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“Well, duh.”
I looked down at my mother. “You knew?”
“It’s pretty obvious. You McNeill boys don’t know how to hide your feelings. Just like your father.”
“I suppose that’s true. I mean, about Dad.”
“It was bound to happen. The minute you started working for the Crescent Cove PD, you started leveling out. I haven’t seen you on your motorcycle in months. My heart appreciates it, mind you.”
“Kind of difficult to rip down the street when you’re supposed to be upholding the law.”
“Definitely doesn’t apply to many cops, baby. Or the idiots I worked with. It’s just you growing up.” She patted my chest. “I knew you had it in you eventually.”
I frowned. “Pretty sure you told me last week that I was a child.”
She patted me harder. “You’re still male.”
“Gee, thanks, Ma.”
She shrugged. “I’m used to it. Brady was always too grown up. Tabitha and that little girl coming made him loosen up a little.”
“Made him crazier, if you ask me.”
“That’s part of being a parent. But he also laughs all the time.” She nodded toward Brady who was helping our dad weigh down a barrel full of flowers near the bar. “The FBI showed him the worst of the world and law enforcement for a long time. Bureaucracy will kill your soul. It’s something both of us know all too well. Crescent Cove reminded him that he was made to take care of people.”
“I guess.”
I wasn’t sure what to do with all this new information.
“And he wants that for you too. He rides you so hard because he knows what a good man you are. He’s your big brother. It’s his job to look out for you.”
“And to give me shit?”
“Especially to give you shit.” She pulled me down into a hug. “And loving Vanessa isn’t the worst thing you’ve ever done, you know.” She slapped me on the back. “She’ll keep you on your toes.”
“That’s the truth.”
“Please don’t wait until she’s about to pop before you marry her.”
“She isn’t—” The lie wouldn’t come out all the way, but my mom held up a hand regardless.
“That town of yours is wild.”
“It’s not like Turnbull is that far away,” I muttered.
“Far enough, and I don’t want to know anything. Just promise me you won’t make me wait forever for a wedding.”
“We definitely aren’t at the wedding part.”
“Yet.” She reached up to adjust the sign with Brady and Tabitha’s names on the display a fraction of an inch. “You’ll convince her. Or better yet, let her come around to the idea first.”
“Too late.”
She laughed. “I’ve got to go get dressed. The bridesmaids are going to come over with the pictures from their dressing party to add a little bit of wedding crazy to this.” She tipped her head to look at the reclaimed wood display I’d put together in about twenty minutes. “It’s really beautiful, Maverick. And those bird cages.”
I panicked when her eyes misted. My mother was not a crier. But she laughed and waved me off as I leaned closer to hug her.
“You have a gift. Thanks for helping us make it a beautiful day for your brother.”
