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“Lily. You came.” Cora hugged me.
“I said I would.” This time, there was none of the edge I would have used with my mom. I loved Cora. It wasn’t her fault that she was my mom’s version of the perfect daughter and I was anything but.
“Congratulations on the new practice.”
She let out a shaky breath. “I wasn’t sure it was a good idea to start out on my own, but Mom thought it was a good idea. She said it was ambitious.”
More likely, Mom wanted to brag that her daughter opened her own practice straight from residency.
Cora held out her hand to Jake. “I’m Cora Whitlock.”
I stepped back so Jake could shake her hand. “This is my boyfriend, Jake Dagan.”
“I’m surprised you brought someone. You never do.”
None of my boyfriends would have met my parents’ expectations for me. Then again, none of them would have come to an event like this. “Jake’s brave, I guess.”
“I’d apologize for Mom’s behavior—”
“It’s not your fault, and it’s not a big deal. She just has certain expectations that I’ll never meet.” I smiled to cover the discomfort I felt whenever I thought about my mom’s perceived failures.
“I’m happy you came,” Cora said before someone else came up to congratulate her.
“Want to get a drink?” Jake asked.
“Yes,” I said as he led me toward the bar.
I ordered a glass of white wine, and Jake tossed a cash tip on the counter. The drinks were covered. I wondered if my mom had chipped in to cover it or if the other doctors came from wealthy families and could afford it.
“This is different,” Jake finally said as we stood at one of the high-top tables. Unfortunately, there were no seats, and my feet were starting to feel pinched in my rarely worn heels.
“You didn’t have a party to celebrate your grand opening?” I smiled, assuming he didn’t. It would have been out of character for him.
Jake gripped the small glass of gin and tonic he’d ordered. “Actually, we did. It was a suggestion at one of the Shops on Main meetings. It wasn’t as extravagant as this, but then we’re a garage, not a doctor’s office.”
“I didn’t realize.”
“Gia was the event coordinator. It was before she was exclusively weddings and engagement parties.”
“That was before I moved here.” I wondered if it was Ryan and Hailey who pushed him out of his comfort zone.
Jake scanned the room before his gaze landed on me. “Are you holding up okay?”
“I’m fine.” For now, at least. I didn’t know anyone here besides my family. Thankfully, it was a cocktail party, and there wasn’t a sit-down dinner planned. I wasn’t sure I could make small talk with people I didn’t know.
He dipped his head so he could lower his voice. “Your father was nice. I enjoyed talking to him.”
“I didn’t realize he was so into cars.” But then, my mom’s opinions about things were so strong it was unusual for him to get a word in edgewise.
“Most men are.” Jake smiled.
“I guess so.” Although I didn’t really know my father all that well. My mom’s personality tended to outshine his.
“I’m glad you had that in common.”
Mom approached our table. “You two should mingle.”
Her tone was tinged with disapproval.
