He nods. “She’s forty-eight. She had me young.”
“She’s really great.”
I want to ask about what happened to her but can’t find the nerve to voice it. He must sense my question, though because he answers it.
“About six years ago,” he says, eyes on the ground, “she stopped leaving the house. Anxiety. It got bad. I came back home to take care of her.”
Something in my chest cracks open.
The way he said it so plainly. Like love doesn’t need explaining. He would do anything for the mother he loves.
“She obviously adores you,” I say and mean it. It’s something to be cherished and grateful for. Not everyone has that.
He smiles. “She’s probably going to ask you a million questions next time. She seemed kind of in shock by everything.”
“I like her a lot,” I admit.
“She said she’ll support us,” he says. “Whatever we need.”
I glance back at the house, light glowing warm through the window.
I don’t know how this all ends.
But I know one thing.
Anyone raised with that kind of love is someone I could temporarily trust with my heart.
14
Cal
The water iscalm and steady this morning, and Jonah’s next to me, quiet like always, as we get our lines ready to fish. I cast mine out and watch it disappear into the blue and let my mind wander over the past couple of days.
Jonah clears his throat and says quietly, “I’ve been seeing you with the pretty blonde a lot.”
Pretty is an understatement. She’s mesmerizing. I feel like she puts me under a spell anytime she’s nearby. Hell, even when she’s not, my mind is on her as if lured into magically thinking about her.
Is that why you offered to marry her?
I shake away those thoughts and mutter, “You know her name.”
He grunts, which is as close to agreement as I’m going to get with Jonah.
“I introduced her to my mom.”
That gets me a glance my way, and he says, “Bet Carly loved her.”
I smirk. “She did. Those two hit it off.”
I’m worried, though, about Mom getting too attached to her. Even though she knows the marriage is temporary, Mom isn’t one to just stop caring about someone. Unfortunately, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Jonah glances over again. “Knew it.”
“She practically bought out the entire mobile bookstore,” I add. “Two huge bags. I tried to stop her, but she’s hard-headed.”
“Good luck with that.” Jonah chuckles. “Sounds like the perfect woman for you. Someone to keep your stubborn ass on your toes.”
I reel in and cast again. My voice comes out nervous, and I just tell him. “We’re getting married.”
