Beau winces in sympathy. “How’s Dad?”
Eve pauses, meaningfully.“He’ll be fine. Maybe by the morning. I’m getting him some ice, so that should help.” She looks up the stairs, not looking super confident in the diagnosis. “Anyway, I’m glad I caught you, because I wanted to talk to you about the parade.”
Interest well piqued. “There’s gonna be a parade?”
“A Christmas parade.” Beau knows how much I’d like that detail.
“That culminates with a live nativity.” Eve helps her son’s case.
“With people?”
“And goats, and horses, and maybe a camel if they can swing the camel insurance. Beau’s Mee-maw will be there.”
“A camel? And a Mee-maw?” I’m all in on this parade now.
“If they can afford the camel insurance.” Beau’s face shows fear at the thought of how disappointed I’ll be if there aren’t camels. And he’s right. “Well, Mee-maw will be there regardless of the insurance situation.”
“Rehearsal is tomorrow at eleven.” Eve gets us back on track. “Sonia, we’ll try to get you on a camel.”
Eve just became my favorite Abbot. Sorry, Beau. Try harder, maybe.
“About this camel—” I say.
Beau tugs me up the stairs. “I might have to deal with the mulch vendor but I’ll see if I can put him off.”
Eve sighs. “Fine, if mulch is more important to you than your mother’s business, that’s fine. Just give me the scraps of your attention.”
Beau rolls his eyes but doesn’t take the bait. “Love you, Mom. See you in the morning.”
“That was some A+ mom guilt. I’m not sure what the parade has to do with her business, but I love her overall energy.”
“Her company plans and puts it on. For the advertising. Not sure why she needs to advertise since she’s the only event planning company in town, but she still takes it seriously.”
“Ah. That makes sense then.”
“You don’t have to be in it if you don’t want to.” Beau opens his door and lets me go into his room first. I realize he’s been opening doors for me the entire time we’re here, and I haven’t even noticed. The South is having a bad effect on me. When I get back to New York, I might legitimately not remember how to open doors.
That’ll be embarrassing.
I dump my bags on the floor and collapse into bed, not worrying about reconstructing the wall. I would just climb/ roll over it sometime in the night. Instead, I halfheartedly wiggle out of my clothes. I should have done this before my body hit the soft mattress, because all my motivation fled when I landed. It’s been a long few days. Fun, but activity filled.
While I’m struggling, Beau strips down to his boxers before he gets on the bed, flaunting his excellent decision-making skills.
Showing he’s a gentleman, he takes my leggings and shirt off before collapsing in bed. We’re still in his parents’ house, so I lean over the bed to snag his T-shirt to prevent any accidental groping that could turn into purposeful groping and then purposeful forking.
“I am an adult,” Beau whispers in my ear as he cuddles me from behind.
“This isn’t even about a respect thing. I just think it’d be awkward if they hear anything.”
“Fair.” He still falls asleep holding a boob, a move I’m not mad at.
Maybe we can sneak out to the truck again soon.
Reed is making breakfast while Eve is doing some work on her iPad and sipping coffee when we get downstairs after a leisurely, snuggly morning. Beau and I sit on the island next to her after making our own plates of food.
Beau, getting his workaholic nature from his mother, grabs his own iPad to check email. I get out my phone, since all the cool kids are doing it.
“Damn it,” Beau mumbles.
