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His smile is wide and sincere, and I can see he has totally won Mom over.
“Letty says you’re helping keep the church safe,” she began, and I freeze, wondering where this line of questioning is leading. “Are you in personal security?”
“No, ma’am. Frank Braden has been a good supporter of some of my businesses, and when he needed some help, me and my friends offered it.”
It’s not exactly the truth, but it’s also not a lie, so I keep my mouth shut.
“Bless you and your kind heart.” She smiles sweetly at Shades and then at me. “I like him,” she says directly, as if this is something more than two friends having dinner. With my mother.
“I’ll go check on dessert.”
I groan at the wink he sends me before she heads inside.
When she’s out of sight, I say, “I’m sorry. Don’t mind her. She’s determined to marry me off as quickly as possible.”
Shades smiles big and broad. “I like her.”
I blink. “You do?”
He shrugs and nods, still tucking into his oversized steak with gusto. “Yeah, she seems nice, and she welcomed me into her home without judgment. And she’s a damn good cook. What’s to dislike?”
He makes a good point, and I shrug in reply. “So, you’re proud of your time in the service even though you’re happy to be out?”
I don’t know why those words are what I decide to go with, but I need to change the subject before I start thinking too long and hard about my mom’s behavior tonight. Is she drunk?
“Yeah. I’m proud. I went in with the best of intentions. I saved lives, and I was honorably discharged.” He shrugs like those words are how most veterans feel. “But you’re right, I am happy to be out. Too many orders, and after a while, you start to wonder if what you’re doing is actually the best thing, the right thing.”
His words stir something inside of me, and I sit a little taller. “You mean if you’re doing the bidding of a small few, or if what you’re doing is actually right for the country?”
He smiles. “Exactly.”
Mom comes out with dessert. Her incredibly moist triple chocolate cake.
Shades wins her over—again—by indulging in two big slices. When she offers to box the remainder, saying, “Oh please, I insist. I can’t possibly let you leave empty-handed when you appreciated it so much.” He cements their bond by graciously agreeing to take home the rest.
Mom smiles again and hugs Shades. “I’m glad to have met you, Mr. Shades.”
“It’s just Shades, Clara. And thanks for having me. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a home-cooked meal like this. It was damn good.”
Mom doesn’t flinch at his salty language. She just smiles, pleased as punch with the compliment.
“The words every cook longs to hear. Don’t be a stranger,” she says and pats his cheek as if he’s a teenage boy rather than a grown man.
“I won’t,” he says, and my heart lurches at the thought of Shades visiting my house again. Maybe my bedroom.
“Good. Loretta, time to walk your guest out. Drive safely, Mr. Shades.” Mom walks inside the house, leaving us out in the backyard alone. Blessedly alone.
“Let’s walk around the house instead of through it,” I tell him and nod towards the locked fence door.
Shades laughs and falls into step beside me, his arm brushing against mine every other step. “Afraid I’ll get away with some of the family silver?”
“No,” I sighed. “I’m more worried Mom will rope you into looking at old childhood photos.”
We share a laugh, but there’s one more thing I need to get off my chest. “I’m really sorry about misjudging you.”
He laughs. “It’s all right. Religious people are the most judgmental people I’ve ever met. I would’ve been surprised if you weren’t the same.”
“I think you’ve just offended me and a couple billion other people.” Though, I can’t say he’s wrong. I did judge him and did it harshly based on things I know nothing about.
