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“I don’t want to intrude on your time together,” Darren said softly.
“Pfft,” Mom said. “Isaiah horned in on your family time.” Thank God his mother didn’t miss a beat. “Besides, it’ll give me a chance to get to know you a bit more.”
She gave their joined hands a pointed look. Darren flinched, but didn’t pull free.
“Exactly,” Isaiah said, letting go before it got awkward for either of them. He grabbed his bag from the floor. “Would you mind keeping Mom company while I shower?”
He didn’t give Darren a chance to answer before he dashed out the door.
“It’s a long drive from Erie,” he heard Darren say. “Where are you staying?”
After showering, Isaiah picked up his Mom and Darren, and they headed out for dinner. Darren suggested a small Italian restaurant, and despite Isaiah’s fears it would be too pricey, it was easily within his budget. And the food was good.
Between courses, Isaiah begged off to the bathroom and hurriedly called Nico.
He explained the situation and Nico immediately offered to help.
Any decent hotel would require a credit card to check in. He only had a debit card, and he knew his mother’s cards were likely maxed out. When she checked out, Isaiah could pay cash, but first he had to get her settled. And for that he’d need Nico to meet them at check-in.
Isaiah headed back to the dinner table.
“So after Isaiah covered me head to toe in mud”—Darren flashed a glittering look at Isaiah as he approached the table—“my mother handed him the hose so he could squirt me too.”
“Isaiah, I know I taught you better than that.”
“Actually, you taught me to be respectful of my friends’ parents. Peg told me to clean him off.” He shrugged, picked up his fork. “What else could I do?”
“He has a point,” she said, trying to keep a straight face. “I can’t say I’ve ever had the chance to hose Isaiah down, but it sounds like you and your mother have a wonderful bond.”
Darren smiled, the way he did when he was truly happy. “She is wonderful. Well, other than trying to fix me up with ‘acceptable’ men.”
“Oh no.” She put her hand to her lips. “Not that I ever thought to try, but Isaiah told me in very clear terms not to do that. Ever.”
“That’s because I’m very wise.”
“And modest too,” she said, patting his arm. “You should have a talk with her.”
“I did. I told her I’d decide who’s acceptable, not her.” He looked over, and Isaiah thought his heart would stop beating. “She agreed with me and promised not to try to fix me up again.”
The earth seemed to tilt, and Isaiah wasn’t sure he could speak if he needed to. He wanted to believe Darren had stood up to her because he wanted Isaiah. It had to be, didn’t it? Darren had held his hand in front of his mother.
“Well, I suppose Isaiah and I have other mother-son issues than me fixing him up.”
“Oh?” Darren seemed far too interested in what unknown embarrassing thing Isaiah’s mother was about to impart. “Such as?”
“Oh no.” She wagged a finger at Darren. “I am not one of those parents who gives away embarrassing stories about their kids. I plan to save those until after my kids are married so I don’t scare anyone off.”
Darren laughed loud enough that someone at the table next to them turned their head. “That’s hardly fair.”
She grabbed Darren’s hand and Isaiah’s and squeezed. “It’s totally fair. But you don’t need to worry. All my Isaiah stories revolve around how he decided he had to take care of us after his father died. Like how he used his money to send his sister to a soccer tournament or bought her new cleats the other week. He grew up too fast.”
Isaiah swallowed twice to get the lump out of his throat. Mentioning Dad cost her a lot, but she wanted him to know his father would be proud.
“Soccer camp and cleats are important,” he said. “Ask Darren. He’s the leading scorer on the team this year and in the league.”
“That’s right. Isaiah mentioned you were the star of the team. Isabelle would love to meet you.”
“We have a few weekend games left. If you can make it down, I’ll see if the coach will let her come hang out with us. In fact . . .” Darren pulled out his phone, clicked it on, then off and then set it down. “I’m pretty sure the women’s team and our team both play at home the second-to-last Saturday in October. I’ll double-check and give the information to Isaiah.”
“Oh my. Isabelle would be so thrilled. Please send it along, and I’ll see what we can do.”
“Absolutely.” He nodded quickly and then winced. “I’m sorry to have to do this, but I need to go back and study. We have an away game tomorrow, and I’m a bit behind this week.”
