“Always.”
“I don’t quite know how to get out of the mundane.” The car trouble, house hunting, kid issues, and the need to cook dinner every night—dinner that she mostly only ate because Ollie would suddenly develop an intense aversion to spaghetti and meatballs or chicken taquitos.
“Then you have come to the right place.” Evelyn smacked the counter.
Molly lifted her eyebrows. “Gavin’s kitchen is the right place?”
“My dear.” Evelyn pointed to herself. “You’ve come to me.”
Well, not technically. Technically, she dropped off Gavin’s kids. But…whatever.
“We need to find you a hobby.” Evelyn snapped her fingers.
Molly could do a hobby. Something other than cooking meals her son refused to eat.
“Do you play bingo?” Evelyn glanced at Molly’s cup filled with herbal tea like she should get started on it.
Molly lifted it to her lips and blew on the steam.
“I’m back,” Gavin called, followed by a door closing.
Molly’s cheeks heated. What was she doing here? She should go. She set down the barely touched tea and reached for her purse.
“I should…” She tilted her head toward the door.
“Where are you going, dear?” Evelyn asked. “We haven’t finished discussing bingo.”
“I didn’t realize I was hosting a party,” Gavin said from behind Molly, all wry like he was ready for Molly to toss out a zinger.
She forced herself to sit taller and threw what she hoped was a saucy look over her shoulder. “We weren’t sure you were invited.”
“Molly.” He pinched his mouth in a thin line. “Always a pleasure.”
Funny, he didn’t sound like that was true. And it sort of stung. Well, not quite a sting… More like a dull ache. Still, though—uncomfortable.
“I was just leaving, actually.” Molly slid from the stool.
“Don’t leave on my account.” Gavin strode into the kitchen, setting the latest thriller novel du jour on the counter with his keys.
“I don’t want to intrude,” Molly said, softer than she’d intended and with none of the oomph she’d hoped.
“You’re never an intrusion.” Evelyn brushed aside the thought like a fleck of dust.
Gavin moved to the refrigerator and removed a bottle of water. “It’s true. Mom’s the only intruder in my life.”
“Funny guy.” Evelyn sipped her tea. “Tell us all about your date.”
“Nothing to tell.”
Evelyn turned her eyes to slits. “Even my cat doesn’t believe that.”
They were at the fake feline portion of the evening. Things just got interesting.
“I had a great time. Think I’ll do it again next week.” He grinned, a subtle dimple showing at the edge of his right cheek.
Funny, she’d never noticed that before.
“Where did you go? Who did you see?” Evelyn asked, clearly having no issue prying into her son’s life. Molly wanted to take notes for when Ollie got older.
