Pretending not to notice the way Liz’s wide eyes dart toward me, I move the conversation forward, “I thought maybe Liz could visit with you for a bit while I meet up with my staff. I need to make the rounds really quick, check in and make sure everything is working the way it should." I get regular updates via texts from Mina. And I have weekly phone calls with all my mangers for every venue. But it's a far cry from how hands on I was up until a few months ago. And we're all still adjusting, especially my sister who’s taken over most of my in-person responsibilities. A few minutes of face-to-face time with everyone will be good for all of us.
Including my mother who continues to doubt my abilities to handle the ranch and our business.
"She's a creative as well," I go on. "And both of you are in publishing," I lay a foundation that isn't based in Liz's fangirling of Dee. Much as I thought it would thrill Liz's inner fan girl to meet her, I genuinely think the women will enjoy each other's company. And Liz hasn't made much time for socializing since moving back.
Outside of the visits with Holly and her random chats with Cas, I don't think she's spent time with any adult other than me.
Dee's face lights up. "Oh? What do you do, Liz?"
Liz actually blushes at being put on the spot. "I'm a photographer."
When she doesn't elaborate, I do. "She has her own business providing one of a kind, exclusive photo stock for cover art. It's doing so well, she offers subscription plans for authors and artists, in addition to custom photo shoots."
"Do you specialize in any specific genre?" Dee asks.
I wait to hear Liz answer, gradually getting more animated as she shares the varied aspects of her work and why she enjoys it, before I slip out.
"Heard you finally made it in," my mother's voice catches me off guard when I turn the corner into the kitchen.
"Wasn't expecting to see you here so late," I say, smoothing out my gait again. If it weren't my mother, I might hope to cover for the way she startled me, but it is my mother and there's no hiding these things from her.
"Is that why you delayed your visit by seven hours?" she asks, falling into step beside me as I nod hello to Scotty and Wes, the two line cooks still working. This time of night, the menu is limited. Despite the full house out front, these two guys can handle things on their own. "In hopes of avoiding me?"
"Mom," it's hard not to roll my eyes at that, but I'm not a damn teenager anymore, so I keep the reaction internal. "We have a text thread a mile a long from this last week alone. And I talked to you on the phone last night. I'm hardly avoiding you."
I reach the end of the kitchen and pause at the door leading to the office all of management shares back here. I rap my knuckles over the door to announce myself in case anyone is inside working, then twist the handle and open it to go in.
"I was on my way in when I got derailed with a project I'd been promising the kids," I explain. "It's not like I missed a scheduled meeting. I said I'd check in in person, and I'm here. Checking in."
As expected, the office is empty this time of night. My mother lingers in the open doorway a second before coming inside and closing the door behind her.
Great. If she feels the need for privacy, this isn't going anywhere good.
"You booked a big name on a whim tonight," she says flatly.
"And judging by the numbers, it was a good call." We always have good sales on a Saturday, but tonight was the best we've had in months.
"It was a wasted opportunity," my mother says, her voice taking on the same scolding tone I've heard since I was a small child and screwed up. The crossed arms and pinched expression are familiar as well. "Dee Sparks could have meant double the numbers we saw tonight if you'd done it right. Planned it. Promoted it properly."
She shakes her head. "Instead, we saw a little boost on a night that always does well. And for what? So you could impress Liz? I'm sure you're feeling lonely out there on the ranch, especially since you and Casey split, but you have to know pursuing Liz for the sake of a little fun is a bad idea. Even if the close proximity presents itself as convenient, it's only going to bite you in the ass in the long run."
I blink. "What?" I don't know what part of that to tackle first. "Are you serious? I didn't ask Dee Sparks to play because I wanted to impress Liz. Trust me, I'm well past ever being able to do that. Did I do itforLiz? Yeah. Because I fucking could. And I wanted to. Because I thought maybe it would make her happy. At least for a few hours. Because she fucking deserves it. Not because I'm hoping it will get me laid."
I drop my gaze to check my phone, making sure she's not trying to track me down and the kids and Holly haven't tried to reachme. The habit is automatic. After years of being on call for everyone, the list of people I make myself available for has shifted some, but the habit still holds. "As far as booking Dee under other circumstances, I doubt it would have worked. We've invited her to play at every one of our venues countless times in the last decade. She always refuses."
"Until tonight." My mother's mouth cuts a bitter line across her face. "Funny how you suddenly managed to persuade her. Almost as if the business and this family weren't the proper motivation for you."
I swallow, gritting my teeth and forcing myself to keep my mouth shut until the wave of anger passes. It's not the first time I've been hit with these accusations. It won't be the last. I love my mother. But she didn't come out of the last ten years unscathed either.
She's angrier than she was when I was little. Lashes out more. Feels this constant sense of injustice. And I know I'm not the real source of it. I'm simply the only one she can lash out at.
"Dee said yes because of Lena," I tell her as calmly as I can. "Because I told her that Liz lost the last family member she had and was doing everything she could to hold it together for her sister's children and that she needed something bright in the dark, and I asked if Dee would be that light. Because Liz was obsessed with her when she was young and she never had the chance to see her before she retired from music."
I hold my mother’s stare, locking her in place as discomfort starts to make her want to turn away. "It wasn't my proper motivation that finally swayed her. It was Lena's death."
For once, my mother is speechless.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
