Page 8 of Autumn on My Mind

Except, of course, that it’s attached to the last name Harper.

“Reese, sweetheart, introduce yourself properly,” my mother says with a nudge of her sharp elbow and a smile that bares clenched teeth. “And scoot in the booth, will you? Being next to the wall makes me feel claustrophobic.”

“I’m Reese,” I say with a stupid little wave at Daryl, who’s still wiping his face. He gives me a distracted nod, and I can see the resemblance to Dominic. They have the same eyes, the same hairline.

Which, you know, of course they do. OF COURSE THEY DO. Because they are father and son.

My mother. Is dating. Dominic’s father.

I’ve seen Daryl around town. I know Daryl in the same way I know most of the people in Autumn Ridge. We’ve never chatted, but I know who he is. I once even wanted him to be my father-in-law.

But now?

Bad. This is bad. I’m an openminded woman, but my mother cannot date my ex’s dad. It’s too much, too tangled, too weird.

This is no good. No good at all.

Dominic clearly agrees, because he’s staring at me like he’ll die if I slide into this booth.

But what else am I supposed to do? Our parents don’t know we dated. So I ignore his silent signals and sit on the bench, light brown vinyl worn and cracked. I scoot over, wiping the table with the sleeve of my sweater as I go, until I’m directly across from Dom. He watches with irritation, but when I give him the tiniest, panickiest look—one he will clearly interpret as It’s not like I have a choice—his eyes tighten, and he jerks his gaze away from mine.

“Hi, Reese,” Daryl says with a smile at me, setting the used napkins off to the side. “It’s good to meet you. I know your family, of course, but we’ve never formally talked.” His voice is deep, manly, direct. “You might have seen Dominic around, though”—boy, have I ever, Daryl—“and my girls couldn’t be here today, but you’ve probably seen them too. Rosie’s over at the inn, and Emma works at the library.”

Daryl’s smile is genuine, and he seems overall very kind and normal as he talks a bit about his daughters.

If he’s kind and normal, why is he dating Alvina? What could they possibly have in common? Isn’t there someone nicer he might like to see?

Someone less related to me, perhaps? Literally anyone at all?

When my mother reaches across the table and places her bony hand on top of Daryl’s, dread coils in my gut, and I swear Dominic almost throws up. He swallows as the corners of his lips curl down, and a pale shade of green enters his cheeks.

Maybe I should be offended on behalf of my mother, but to be honest, I don’t even blame him for his clear disapproval. My mother is nothing but bad news when it comes to dating and marriage and men in general. I don’t know how she and my dad stayed together so long.

Sometimes I even wonder⁠—

No. Nope. Not going there.

All that to say, Dom never thought Alvina was good for me—even though we were in college when we were together, so he never formally met her. Now that he’s meeting her for the first time in person, his feelings are probably cemented.

“So tell me,” he says, his eyes trained on where our parents are now holding hands over the table and smiling at each other. “How did you two get together?”

Good. Good question. There must be some logic behind this pairing.

“I’d love to know as well,” I say, and my voice is only slightly strained.

“Well, really, it was meant to be,” my mother says, beaming at Daryl.

He nods back in agreement.

No, Daryl! I think. Do not be taken in!

“Your mother was seated in front of me at church,” Daryl says. His words are softer now, even dazed, as he continues to stare at Alvina. “Even from behind I could see she was beautiful. I’d seen her around, of course, but something was different this time. She was so focused on the pastor. I could see that fervor for righteousness. I admire that in a woman.”

I have so many responses to this, but I can only get out a few words. “At church,” I say with a weak laugh. “Imagine that.”

My mother attends church for one purpose and one purpose only: It gives her a legitimate reason to dress fancily and show off. She is not a woman of faith.

Alvina Berkeley is her own higher power.