Total pages in book: 218
Estimated words: 212458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1062(@200wpm)___ 850(@250wpm)___ 708(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 212458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1062(@200wpm)___ 850(@250wpm)___ 708(@300wpm)
I nod, probably too eagerly. “I’m hungry. Let’s go.” An idea hits. “Oh… I’ll call Ivy and tell her to meet us.”
“She’s busy tonight,” Mom says, waving her hand and gathering her purse up from the counter.
I deflate. I need some time with my sister. For lots of reasons. To unload and analyze this whole Rick situation for one thing. I’m not used to feeling so disconnected from her. Even though we do spat occasionally, we’re never out of contact for very long. We always know what’s going on with one another.
“Shall we? I’ll drive my own van. Then after we eat, I can be on my way from there.”
“Wait… I’m not exactly…” I say, smoothing my hair behind my ears.
“You know it’s casual over there, and you look perfect,” Mason says.
“Just give me five,” I say and then head up the stairs woodenly, needing privacy for five minutes. And a sweater and socks, plus a minute with my hairbrush and my emotions.
On my way back down the stairs, our eyes meet, and his expression is full of concern.
I do my best to clear my expression, grabbing my bag and stuffing the two phones inside.
36
Mason
It was Kathleen’s idea to eat at the bar, reasoning that she’d get a chance to have a closer look at her girls’ new support system as well as save us the trouble of cooking.
In the back yard, my mate’s mother gave me a beaming smile. “I think I like you. I think I like Tyson, too. I think things are working out very well for both of my girls.” She nodded and continued, “Yep. Both of them are in good hands. I look forward to days on the boat, days around a dinner table together, and nights going to sleep without worry because I know my girls are happy.”
“I’ll bust my back to make it so Amelia’s happy, Kathleen. I promise,” I told her.
She smiled wider, reminding me of her daughter, whose smiles had been rare so far, something I have every intention of changing.
Her expression then dropped. “Amie takes time to come around to something once she’s got something else in her head, but understand this, Mason: once she gets there, you’ll have no worries; I’m sure of that. It’s just… this thing she’s just come out of with Rick – I think it was poor timing that she even got serious with him. See, she had a relationship end badly before that, got her heart broken right before we lost my sister, and Amie and my sister were very close so that was really tough on her. On all of us, but especially Amie. And then my ugly split with her father – I doubt she’d have accepted Rick’s proposal if it’d been a year later or earlier. It was all in the timing. My daughter just got things piled on, you know? She met him at the hospital when his grandfather was ill. The old gentleman was a charmer and took a shine to Amie, and did his best to play matchmaker. And then he passed away and Amie got pressured into the marriage shortly afterwards. She seems tough, and she is, but she’s also got a heart of gold under all that hair and attitude.”
I laughed at that.
She continues, “Timing… I believe timing plays a role here, too. She’s met you in time to stop her from making the worst mistake of her life – marrying the wrong man.” She paused. “This is just between us, though, okay? My daughter wouldn’t be too happy to find out I’m giving you tips. She’s determined to be resistant, but my guess is she’s close to breaking.” She winked.
I smiled wide, hoping my new mother-in-law is correct.
***
Good thing we didn’t wait any longer or we might not have gotten a table at Roxy’s, which has a full house. Then again, Friday nights tend to be like this. Same goes for Saturdays.
Most every set of eyes swings in our direction when we step in.
“Cade, this is Kathleen, Amelia’s mother,” I say, giving him a look that has his shoulders relaxing.
Cade’s eyes coast over Kathleen and he gives her a lazy smile. Her face turns pink under his blatant appraisal.
We’re under code yellow, so of course he’s extra vigilant by being stationed near the door, but now he’s looking at Amie’s mother like he wants to make a meal of her.
All eyes in the bar are on us. I smile, giving a thumbs up, calling out, “Hey everybody.”
I get nods, waves, and greetings called back.
I clear my throat and all eyes are on me.
“This is Kathleen Brennan, my mate’s lovely mother,” I announce, “She’s very welcome here.” I’m making sure they know she’s not part of our code yellow. “And of course here’s my girl, for those who haven’t met Amie.”