Chapter Ten
“Ithought wecould have a pot roast for dinner,” Riley’s mom said the next morning after he’d told her Letty was coming over after work.“With potatoes, carrots, and onions basted with the jus.And I’ll whip up some homemade rolls.As I remember that’s one of Letty’s favorites.Mercy’s going to pick up a roast,” she said, referring to their longtime housekeeper.
“Homemade rolls?We’ll have to have Letty over more often.”He poured himself another cup of coffee.“That sounds great.I’m not sure what time she’ll get here, though.”
His mom looked out the window.“It’s looking to snow.You should go get Letty.Unless she’s gotten a new car, she shouldn’t be driving this far in the snow.I’m surprised that old thing she has still runs.”
So was he.“I’ll ask her but I’m not sure she’ll go for it.”
“She is an independent girl, isn’t she?”
He nodded agreement.Lorraine made no move to leave.“Is there something else, Mom?”
“I always thought you and Letty belonged together.It took you long enough to figure it out.I always wondered why you kept dating all those other women when the perfect one for you was right in front of your face.”
“Really?You’ve never said anything.”
“Your father made me promise not to.He said nothing good ever came of interfering in a grown man’s love life.”
“Dad said love life?”That didn’t sound like him.
“No, he put it differently but that’s what he meant.”
“He has a good point.”
“I wouldn’t interfere, but I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you how happy it would make me and your father if you finally settled down.And with Letty, who we already love like a daughter, well, that couldn’t be more perfect.”
“Mom, you realize we’ve just started dating, right?”He wasn’t about to tell her Letty only wanted a fling.But he didn’t want her getting her hopes up in case everything went to shit.
“I know.But a mother can hope.”
“As long as a mother doesn’t say anything to scare her off.Letty’s pretty skittish.”He was still feeling his way around with her.He wasn’t sure why she was so set on them having a short-term relationship but she seemed adamant about it.Which meant he had to tread very carefully if he wanted more.Which he did.
He called Letty as soon as his mother left him.“How about I pick you up after work?”
“Why?Then you’ll just have to drive me back.I can drive out there.”
“Not in a snowstorm in your car.”
“I have snow tires.”
“And a car that barely runs.Lorraine wants me to bring you, so you might as well give in.”In her own way his mother was as strong-minded, some would say stubborn, as his father.
“Fine, but I think it’s ridiculous.”
“Tell that to my mother.When do you get off work?”
“Around four.”
“I’ll be there around four thirty.”
“All right.But only because your mom wants you to come get me.”
*
Letty was nervous.She knew it was stupid.Jasper and Lorraine had been, and honestly still were, her second parents.After her parents died they’d taken her in and treated her as one of theirs.They’d loved her, taken care of her, disciplined her when needed.Jasper in particular had been as strict with her as he was with Val, his own daughter.But they’d also loved her deeply, been proud of her, and supported her in what she wanted to do.
So why was she nervous?
