“Why? What did I do?” She stared at him, trying to decipher his words. “I was on my best behavior.”
Baz chuckled softly, a delectable sound that always warmed her from the inside out. “Better than best, I agree.”
“Then how did I surprise you?”
His gaze cut over briefly before returning to the road as he drove them home. “Well, for starters, you agreed to have lunch with my mother next week.”
JJ felt her face warm. She wasn’t sure why she was embarrassed to be called out on that. She had accepted Julie’s invitation to lunch, just the two of them, without hesitation. There was something about the woman that made JJ feel comfortable.
Granted, she’d taken into consideration Julie Buchanan could very well be setting her up for an interrogation. Baz was her only child, and there had been indisputable proof that he was a household favorite. From what JJ had surmised, Baz was loved, and his happiness was his parents’ primary motivation.
“Why did your mom keep your dad’s last name?” she inquired, giving voice to her burning curiosity.
“Because of me.”
Ah. Well, that made a lot of sense. She kept the same name as her only child.
“Where’s her husband? I thought he’d be here?”
For the first time all day, she noticed Baz’s expression shutter.
“Is somethin’ wrong between them?”
He sighed, then fiddled with the air conditioner vent. “Dad told me she’s gettin’ a divorce.” He cut his eyes to her for a second, then turned them back to the road. “She hasn’t told me yet, and I don’t know why.”
“Oh, shit. I’m sorry.” JJ peered out the passenger-side window. “Maybe she’s worried you’ll be upset with her. Do you like the husband?”
“For starters, don’t feel bad for her. I’m sure it was her idea. My mother’s not quite the wanderer my father is, but she’s not an easy woman to pin down. She hasn’t had as many weddings, but she’s had just as many …othersas my father.”
“So you’re sayin’ it’s their natural progression? It’s time to move on? Or are they not gettin’ along?”
Baz shrugged. “He’s been traveling to Japan a lot. It bothers her that he’s been there more than he’s been home in the past year.”
JJ could understand that. She could understand being with someone who traveled, but not if it meant they spent more time away than home. What would be the point in staying with someone when you couldn’t spend time with them?
“Which means there’s likely an expiration date for Aretha,” Baz added, his tone somber.
She could tell there was a story there, and she wanted to hear it more than anything, but JJ didn’t know how to phrase the question, so she remained quiet, hoping he would continue. When he didn’t, she made an assumption. “Your dad’s still in love with your mom, huh?”
He chuckled. “Very much so. Always has been, and I suspect he always will be.” He glanced over. “She’s the love of his life.”
“Is the feelin’ mutual?”
“I think so, but my mother doesn’t think he’s the type who can commit for the long haul. His track record proves it.”
“Because he’s been married six times?”
Baz’s focus remained on the road. “Yeah. Twice before my mother.”
“Has she always been friends with his wives?”
“Every single one.”
JJ had picked up on the fact that Wes and Julie were friends. Real friends. And she’d sensed the same between Julie and Aretha. It was obvious they were all fond of one another, which had made the visit easier to deal with. At first, it had seemed odd, but the longer they’d stayed, the more comfortable she’d gotten being around them. Probably had something to do with the fact that her own parents couldn’t be in the same room with each other if there were sharp objects. Hate wasn’t a strong enough word to describe what her parents felt for each other. And that was before Jeremy’s death. They simply used her brother’s suicide as an excuse for everything that had gone wrong in their lives.
“Have they ever tried to work things out? You know, since the divorce?”
Baz shook his head. “My mom swears they’re better as friends.”
