“But, Annette, you can’t just go butting in like that without consulting me first.”
“Hmm. Well, sweetie. If I had consulted you first, youwould have said no, that you absolutely did not want me giving Joshua advice.”
“That is exactly what I would have said. And yet you gave him advice anyway.”
Her smile was both smug and way too sweet. “Sometimes a man needs a little nudge.”
“Josh needed no such thing. You just set him up for disappointment. Now he wants space from me because I had to turn him down.”
“You turned him down?” Annette cried in dismay. “Why ever would you do that? Sweetheart, that man adores you. He was going to propose anyway. I merely let him know that he had my support.”
Riley made a low, growling sound. “Boundaries, Annette. You need to observe them. Why can’t you be like other mothers-in-law?”
Annette wore a knowing little smile. “Enlighten me. Howareother mothers-in-law?”
“I just… First, you call me a whore…”
Annette groaned at the sound of that ugly word. “Darling. I thought we’d worked that out. I was wrong, and I have sincerely apologized, and you have forgiven me. Haven’t you?”
“Yes. Yes, of course I have. But…”
“Dearest, either you have or you haven’t.”
“I have.”
“Excellent. So then, let it go.”
“Fine, Annette. It’s forgotten.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’m just upset with you about the matchmaking thing.”
“Perhaps I overstepped, going to Josh, advising him theway I did. But if so, I want you to know that I did what I did with the best of intentions.”
“I don’t get. How can you be matchmaking me with Josh when I was once happily married to your only son?”
“Oh, my sweet girl.” Annette rose from the armchair at the end of the coffee table and perched on the sofa next to Riley. “I think you know the answer to that. I loved my son absolutely. And I have no doubt that if we hadn’t lost him, you would still be his beloved wife. I might have more grandchildren by now. Who knows how it all might have played out? But Trevor Junior is no longer with us. And as you have been helping me to understand, we must learn to live in the world as it is now. We have to find new ways to be happy, to accept love into our lives…”
Riley’s throat ached suddenly. Her vision blurred with tears. “Oh, Annette…”
“Hey. Hey, now…” Her mother-in-law eased an arm around her. “Don’t you cry, sweetheart…”
“I’m not—or not much, anyway.” With a sniffle, Riley let her head drop to Annette’s shoulder. They were quiet together there on the sofa in front of the fire. Finally, Riley said in a near-whisper, “I loved TJ so much. And I’m not going to get married again. I’m just not.”
“All right. I don’t agree with your decision, but I do understand. You will do what you think best, and I will support you.”
Riley tipped her head back to meet Annette’s misty eyes. “You sure about that?”
“Absolutely. Why do you even have to ask?”
“Annette, please. We both know you always do whatyouthink is best.”
“True. But from now on, I promise that if I’m going to butt in, I will give you a heads-up first.”
“Oh great,” Riley muttered. “You’re still going to butt in, but now you’re going to warn me first.”
“Exactly.” Annette’s smile was sweetness personified.
