Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 119184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Hell yes, I’m smiling.
I can see it now, clear as day. Little Lena, caring for this ancient, ragged beast the rest of the world would’ve left for dead. Loving him despite the impossible.
This woman is a treasure, and I hate that her kindness ever allowed a fucking snake like Harry Jay to leave scars on her soul.
“We all thought every day was his last, but despite everything, he kept going. He was with us for five years, and they were so good.” Her smile drops a little. “There were a few times when Mom was sure it was the end of the road. She wanted to put him down and end his suffering, thinking he wouldn’t get any better. But he did every time I convinced her. In the end, he was comfortable and I—I loved Ambrose a lot.”
She’s a little choked up at the end.
I pull her in, kissing her head, not caring about a few specks of dirt that wind up on my lips.
“I bet.” Mom leans forward, her eyes bright, clearly touched by the story. “Animals are like that, always able to mean so much without saying a word. They get under your skin, and then you’d do anything for them.” She smiles at me fondly. “People are like that, too, of course, but they’re so much harder to find.”
“You talking about Dad or me?” I snort.
“Both, darling. Between the two of you, it’s remarkable I don’t have more grey hair and lines under my eyes.” She winks at Lena. “Not that I’d ever let them show. Aging gracefully isn’t one of my virtues. I plan to fight old age tooth and nail.”
Lena laughs, and I let her lean against me, both of us relaxing. My hand finds hers and squeezes.
How is this going so well?
Mother doesn’t fake her true feelings much when she’s not impressed, and if she’s already joking about herself, that’s a damn good sign.
If Mom’s determined to like her, and Lena can handle being liked, I’m confident we won’t be derailed anytime soon.
Wendy returns with more drinks—tall glasses of lemonade we sip while Mom peppers Lena with more questions about her work. What she thinks about every cat, dog, turtle, parrakeet, and hedgehog under the sun, and how she got into it.
Casual questions, but assessing.
She might be the more open-minded one compared to my father by a mile, but she’s still searching, trying to see if Lena’s truly good enough.
It’s not just the old money factor.
It’s that invasive way mothers have when they think they know what’s best for their kids. Particularly when their sons have bad habits and a whole history of idiocy to their name.
Even though Mom is pretty decent with respecting my boundaries and letting me make my own choices—and lots of damn mistakes over the years—she isn’t immune to checking in, with love.
Once our glasses are empty, Lena frowns and glances around. “I think I left my jacket by the laundry. I’ll be back in a second.”
“Of course,” Mom says. The moment Lena leaves the room, she turns to me. “I like her. She’s very authentic. Down to earth, obviously kindhearted. Exactly the kind of centering feminine energy you need.”
“Again with the energy talk?” I scoff. “I don’t need centering, Mother.”
“Regardless, she’s good for you, Brady. Don’t let her get away.”
“Can’t argue with that.”
“But you should get the poor dear home and truly cleaned up. I feel awful, making her stand here and chitchat while she’s soaked to the bone. No young girl should be that dirtied up and stressed out when she’s meeting her future mother-in-law.”
“This wasn’t the plan, Mom.” I smile, feeling a success—and also no point in pushing it further. “Thanks for coming out here and humoring me. Lena loves this farm, too, mud and all.”
“I’m so glad I got to meet her. I think I’ll slip out before she’s back so there’s no pressure to entertain me. I’m going to that little orchard up the road, the one with the cider your father loves.” She rises and gives me a kiss on my cheek. “Now go get your girl.”
That’s one hurdle down. With Mom on our side, it’ll be easier to prod Dad into accepting our arrangement without wanting to strangle me.
He might pretend he’s emotionally dead to the world and Mom doesn’t influence him, but she’s the one who rules the roost.
Mostly because she’s become an expert at pushing his buttons over the years, including the ones for logic and whatever little dregs of human emotion he has left.
I find Lena while she’s grabbing her jacket, and steer her outside, giving Mom’s orchard excuse as a reason to leave.
Mostly, I’m greedy to have her to myself again.
Didn’t think sleeping with her would change so much, but I was wrong.
It’s not just the harsh desire churning in my blood, hounding me to ravish her again, especially if she needs a shower and she doesn’t lock me out.