Kendall glares at me. “What are your intentions for my mother?”
Magnolia starts to speak, but I cut her off. “I’m going to fix the ceiling fan first and foremost,” I announce. Kendall grins. Magnolia sighs. “Then I’m going to make sure nothing else breaks.”
“How can you do that?” Kendall asks, raising one brow.
I’ve been hooked up to lie detectors at least a dozen times. There is training we’re given on how to be deceitful and how to sway the test in our favor. I’m good at it. Right now, though? I’m sweating like a whore in church. Honesty is the only option.
“Well,” I say, clearing my throat. “I guess I can’t promise nothing else will break, but I will always be here to fix it. I might not be a perfect repairman, but I’m a quick study. I’ll always give it my all. Your mom is the most amazing woman I’ve ever met in my life. I’d fix anything for her.”
Kendall is silent, contemplating her next attack, I’m sure. I glance at Magnolia, and her eyes are glassed over.
She sniffles once and says, “Kendall, I’m happy. Aidan makes me happy in a way your father never did, but you are my first priority. If you are uncomfortable having Aidan around, just say the word and we can continue our relationship out of your world.” Magnolia shakes her head. “I wouldn’t be offended in the least. I’m serious. You are more important than anything else.”
It’s in this moment that I realize what everyone says about parenthood is true. After children are born, there is a change, and everything revolves around them. There is a small itchinside that wants me to be jealous of the fact that Magnolia will never be only mine. However, the rational fact is, Magnolia is a good mother. A mother I wish I had. A mother I’d want for my own children if that day ever arrives. That is what matters. She releases my hand and folds herself into Kendall, giving a giant hug.
“Do you think I’m some sort of monster, Mom? Of course I don’t care if he’s around,” Kendall sniffles, burying her face in Magnolia’s long dark hair. “I was just upset that you lied to me. I’ve known. You’ve been acting different. Something has been up. Keep me in the loop.”
Magnolia pulls away and wipes at Kendall’s tears with her thumbs and tucks her hair, the same shade as her own, behind her daughter’s ears. I’m an intruder in this moment, but I can’t look away, can’t stop reliving a childhood when my only wish was to have someone wipe my tears.
I’ve never wanted something more than I want Magnolia in this moment. I want to make her mine forever. For everything she is. For everything she isn’t. I’ll give her everything I can give her and make sure she knows she’s loved and knows that Kendall will always be cared for.
“Kendall,” I say, my voice cracking. Both of them look at me, and it’s a little jarring how similar they look when they’re upset. My heart pounds as the adrenaline hits. “Your mom is the very best part of my life.”
Their smiles are identical, and an emotion washes over me. An unfamiliar feeling. The best way to sum it up is: mine.
“Okay, okay. Enough of this. I have ice cream for dessert. Let’s hear all about the camp, okay?” Magnolia blurts out.
Kendall opens up, the wedge that was there through dinner is gone. She’s a happy, bubbly teenager. Truth. That’s all it took. All that was required to gain her favor. Magnolia squeezes my sideas she passes by on her way to the freezer. The dynamic in our world has changed, and I like it.
I’d do anything to keep it.
Anything.
“Tell me about yourself. I already know you came to town whenthat basedid,” Kendall says, grabbing my attention.
“I did. I love Bronze Bay. It’s been good for me,” I reply, meeting Magnolia’s gaze. “It’s been slow lately.”
“You’re a Navy SEAL then?” she asks, eyes big and rounded. She already knows I am, she just wants to hear me say it.
Clearing my throat, I form the speech in my head and change it to the truth. “Yes. I am.”
“That’s so cool. So, you can, like, kill anyone?” Her tone is hedging on sarcastic.
I grin. “Not just anyone,” I say, biting my bottom lip to stifle a laugh.
“That’s enough about that, Kendall,” Magnolia chides, setting a bowl of ice cream in front of her daughter. “You mentioned you were riding your bike down to the beach again. Isn’t it a little late? Juliet isn’t here either. I’m not sure if I’m okay with you going down there by yourself. Are you meeting that boy again?”
Kendall pauses, and her gaze darts left. She’s going to lie. Most definitely. “No, Mom. It’s a group of people like before. No drinking or drugs or illegal activities. Plus, don’t you want some alone time?”
Oh, she’s good. Really good.
“No,” Magnolia replies. “But I guess you can go. Tracking on your phone. We can rent that movie when you get back?” Her tone is hopeful, with that right amount of desperation that I imagine a teen needs to hear to be agreeable.
“Sure, Mom. That sounds great. Will Aidan be joining us for a movie?”
I shake my head. “No. No. I’ve occupied enough of your mom’s time this weekend. It should be a girls’ night.” I’d love nothing more than to infringe on movie night, but I need to find my place, and rushing things won’t bode well for my long-term goals. Patience. That’s what will get me to the end zone.
Kendall shrugs. “You can stay if you want. I don’t care.” She pauses, seems to consider something, and turns to face me, chin tilted up. “I’m just going to say it. Word on the street is you’re a bit of a player, Aidan. Not only that, but you like younger women. It’s not my place to say anything,” Kendall says, apologizing to her mom, and continues. “Don’t be that kind of person. That’s what I wanted you to know…” Magnolia looks shocked her daughter has spoken with such fierceness on her behalf. “So, yes, you can stay, but I’m on to you.” Kendall looks away.
