Page 58 of His Daughter

"Mom, that's great."

"And he surprised me with a weekend in the Hamptons. He rented this cottage right on the beach, and in the morning, he brought me coffee in bed, and — "

"Thea tells me you've been together a few years," Declan said. He leaned forward. "What's your secret, Lorraine?"

She lit up. "Oh, it's all about love. Ray is so attentive. He remembers everything. Just last week he — "

"That's wonderful." Declan turned to me. His hand found mine on the table. He laced his fingers through mine. "I'm still learning, but I've got a good teacher."

My mother frowned slightly. She squeezed Ray's arm tighter. "Ray bought me the most beautiful necklace for our anniversary. Show them, baby." Ray pulled at the collar of his shirt, revealing a modest gold chain around his neck. "Oh, not that one. The one he got me." Lorraine touched her throat. A delicate pendant. "Isn't it gorgeous?"

"Beautiful," I said.

"Declan, do you believe in grand gestures? Ray is so romantic. He once — "

Declan leaned over and kissed me.

My eyes flew open. His hand on my jaw, his mouth warm against mine, right there in the middle of the restaurant. He kissed me as if I were something that mattered. When he pulled back, his thumb traced my jaw before his hand dropped. He turned back to the table like nothing happened.

"I'm sorry, Lorraine. You were saying?"

My mother's mouth was open. Ray was studying his menu with sudden intensity. I picked up my wine glass and took a long sip. My lips were tingling. My pulse was doing something inadvisable.

Lorraine recovered. "I was saying… Ray is very romantic."

"He sounds it." Declan picked up his fork. "Thea, try the soufflé. It's extraordinary."

Dinner lasted two hours. Lorraine talked about Ray. She talked about Ray's job, Ray's apartment, and Ray's mother, who apparently adored her. She asked Declan questions that were not protective but comparative. She wanted to know if my man was better than hers, and she wanted the answer to be no.

When dinner finally ended, I was relieved.

Lorraine hugged me at the curb. "He's wonderful, baby. I'm so happy for you." She pulled back and held my face. "Call me more, okay? I worry about you."

"I will, Mom."

Ray shook Declan's hand. "Good man." They got into their car and pulled away.

Declan and I stood on the sidewalk. Thomas was at the curb. Declan waved him off. Thomas nodded and pulled away.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"We're walking. It's not far."

We walked. My heels clicked on the sidewalk. His stride was long, and I matched it without asking him to slow down.

"So…your mother is interesting."

I groaned. "Don’t remind me. What about your parents?" I asked. "Are they like that?"

The grin started. I could see it in the streetlight — the muscles in his face pulling toward the redirect, the joke, the smooth pivot.

I gave him a look.

The grin stopped. He pushed his hair back with his whole hand and took a breath.

"My parents are…different." He put his hands in his pockets. "I'll tell you about it, but not tonight."

"Okay," I said.