“Hey, Ma.” I waved and started to walk backwards. “I have a call to make –” Not entirely true. I did want to send Clara a message to see if she wanted burgers or something else for dinner tonight, since I’d need to order it ahead of time.
“Beckett, you get your rear over here right now.” Even at a height of only five foot four inches, Nora Ashland commanded a room. Hell, she’d done the bulk of raising three rowdy boys while our father did his best to work on the ranch while also keeping a job in town as a postal worker.
Shamed just at the tone of her voice, I strode across the lobby and walked behind the check-in desk. “What can I help you with, Ma?”
She motioned to Kris, who asked, “Are you going into town today by chance?”
“I am,” I said, trying not to think about Clara and what might be waiting for me in town.
“Would you mind picking up a few things? We’re having a raffle this year to raise money for the high school band and I need a few things from some business owners that can’t drop them off.”
“Sure, what do you need?”
After Kris explained what I needed to do and who I needed to see and speak to, my mother pulled me aside to a small alcove.
“Why did I get a phone call from Ms. May that you were coming out of Clara’s apartment early this morning?”
Oh.
“Ma, wh–”
“Beckett Sutter Ashland, you had better not be doing what I think you’re doing with that girl.”
Disbelief and anger flashed through me, but I wrangled them under control and kept my voice calm. “Hey, now, wait a second.”
“If you’re stringing that sweet girl along or playing with her feelings, so help me Beckett, I will –”
Oh, for fuck’s sake. “Ma, I’m in love with her.”
Delight lit up my mother’s eyes, a light shade of blue like Thatcher’s. “What did you say?”
“I love her. Not just as my best friend, but the woman I want to spend my life with.”
Ma smiled, and a knowing look crossed her face. “Good. It’s about time you figured it out.”
“What?”
“Son, you’ve been in love with Clara since you were both nine years old. Of course, back then it was just a puppy love, a sense of safety and loyalty to each other. Then for some reason you backed off when you were a teenager, but I’ve known it since you were kids.” She patted me on the cheek, the rose scent of her favorite lotion floating around me. “Not that you need it, but you have my blessing.”
She held her finger up and pointed at me, her stern expression the same as when we’d get in trouble as kids. I gulped, even as a grown man I knew not to mess with my mother. “Don’t mess it up.”
My mouth agape, she turned and left me standing there. I blinked a few times to clear the shock from my mind and went to finish the few things left to do on the ranch before heading into town.
I had errands to run for Kris, plus my own before dinner at Clara’s. I was already impatient to see her, which had never happened with any other person I’d dated.
It didn’t matter what we did – watch a movie, talk, sit in silence, end up in bed together – whatever she wanted to do, I was game. I just wanted to be near her.
I was such a dumbass for waiting so long to act on my feelings. The only thing I could do now was apologize for being so obtuse and spend whatever time she’d give me making her happy. That sounded like the perfect way to spend my life.
A few hours later, Clara was curled up on the couch, her head on my lap, while a movie we’d seen a dozen times played.
Over the burgers, fries, and chocolate shake I’d picked up from The Hideout, one of our favorite local spots, Clara told me about her goals for the store for the summer season.
It had been busy today, and the summer season for tourists was about to pick up, which was great for a boutique like Clara’s.
She kept the shelves full of creations from local artisans and some of the kind of trinkets that are popular with tourists. I loved listening to her talk about the store and watching her hands move and flow as she spoke. Her idea for some pop-up art workshop events was a good one, a tourist-friendly version of events where attendees paint a pre-determined piece and have some drinks.
Over the last hour or so, I barely paid attention to the movie. Instead, I focused wholly on running my fingers through her hair, then down her side and back.
