“A hearing man,”I signed roughly.
Her jaw tightened but she didn’t respond to deny that’s what she meant.
I laughed sarcastically and huffed.“I can live anywhere. I can teach anywhere. Why is that such a big deal?”
“You don’t know him.”She signed and threw her arms up.“That’s why it’s a big deal.”
“Every hearing man won’t be my dad.”
“This is not about your father.”
“Yeah it is, and I understand why. You love me and don’t want me to be disappointed or hurt, but life is full of disappointments. You can’t protect me from every little thing that can go wrong in life. And I know you want to because you love me but I need to figure out who I am without your voice in my head telling me that a man like Ryland is going to break my heart.”
She stared at me silently for a minute before she moved closer and placed her hand on my face. I relaxed when she dropped her hand and signed.
“You’re my baby, Somee. All I know is how to protect you. But you’re right. I lived my life, you have to live yours.”
“Thank you.”
She looked around.“I was just here to get the mail and check on things. I should go.”
“Or you could stay and get to know him.”
“You want me to stay?”
“Why wouldn’t I? I missed you.”
“I missed you too but it looks like I’m going to have to get used to missing you.”She sulked and I laughed before my arms wrapped around her. When I pulled back, I grinned.
“Nothing is decided yet.”
She delivered a look that had me smiling wider before her hands were moving.“Bring him in. I’m sure he’s freezing his ass off out there.”
My mom stayed.
We ordered food, ate, and she spent time getting to know Ryland. This man had a way with people that was charismatic and commanding. Ryland was everyone’s best friend. Folks just naturally liked him because he was so charming and very damn sexy, which was also a bonus. But more than anything, being around him felt easy. This wasn’t the Sharks millionaire left tackle. He was just Ryland Parks, a man trying to impress a mother.Mymother, because he wanted me in his life and needed her acceptance. She was thoroughly impressed based on the way these two had been carrying on since we got here.
Ryland got a call and my mother and I collected what was left of our food and brought it to the kitchen to dispose of to give him privacy in the living room. As soon as her hands were free, she smiled and signed,“I get it now.”
“Get what?”
“Why that man has your nose wide open enough to convince you to leave me.”
I frowned.“I’m just considering it. Nothing’s final yet.”
She smiled smugly.“If you haven’t decided, he has. Everything he mentioned tonight about home, Rylee, and his life was us and we. He’s decided, so if you haven’t, you need to make that clear to him. That man is already building a life in his head that you and Rylee are the center of.”
My eyes moved past her, toward the living room.“Five minutes with him and you’re all for me leaving?”
She shrugged.“You spent five minutes with him and made the decision to go. He’s charming, which is why I said I get it now.”
“Wow. You’re an easy sell,”I teased.
“With him, yes. I got to experience how he looks at you. I can’t say that I’m thrilled about the decisions you’re making, but at least I know Ryland genuinely feels something for you. It makes letting go a little easier.”
I teared up. Part of my mother’s resistance was wanting to protect me, but she was also going to miss having me here. Our relationship hadn’t always been perfect, but I loved my mother. In the past couple years we’d found a way to respect boundaries, which brought us so much closer.“If I go…you’ll still see me.”
“I will. I have seats on the fifty yard line for every Sharks home game.”
