Page 94 of A Simple Regret

My mouth drops open.

“Come on, Theo. Let’s go play with your cars,” Camden says, taking my son from the kitchen and into the living room. I don’t even say anything about him still wearing his boots and coat. He’ll take them off when he gets in there, I’m sure.

“Mom, please don’t talk bad about Dad in front of Theo. He has nothing to do with your marriage or divorce.”

“I’m not talking bad about your father,” she argues. “Besides, even if I was, he’s too young to understand.”

“But I understand,” I counter. I want her to know I’m also a neutral party in their relationship, and while I was completely impressionable while younger, I’m not that person anymore. “I’m not going to listen to you bad-mouth or belittle him anymore. He doesn’t do that about you, and you aren’t going to do that about him.”

She looks annoyed but doesn’t argue.

“Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes,” I say, realizing if she brought a bag, she’s really here to stay.

“Great,” she replies with a beaming smile. “I’ll run and freshen up in the bathroom,” she adds, exiting the kitchen to retrieve her bags.

She carries her bags to my bedroom and then goes across the hall to the bathroom. The moment the door latches, I turn my attention to Camden.

“Hey, little dude, I’m gonna run in the kitchen and talk to your mommy for a minute, okay?”

“Okay!” he says, before returning his attention to his car as he drives it across the floor.

“You okay?” he whispers after crossing the threshold to the kitchen.

“What is she doing here?” I ask softly, rubbing my hand over my temple. “I don’t want that to come across bad, but…she just dropped by. And is planning to stay.”

He walks straight to where I stand and pulls me into his arms. Instantly, I feel myself calming down, my heart starting to slow as I’m wrapped in his familiarity and strength. “So I take it this wasn’t a planned visit.”

“No.”

He holds me for a few long moments. “I can go. I don’t want to create more problems by being here.”

I look up at him and realize I have a choice to make. If I want to see where this will go with Camden, I can’t push him away. He’s a part of my life, and I don’t want him to have to leave just because my mom makes things a little uncomfortable. Of course, if that’s what he chooses to do, I’ll understand completely. I’d never fault him for stepping back or creating boundaries where my mom is concerned.

“I’m leaving the decision up to you. I’d completely understand if you wanted to skip dinner tonight.”

“I don’t want to run away from your mom, Maren,” he says, placing a kiss against my forehead and rubbing his hands up and down my arms.

Forehead kisses are my favorite.

Before I can reply, the bathroom door opens, and even though I don’t want to, I step back. “I’m going to get the noodles done. We’ll eat in less than thirty,” I tell him just as my mom enters the kitchen.

“So, Hillary, how have you been?” Camden asks, a friendly sense of determination written on his face.

“Oh, you know. Same ol’, same ol’. Working for a very generous man. He’s an insurance agent, and I provide customer service for his thriving business,” she tells. “He’s such a great boss, he allowed me to take Monday off with pay so I could come visit my daughter and grandson.”

“That’s very kind of him,” Camden replies.

“What do you do now?” she asks.

“I still work at Randy’s shop,” he states casually.

“Really?” Mom’s surprise is evident once more. “Oh.”

“I love it,” he insists gently. “I’ve always enjoyed fixing things that are broken, and someone has to fix all the vehicles in town, right?”

“Right,” she says with a chuckle.

I listen to them catch up while I prepare the penne noodles and garlic breadsticks. They communicate pleasantly, but I still catch hints of my mom’s annoyance. When I strain the noodles, Camden jumps in to help, moving the lid on the Crock-Pot for me and then grabbing the spoon to mix it all together. While I retrieve the garlic bread from the oven, he sprinkles the remaining shredded Parmesan cheese over the top of the mixture.