“Yes!” He fist pumps. “Exactly what I feel like.”
I elbow Seth, and he nods. “Looks good.”
Mae’s smile broadens. “We weren’t sure what to do that would work for everyone, but this way you can choose what you’d like to add. We have dessert too, but I know some of you won’t eat any.” She glances at Harley, who’s notorious for not touching sweet food because she thinks it messes with her training.
“Thanks, Mom,” Harley says.
Mae and Rick sit one at each end of the rectangular table. I sense Seth stiffen, and know what he’s thinking. This guy is already at the head of the table. Because of the risk of the others overhearing, I can’t point out the fact that we chose our seats, leaving those as the only options available. Instead, I drop my hand beneath the table and poke his side. He gives me a slight nod.
“What are you waiting for?” Mae asks. “We don’t stand on ceremony.”
Devon and I dive for the food, equally determined to make the meal pass as smoothly as possible. He winks at me across the table. Mae helps herself to a couple of soft taco shells, visibly amused by our efforts. At least she’s not the kind of person to be put off by a little tension. I imagine raising two stubborn-as-hell Isles children was an exercise in patience and persistence. Seth and Harley join in, and Rick waits for us all to take our share before doing the same. He’s just pouring sauce over his chicken when Seth asks his first question of the night.
“So, you’re in real estate, Rick?”
Rick finishes assembling his tacos before responding. “That’s right. I work with clients who want to buy or sell commercial spaces.”
“Are you any good at it?”
I choke, eyes widening with surprise. Damn him. I know where this is going, and I shoot him a look. He raises a brow just enough that I notice but no one else will. All innocence.
Rick clears his throat. “Actually, I am.” He smiles as though he’s not unnerved to have Mae’s son interrogate him over dinner. Her former MMA champion, built like a brick wall son. “If you’re asking whether I’m financially stable, I can assure you that I earn a tidy living. In fact, my house, which I own outright, is only a couple of blocks away.”
Seth nods. “Mom doesn’t need someone to take care of her financially. Her business is doing great, which I’m sure you know. But she doesn’t need someone who’s going to be a drain on her resources either. I appreciate you being forthright with me.”
Mae rolls her eyes, but underneath the surface, she’s flushed with pleasure from her son’s compliment. Not long after his first big win, he provided seed money for her to start an interior design business. She paid him back years ago, and has a nice nest egg she’s earned by her own hard work.
“Any time.” Rick pours himself a wine from the bottle on the table. “I mean that. If you have other burning questions, I’d rather you get them out in the open.”
Respect flickers across Seth’s face. Grudging, but present. “You have daughters?”
“Two,” he confirms. “They’re the most important people in my world—other than your mother.”
I bite into my taco, tasting chicken and a burst of sweet chili. So far, I don’t think I need to intervene. Everyone here probably expected something along these lines, and the men seem to be handling it reasonably well.
“How old are they?” I ask, because he’s a few years younger than Seth’s mom, who had Seth when she was still very young herself, meaning there could be quite an age disparity between her children and his.
He sips his wine. “Fifteen and eighteen. Olivia, the eighteen-year-old, will be starting college soon, and Emma, the youngest, is a sophomore in high school. They live with me every second week.”
“What’s Olivia studying?” This question comes from Devon.
“Pre-med. She’s very bright. Wants to be a gynecologist.” He digs into his taco before anyone else has the chance to ask another question.
“We have a friend who’s a surgical resident,” Harley tells him. “Not in gynecology though.”
He finishes his mouthful and nods. “Olivia would probably love to talk to her.”
Harley and Devon exchange glances. “I think we could arrange that,” Harley said
The rest of dinner passes without too many questions. We fall into a pattern of small talk. Rick doesn’t ask about the strange relationship between Seth and me, for which I’m grateful. He’d be well within his rights to, considering how Seth grilled him, but perhaps Mae warned him not to pry. When we begin clearing off the table, Mae stands and goes to Seth, dipping her head to speak in his ear. He pushes his chair back and follows her out of the room. I watch them go, intrigued, but don’t follow. They’re long overdue for a private conversation, and hopefully Seth will feel better after.
18
Seth
Mom leads me to her upstairs office, which has a view over the river, and sinks gracefully into the executive chair behind the desk. The space is carefully curated. It has to be, given her profession. I know for a fact that I financed none of the high-end furniture, which further demonstrates her success. My heart swells. Perhaps I don’t always show it, but I’m proud of how far she’s come.
“Have a seat,” she says, and I sit on the comfortable chair reserved for clients. “I think it’s time for you and me to talk.”
