Alarms blare in Will’s black eyes, sending amusement soaring through me. Payback. “Bin oui!This will give us time to catch up,” Mom chimes in, grabbing Will around his broad shoulders and pulling him toward the living room as if he weighed no more than Gwen or Heather. “Now, Will, you must tell me all about that job of yours …” They disappear into the living room, Gwen and Heather trailing behind.
I do feel a bit bad for leaving Will alone with my mom, even if they already know each other. After all, this is the first time he’s officially meeting her as an in-law of sorts. But his charisma and people skills will leave him unscathed.
At least, I hope so.
With the backdrop of their conversation and the giggles of my daughters, I finish prepping dinner and setting the table. I steam the smoked meat pouches, toast the rye bread, slather the slices with mustard, and assemble the sandwiches before I call everyone to dinner.
Everyone comes rushing to the table, and Will drops a kiss on my forehead before heading to grab Julian, who has just started fussing. When he gets seated with the rest of us, he keeps Julian seated on his knee, opting to eat his smoked meat sandwich and crudités with one hand.
That is until my mom vetoes custody of Julian with her grandmother rights. As she positions him on her own lap, she lets out a heartful laugh. “You know, seeing how he acts around your kids, it looks like he’s into them more than he’s into you!” she teases. Will laughs at her joke, and I do the same, pretending the comment doesn’t get to me.
Because of course he’s not with me for the kids. What kind of thirty-four-year-old bachelor chooses a relationshipbecauseof the kids instead ofin spiteof them?
At least, that’s what I try to tell myself.
I get a genius idea. So far, apart from spending time working together or going out with Julian and the girls, Will and I haven’t really been on a real date. I look at Mom expectantly. “Actually, Mom, would you mind watching the girls and Julian this weekend?” I turn to look at Will, who’s paying close attention. “Will, wouldn’t it be nice to go see the garden of lights at the botanical garden? Just the two of us?”
“Of course I don’t mind!” Mom squeals. But Will has gone tense.
Shit.
“I don’t think so,” Will says flatly.
My stomach sinks. “Why?”
He pinches his lips together. “I’ve got a thing with my sisters.” Weird. He didn’t tell me about this before.
“Another time, then,” my mom chimes in.
I try to ignore the weird feeling in my stomach and finish the meal, changing the subject. But I can’t quite shake the dread that’s taken root.
One thing at a time. Mom’s here now, so let’s focus on that.
I was able to fend Will off from helping me with dinner, but there’s absolutely nothing I can do to stop him from handling the dishes. This leaves me and Mom to enjoy a post-dinner tea at the table while I breastfeed and the girls run around us, playing house.
Until Mom stirs the pot.
“I’ve got to ask, Will,” she starts, with that tone in her voice that tells me this won’t be good. Mom is nosy, and sometimes in a bad way. “What was it like to part ways with a lifelong friend after what he did to my daughter?”
“Mom!” My face heats up. From the corner of my eye, I see Will freeze. His back is to us, so I don’t see his expression. “You can’t just ask that.Franchement.”
“Why not?”
“It’s fine,” Will replies, resuming his scrubbing. He glances over his shoulder at Mom, his eyes steely and unyielding. “Honestly, I felt guilty. But not for parting ways with him. I felt guilty I’d never seen him for who he truly was. I felt guilty I gave him so much of myself for my entire life when he deserves none of it.”
“Ouin, mais …he was your best friend,” Mom argues. “Doesn’t that count for something?” I roll my eyes. Mom may be willing to forgive cheaters—she’s done it before—but I have no idea why she struggles so much to see that we’re not all as forgiving as she is.
“With all due respect, Chantal,” Will starts as he grits his teeth, “there are boundaries that are just non-negotiable for me. Break the heart of the woman I love, and you’re out of my life. No questions asked.”
My heart stops in my chest.
The woman I love.
Next to me, my mom is just as speechless as I am. Will turns back around to keep washing his dishes, leaving Mom and me to look at each other in a series of blinks.
Did I hear this right? He just said,the woman I love.
And there I was, doubting his intentions because he happens to have plans with his sisters on the one weekend I ask him out on a date for just the two of us. Shame creeps through me.
