? It was a gift.”
It looked expensive. “Who—”
“One croissant with jam, and a plate of toast and eggs.”
Aspen smiled at the waiter as he set down the food. What she really wanted was a big steaming cup of coffee, but the coffee here was almost on par with The Tea House. Instant and watery and just bad.
The waiter left, and her mother leaned across the table. “He’s cute.”
“Who?”
“The waiter. Do you think he was looking at me?”
“He had to look at you to give you your food.”
Her mother rolled her eyes. “Okay, but do you think his gaze lingered?”
“Mom—”
“Aspen, hi!”
Oh, thank God.
She looked up to see Jesse’s sister Clara standing by the table, an older woman with graying hair and a kind smile beside her. “Hi, Clara.”
“It’s good to see you again. Have you met my mother?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Mom, this is Aspen, Jesse’s roommate. Aspen, this is my mother, Pam.”
Pam reached out a hand. “It’s so nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”
She had? Good things? Aspen was too afraid to ask. “It’s nice to meet you too.” She looked across the table. “And this is my mother, Karen. Mom, this is Jesse’s sister and mother.”
“It’s nice to meet you both,” her mother said politely. “Would you like to join us?”
Aspen’s spine stiffened.Please, say no. Her mother was fine right now, but that could change in a split second.
“That’s kind of you to offer,” said Clara, “but we’re running late for an appointment. I just saw Aspen and thought I’d pop by the table and say hi. Rain check?”
Absolutely not. Or at least, not with her mother in tow. “Sure.”
Pam touched her shoulder. “We’ll hopefully see more of each other. Thank you for keeping my son company. He needs someone with him.”
“Trust me, he’s helping me a lot more than I’m helping him.”
The memory of him catching her that morning and saving her a broken neck flashed in her mind. Yep, huge, gigantic helping happening.
“That’s my son, always wanting to help.” Pam’s smile widened. “Have a lovely day.”
Aspen noticed her mother frowning as they left the table.
“Everything okay over there?” Aspen asked, once Pam and Clara were gone.
