My mom tugged on the hem of Chris’s T-shirt, and his attention shifted to her. She smiled up at him. “Kincaid is a good man. He would never hurt anyone.”
Chris held her gaze for a long beat and nodded slowly. “And, you’re a good mom.”
She lifted one shoulder in a tiny, dismissive shrug. “Maybe. I tried.”
“Well, you told me you were a single mom. That means, you alone are largely responsible for being the role model your son needed to turn into a good man,” Chris pointed out.
My mom beamed again. Having my mom’s love and pride was a gift I would never dismiss. I knew I was lucky in that regard.
After Chris got focused on his session with my mom, I headed outside to take care of a few things around the yard. I hadn’t found much time yet to take care of spring yard cleaning. The air still carried a bite to it even though it was almost May, but when the sun hit just right, you could believe warmer days were coming. As I clipped a few dead limbs from the trees near the house, my thoughts kept spinning back to Tori. Of course, thoughts of Tori lead straight to the way her lips had felt against mine.
I was halfway up the steps to the deck a little while later, just brushing the dirt from my palms, when Chris stepped out. The door clicked shut behind him, and he paused, looking over at me with that easy smile of his. “Your mom really is doing well,” he said.
“I’m hoping so.” I paused, my chest tightening just a little. “Sometimes I can’t tell.” My heart twisted.
When one person is the only constant in your world—the only real family you can count on—the world can start to feel really small. My mom’s parents had been there for us when I was little, but they’d both passed within the last ten years. No drama to it. Just life. The slow wear and tear of time, and eventually, their bodies gave out. It was that ordinary kind of loss, and yet it left a hole.
I didn’t like contemplating a world without my mom in it. She was a touchstone for me and had always been. I couldn’t imagine anyone else taking her place in that role. Ever.
“Thanks for taking such good care of her, by the way. She enjoys working with you,” I added.
Chris’s smile widened, and the warmth behind it hit me in the chest. “She’s easy,” he said. Then, after a pause, he added more seriously, “You know she’s going to be okay, right?”
I paused as my heart stuttered for a beat. The truth was, I didn’t know. Not really. I hated how much my fear was interfering with what I knew rationally. “I mean... I’m hoping so.”
Chris gave a small nod. “I mean it. She is okay. I know you know this, but it bears repeating. Lupus is a chronic condition. She’s going to experience flare-ups. But she’s strong, otherwise. Her heart and lungs are in great shape.” He glanced toward the house for a second before continuing. “She had a rough patch, yeah. But things have stabilized again. Honestly? I think menopause threw her off worse than the condition itself. A lot of people don’t talk about that part.”
I blinked. “Menopause?”
Chris nodded. “Yup. Doesn’t get nearly enough airtime with medical professionals, in my opinion. Women don’t even need an underlying condition to get knocked sideways by it. Your mom has had both going on at once. That’s a tough combination. She’s getting stronger every week. I can see it.”
His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he pulled it out, checking the screen. “Gotta roll,” he said. He took a few steps down the stairs before turning back with a grin. “Have fun on your date.”
I watched his car disappear down the driveway. An eagle called nearby, the sound sharp. The wind gusted with a swirl, spinning some dead leaves on the gravel drive. The moment I stepped through the front door, I knew I was in trouble.
My mom was already holding two shirts in front of her, both of which looked like they hadn’t seen the light of day in months. Her expression was all too familiar, which meant opinions were incoming.
“You’re not wearing that shirt from the other night,” she said, giving me a once-over, her gaze sharp. “You are going to this fundraiser with a date. You need to wear something that looks nice.”
I groaned. “So help me God…”
Chapter Twelve
Tori
It was kind of odd to be a customer at the place where I worked. Not because anyone made it feel that way, but it just felt strange to sit in a space where I was usually carrying trays, delivering food and drinks, and the like. My muscle memory kept wanting to jump in and help. Tish was firmly holding me at bay and handling hosting duties tonight.
“It’s our contribution,” she said, narrowing her eyes at me as if I were about to snatch a tray and start bussing tables. “But our contribution does not include one of our waitstaff who is here for social reasons, trying to sneak in unpaid labor.” She swatted me away just as Griffin stopped beside her and slid an arm around her waist.
“The food is amazing,” he said, patting his stomach.
Tish flushed a little, smiling. “Thank you. I’ll give your compliments to the chef.”
“It’s David,” Griffin said with a little chuckle.
David was the longtime chef from the original Fireweed Winery location in Fireweed Harbor. He’d insisted on coming out here when they opened this expansion restaurant, even though he was supposed to be trying to slow down his work schedule these days. He still handled the menu and managed things, but they were definitely in the market for someone to take on the full-time role.
“He’s working more than I would like,” Tish chimed in with a frown. “If you know anyone, let us know.”
