Before I could protest, Mads chimed in. “That’s true. Thank you, Lee.”
I shot Mads a glare.
“It’s not like Aaron and I had a stellar parental experience,” Lee continued, “so we get how hard this must be. If it’s any help, the Nick we know now is awesome, so if today goes well, then great. If not, lots of people already care deeply for you, like us, so fuck everyone else and the horse they rode in on. You don’t need them.”
I sat speechless, with my mouth hanging open. Lee didn’t do sappy. Hell, he barely did civil most days. To hear those words from his mouth meant so fucking much, and before I could stop it, a single fat tear rolled down my cheek.
Gazza took the phone back. “That’s exactly what I was going to say.” A comment that earned him a snort of laughter from Aaron. “But seriously, we’re proud of you. Whatever happens, it’ll be okay because you have us to come back to.”
I swallowed around the clench in my throat and managed, “Thank you. And I love you guys too. I promise I’ll let you know how it goes, but give me a day or two to get my head around it first, yeah?”
“Of course,” Gazza agreed. “Tell Mads we’ll clean up the mess in his kitchen before he gets back. He’ll never even know we were there.”
“What?” Mads grabbed the phone from my hand. “What mess? It was spotless when I left. There’s a bunch of new cleaning products in?—”
But Gazza had already ended the call.
Mads glared at the dark screen. “Why those little shits.”
I chuckled and pulled him in for a kiss.
He cupped my face. “Are you ready?”
I let out a shaky breath. “Nope. Not one little bit.”
Mads glanced over my shoulder and said, “She’s watching from the window.”
I spun in my seat, and there she was, less than fifteen metres away, standing in the bay window of the townhouse.
My mother.
I was pretty sure my heart stopped in my chest.
Forty-seven years since I’d last seen her, she was obviously older, but recognisable just the same. With grey hair, a fuller face, a rounder body than I remembered, but still tiny, sporting those killer cheekbones, I’d have known her anywhere. I knew that face like I’d seen it yesterday. Yearned for it, even. And I wondered what that said about me.
Chloe gave a hesitant wave and I returned it. Then I turned and kissed Mads one more time, much to his surprise.
“I gather you’re making a statement?” he said, pulling away with a smile.
“Damn right I am.” I looked back at my mother. “If she’s even remotely offended, this is going to be a very short reunion.” I rounded the car to open Mads’ door.
He shot me a wicked grin, then accepted my hand. “Why thank you, kind sir. I could get used to all this statement-making.”
“Shut up,” I grumbled, locking the car before grabbing his hand.
Mads gave a soft snort. “Another statement? You’re not generally so handsy, although that’s been changing. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”
“Not a statement.” I took the time to meet his eyes so he’d know I was serious. “I like holding your hand. It’s... reassuring, and... nice. And it makes me feel I can handle anything.”
He blinked slowly, his breath coming out in a slow sigh. “I feel the same way, just so you know.”
I squeezed his hand, then gave it a tug. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”
The front door was open by the time we reached it, but my, m—Chloe was nowhere to be seen.
“Come in,” a small voice drifted from the room to the right. “And please shut the door after you.”
We exchanged a look, then stepped inside. Mads held back to let me go first. I did, keeping a firm hold on his hand. My heart thundered like a shotgun in my chest, my mouth suddenly dry as dust.One foot after the other, I told myself.She’s just an old woman. If you don’t like what you hear, you can leave. Which was true, but it still felt like the only thing keeping me moving forward was Mads’ warm hand wrapped in mine.
