"Then prove it." Linda's expression was stone. "Don't just tell me you're different. Show her. Every single day. Because Rachel is the strongest person I know. She rebuilt herself completely in this tiny town with that library job that barely pays her bills." Her voice sharpened again. "If you break her, if you make her regret trusting you, you'll answer to me."
"I understand."
"Good." Linda turned toward the apartment building. "Now show me this place where my daughter will be living with you."
Mac froze. "I—what?"
Linda shot him a look that could freeze fire. "Did you think Ididn't know? I'm fifty-three years old, not stupid. I also saw the Facebook photos from your moving day party announcement by someone colorful named Jamie Lawson."
"I thought.. I mean, Rachel said you didn't—"
"Didn't know you two were moving in together after dating for two months?" Linda wouldn't stop. Couldn't, maybe. "I knew. I don't approve. But Rachel stopped asking my approval around the same time her father abandoned us, so here we are." She gestured towards the car. "The apartment. Show me. I want to see if it's at least clean and safe, even if the life choice is questionable."
Mac led her toward his car that was stuffed with boxes, feeling like he'd just survived a tactical ambush.
Leah appeared beside him, grinning. "Mom's a master interrogator. She wanted to watch you squirm."
"That's terrifying."
"That's Mom!" She said cheerfully. "Don't worry, she likes you. If she didn't, you'd know."
"How would I know?"
"She'd have left already."
Rachel
Rachel gave her mother a tour of Mac's apartment, their apartment, she corrected herself mentally, while Mac and the team continued hauling furniture.
Linda examined everything with the critical eye of a mother evaluating her daughter's life choices.
"The kitchen is small," Linda observed.
"It's adequate for two people," Rachel countered.
"The bathroom only has one sink."
"We'll manage."
"There's no guest room for when your sister and I visit."
"You can stay at a hotel. There are two in town."
Linda moved to the living room, where Mac's hockey equipmentwas currently piled in the corner. "Does he always leave his gear lying around?"
"That's temporary because of moving day. Usually it's in the closet."
"Mmm." Linda crossed to the bookshelves, empty right now, waiting for Rachel's books. "At least there's shelf space for your collection."
"Mac specifically measured to make sure all my books would fit."
That made Linda pause. "He did?"
"He knows how much my books mean to me." Rachel's voice softened. "Mom, Mac isn't perfect. But he's kind and patient and he loves me. Really loves me."
Linda turned to face her daughter. "Rachel, I watched that video of the town hall meeting..."
"And?"
