“That doesn’t make any sense.” Trap peered at her, but Lila Mae maintained her attention out at the very straight highway in front of her. “Talking is one of those things you either dooryou don’t, not that you doanddon’t.”
“I text her how things are going,” Lila Mae said, throwing him what she hoped was a withering glare. “She may or may not text me back. I’ve actually set an alarm on my phone to call her once a month, but she didn’t answer last time.”
“Is that normal?” Trap asked.
“For my mother?” Lila Mae made a horrible scoffing sound and wished they could talk about something else. Of course, she’d put off talking about her family all this time, and she couldn’t blame Trap for having questions.
“Yes, absolutely,” she said. “If you do anything my mother doesn’t like, there’s no guessing about how she feels. She’s ruthless, and she has an iron will.”
“Do you think she’ll ever come to Texas?”
Lila Mae made the turn onto the dirt road that was technically part of Seven Sons, though their arch sat further back, by the homes around the corner. “I don’t know.” She sighed. “And I know I’m stupid for hoping that she will, but, well, I hope she will.”
“You’re not stupid for hoping that,” Trap said. “You’re working really hard on Feline Friends, and it’s something you really care about. It’s natural to want to be able to share that with your family.”
He reached over and took her hand in his, and Lila Mae appreciated the human contact. It grounded her to reality and reminded her that while she’dlikeher mother’s approval, she didn’t actuallyneedit.
She’d worked her whole life to have her mom say she was proud of her, and when it had never happened, Lila Mae could admit she’d given up.
“Just like you’ve learned that you need to learn to rest better on the Sabbath.” She glanced over to him, hoping she wasn’t putting words in his mouth. “I’ve learned that I can’t change my mother. She is who she is.”
She made the turn and then pulled in to Trap’s parents’ driveway, just as their garage door lowered all the way.
“All right.” Trap exhaled heavily and glared at the house. “Here goes nothing.”
“It’ll be fun,” Lila Mae said, and she got out of the car and met him at the front corner of it. He took her hand in his and led the way up the steps.
“I really love this house,” Lila Mae said, admiring the gorgeously carved wood and how every piece fit perfectly together.
Trap chuckled. He grinned at her as he reached for the door handle. “You’re saying it a little bit too soon, sweetheart.”
“Am I?” Lila Mae asked.
“Yeah, you gotta say it when my daddy can hear.”
He opened the door and held it while she smiled for all she was worth. She didn’t want to be a complete suck-up, but she really did love the craftsmanship in this house—and Trap’s father had built every inch of it with his own hands.
“I love the wood in here,” she said, and yes, made her voice a little louder than necessary.
Simone stepped out of the kitchen, a towel in her hands. “Come on in, you guys.”
“Momma, I have some rules,” Trap said, his hand in Lila Mae’s tightening.
“Rules?” His mother’s eyes widened, and Lila Mae would really like to hear his rules too.
“Yes,” he said.
His momma folded her arms and cocked a hip. “I guess you better tell them to me.”
“I don’t want you asking us a bunch of questions. We’ve been dating for three weeks, and I want today to be restful, not embarrassing.”
His mother blinked at him, and then she said, “That seems fair. Come in, come in. I promise I won’t ask anything too embarrassing.”
“I’m pretty sure you will,” Trap said.
“I was just going to ask Lila Mae why she didn’t wear a hat today.” She entered the kitchen and smiled prettily over to Lila Mae.
“I almost didn’t make it to church at all, ma’am,” Lila Mae said. “I think I’m pretty lucky I’m wearing two of the same shoe.” She laughed, and Simone gave a genuine smile.
