“Ah, too bad. I was looking forward to seeing him.” Kind of. Being reminded that his precious mother had a boyfriend was more than a little weird for him.
“Next time.”
He opened the door to the bedroom and set the suitcase down in the closet while his mother went to the window and opened the curtains. The place was decorated in light yellows and white. “What a beautiful home,” his mother remarked.
“It’s not bad.” Rhi leaned against the wall. “We’re both in here?”
“No, you’re next door.”
“Sweet.”
“Can you close the door for a minute, Gabe?” Sonya sat on the small settee.
That wasn’t good. Gabe wasn’t sure what his mother wanted to discuss, but he closed the door.
“Good. Now, first, Gabe, please tell your sister to wear the dress I bought her tonight.”
Oh. This. Gabe blew out a rough breath.
Rhi examined her nails. “Gabe, please tell our mother I will wear whatever I damn well please.”
Sonya’s nostrils flared. “Gabe, please tell your sister not to swear at her mother because she is not too old for me to send to her room.”
He eased closer to his sister and squeezed her hand, easily falling into his role as mediator. “Ma, you know Rhi has an image she has to keep up. The hoodie’s part of her brand.”
“Her brand could easily be adorable dresses and sweaters.”
“Kill me,” Rhi muttered.
“But it’s not,” he told his mother, as firmly as he could, suppressing his urge to laugh. After more than three decades, he knew for a fact laughing around either of these women when they were annoyed would have them joining forces to turn their ire on him.
This was so blessedly familiar. With all of the upheaval and uncertainty in his life, slipping back into this dynamic was like putting on a pair of old jeans. Or a hoodie, for that matter. “She’s comfortable like this. Let her wear what she wants.”
“Hmmph.” Sonya folded her arms over her chest. “I am so tired of this battle.”
“Wouldn’t be a battle if you didn’t keep firing shots,” Rhi remarked.
“People will think I didn’t raise you properly.” Sonya waved her hand. “You are richer than most everyone here. Dress like it.”
Rhi rocked back on her heels. “I don’t want to dress like it. I want to dress like me.”
Gabe intervened. “Okay, how about we declare a truce on this topic for today and tomorrow? Mom, let Rhi wear whatever she likes. Rhi, maybe, could you possibly at least... lose the hoodie at the wedding?”
Rhi pursed her lips but rolled her eyes when he cast her a pleading look. “I know how to go to formal events with a bunch of rich people, Ma. I’ll wear my nicest clothes, promise. No dress, but you won’t be ashamed.”
“And tonight? At the dinner with all the Chandlers and Kanes?”
His sister made a face. “I won’t wear a sweatshirt.”
Sonya sighed. “I suppose I can’t ask for more.”
Gabe smiled. “Come on, Rhi. I’ll show you to your room.”
“One second, please.”
They both paused. Sonya stood and walked over to him and grasped his face. “Have you been okay, my love?”
“Sure.”
