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“So, what have you been up to?”
I rotate toward the coffeepot as soon as my face starts to flush. “Not much.”
“Where’s Caleb?”
“He’s with Luca.” I spin on my heel. “Caleb let it slip that Luca was going to take him and Luca’s nephew to his shop to make a surprise for my birthday.” I slide a cup of coffee over to my mother in a mug that says, “My dog and I talk shit about you.” Shaking my head at that one I ask, “Where the heck do you get these?”
Mom merely shrugs her shoulders. “That’s sweet of him to do that.” She takes a pensive sip of the hot liquid.
“Caleb’s a good boy.”
“I wasn’t talking about Caleb.”
I roll my eyes and pour the dark rich Columbian blend into my mug that reads, “She’s got a good heart, but that mouth…”
“In my day, if a man like that was sniffing up my tree, I’d throw him a rope.”
Ugh. “Mom, it’s complicated.”
“Is it?” She blows over the top of her cup. “Seems to me he likes you and you like him. You just need to get it on and see if there’s any chemistry there.”
My face heats, and I immediately pull my coffee cup to my mouth, hoping it will be my alibi.
“Unless you’ve already taken a test drive?” she asks with a knowing grin.
“Gah. It just happened. But now I think it’s only going to complicate things more. One, he made it clear he’s not relationship material. Two, he’s secretive about things he does. It’s odd. And three, I’m done giving my trust to men who aren’t going to make us a priority.”
“Sounds like you did a pros and cons list and only focused on the cons.”
“I have to. I’m already falling for the guy. I can’t bear the thought of me or the kids getting hurt again.”
My mother carefully places her mug on the kitchen island, puts her hand up to Ted E. Ruxpin, who’s scratching at the glass door, and looks directly at me. “Now you listen here, Jilly. I should’ve tried harder to find a love connection after your deadbeat dad married Miss West Coast. But I was hurt and focused on the two of you. I don’t regret it. But life can get pretty lonely.”
I blink rapidly, my heart aching at the thought my mother is all alone. She constructs a good front. Living large and in charge. But she deserves to spend time with someone who cares for her.
“The only way you’ll ever know if it could work out for the two of you is to try. You’d mentioned trying to find a new therapist. Have you found one yet?”
“No. Not yet. Why?”
“I think you should. It’s been a while, and you need someone objective to help you navigate living again. And youneedto live again, honey. If nothing more than to show Myla, it’s worth it to go after what you want.”
Before I can answer her, my phone buzzes on the countertop.
“Hello?”
“Cucciolotta. What are you doing?” It’s not normal that the nickname, Puppy, should get me hot.
Ted E. Ruxpin scratches at the back door again, and I glare at him. That one definitely doesn’t. My mother finally feels sorry enough for him, she heads over to open the door.
“I’m having coffee with my mother.”
“Bring Myla and Truitt to Luigi’s. He’s making us dinner.”
I cannot hide my smile. What could possibly be better than having Luigi cook me dinner with Luca in attendance?
My mother carries her anxious, manipulative pup back over to her seat and grins at me, as if goading me with our recent conversation. I should’ve taken this call in the other room.
“And bring your mother.”
