“So, you two work together?” Eleanor asked, eyeing Lily from across the table.
Lily swallowed her bite of brisket before replying. “That’s right. I started teaching at the school this year.” Though Lily felt like she’d been at Greenfield for a lifetime. She thought back to her first day, to feeling out of place, to running into Eva and wondering what she’d gotten herself in to.
Now, everything was different. Lily felt like she belonged, and she was sitting in Eva’s home, their thighs pressed together beneath the table, elbows brushing every time Lily lifted her fork to her mouth.
How far they’d come.
“And you like it?”
“I do.” More than ever. Lily glanced at the side of Eva’s head, still barely able to believe the turn the last twenty-four hours had taken.
“What do you teach?”
Lily wondered if she was going to be quizzed for the entirety of dinner. “Chemistry.”
“I wasn’t good at that at school. Nor biology, to be honest with you. How Eva got to be so smart with mine and her father’s genes to work with I’ll never know.” Eleanor’s gaze flickered to Eva, pride written all over her face. “She’s the first doctor in the family, you know.”
“Mother,” Eva said through gritted teeth, and Lily bit back a smile.
Was she embarrassed? Lily wasn’t sure. It didn’t seem like a feeling Eva would have much experience with—but then, she supposed they were both feeling out of their depth tonight.
“What?” Eleanor looked affronted. “I’m allowed to show you off.”
“I wish you wouldn’t.” Eva reached for the glass of red wine sitting in front of her and took a hefty sip. “How was your week with Angela and Tom?”
Eleanor waved a hand. “Fine, fine. Franklin had a visit from their grandkids, so he had fun with them. I trust you had a good time in D.C., Eva?”
Lily tried not to blush as Eleanor glanced toward her daughter, lowering her own gaze to her plate.
“I did.”
“And you, Lily? Have you been before?”
“I hadn’t, actually.”
Eva looked appalled. “You didn’t have a trip there when you were in high school?”
“I didn’t go. But I enjoyed it. It was enlightening.” Lily grinned when Eva narrowed her eyes at her. “I can see why Eva likes it so much.” When no more questions were immediately forthcoming, Lily took the opportunity to eat several more bites of brisket. “This is amazing, Eleanor,” Lily said, the meat practically melting on her tongue. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me,” Eleanor said, though she seemed buoyed by the praise. “It’s not every day Eva brings someone home.”
“Mother,” Eva hissed again, shooting one of her signature glares at her mother across the table.
“What? You haven’t.” Eleanor observed the two of them, her chin resting on her steepled hands, finding them much more interesting than dinner. “So, tell me. How long have the two of you been dating?”
Lily nearly choked on a piece of carrot, her eyes streaming as she reached for her glass of water. She wished she’d asked for something stronger.
Eva looked stricken. “We are not…there’s no…I don’t…” Eva turned toward Lily as though expecting her to jump in. Lily merely shrugged, because it was up to Eva how much she revealed.
Eleanor cleared her throat, an eyebrow raised, and yeah, Lily could see where Eva got it from. Her mom was intimidating.
“Fine.” Eva heaved a sigh and then curled the fingers of her left hand around the back of Lily’s right where it rested on the table. “It’s new. Hours-old new. Certainly not at the point where I’d be bringing her home to meet you, but here we are. Happy?”
There was a challenge in Eva’s gaze, her skin soft as her thumb brushed the back of Lily’s knuckles.
“As long as you are, dear,” Eleanor said, her voice so tender Lily felt like she shouldn’t be listening. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“I am,” Eva said, just as softly, a tremble in her fingers as she refused to look Lily in the eye, like she was afraid it would send her skittering away.
