“Wow, an apple crumble. How brave of you.”
Indie frowned. “Brave?”
“Well, if I remember correctly, you don’t really bake or cook. Remember that goulash you tried?” Sylvia chuckled and turned, setting the apple crumble onto the counter.
The goulash had been perfect. And Indie was pretty sure Sylvia hadn’t even tried it. She’d put some on her plate but never touched it, only eating the potato bakeshe’dmade.
Colt wrapped an arm around Indie’s waist. “I love Indie’s goulash.”
There was a small tightening of Sylvia’s eyes. It was so subtle, Indie almost missed it.
“I didn’t know you were a goulash fan. Maybe I’ll make you mine next week.” Sylvia slapped her hands on her hips. “Now, I hope we’re all hungry, because I’ve madea lotof food and Ben’s grilled up some bison burgers outside that smell amazing.”
The next twenty minutes were spent setting the table, finishing the food, and chatting. Sylvia did most of the talking, telling them about her book club and trips to the market. Something Indie had learned early on was that Sylvia liked to talk about Sylvia and Colt. And if the conversation ever switched over to Indie, Sylvia was great at switching it back.
When they finally sat at the table, Indie was just serving herself a burger when Sylvia glanced at her.
“Indie, I’m so sorry. I’ve been doing all the talking and haven’t asked anything aboutyou. How have you been?”
“Good. Still running my photography business. Not much has changed.”
Sylvia’s brows lifted. “Oh, you’re still doing that?”
“Of course she is. It’s her job, Mom,” Colt cut in, brows flickering.
“I know, I was just clarifying.” Sylvia forked up some potato salad. “I assume because you and Colt have been apart, you haven’t done any more rounds of IVF?”
Colt opened his mouth to respond, but she squeezed his leg under the table before answering. “No more rounds. We might actually be done with IVF.”
“Oh, that’s good. It was so stressful for you both. I always wondered, if you really want a child, why don’t you adopt?”
Her muscles tightened. Shehatedwhen people asked that. It was shocking how often that was the automatic question from most people. “Adoption is not a replacement for infertility, Sylvia.”
“Well, of course not, but you tried the natural route. And sometimes nature has the final word, you know?”
The muscles in Colt’s thighs bunched. “Mom.”
“I’m not saying it to insult anyone. I just think there’s a reason some people can’t reproduce. To try to play God in this arena feels unethical and—”
“Stop.”
Indie flinched at Colt’s tone. Sylvia’s eyes widened too. Even Ben’s fork paused halfway to his mouth.
“How Indie and I extend our family is between her and me.”
Indie’s heart tapped at an eager rhythm, partly because of Sylvia’s words and partly because of Colt. Because of the anger in his voice toward his mother. He’d never spoken to her like that before. At least, not in front of Indie.
Was this why Sylvia had become so unkind toward her? Because she thought Indie’s use of IVF was unethical?
The shock on his mother’s face shifted to annoyance, then a forced smile. “I’m sorry. You’re right. It’s between you two.”
But the second Colt looked away from his mother, she glanced at Indie. And there was such coldness there. Accusation even. Because she blamed Indie for the way Colt had just spoken to her? Or was there more to it than that?
Colt watched his mother closely.He was noticing things tonight that he’d never seen or heard before. Small comments here and there. Little digs that could almost pass as innocent. About Indie’s job, her cooking, her appearance, and what the fuck was that comment about IVF? His mother hadneversaid anything like that to him, or even around him, before.
Had she said these things to Indie before? Is this what she’d been hinting at? Had this been an ongoing thing he wasn’t aware of?
He glanced at Indie as she ate her dessert. The corners of her lips tipped up slightly, and to most, she would look happy.
