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She doesn’t answer, and I can tell she’s shutting down. I push ahead. “Look, you can’t tell me you didn’t think you’d have to tell her. Don’t you think it’d be better for her to hear about this from us than someone else? Don’t think of us telling her first as a trial run. Think of it as helping her, so she isn’t furious with you if she hears it from someone else.”
She stares at her lap, and I can’t tell if the thoughts circling her brain are good or bad. I want her to agree because the first person will be the hardest. Once we get it out in the open for the first time, we can tell everyone else. Then my plan can start taking effect!
“Fine. Let’s go now before I change my mind,” she says. She hurriedly leaves the office, and I race after her. We walk to my car and climb inside. She’s silent the whole drive, and I can tell she’s nervous. Her leg twitches, and she’s biting her lip as she stares out the window.
“Where’s the bold woman I saw two days ago? The one who was ready for a fun adventure?” I ask, pulling her out of her trance.
She shoots a glare at me as she responds. “This is my mother we’re talking about, Kaden. Do you think it’s easy for a daughter to deceive her mother? How can I tell her I got married in an instant to someone she’s never met and expect her to believe it? It’s going to be easier to tell her I saw a flying pig,” she says, snapping at me.
“Okay. I’m sorry. I understand.” I drop the subject and speed toward their apartment. Once I pull my Bentley into a space outside the apartment, we climb out. I grab her hand, holding it and noticing how bad it’s shaking as we walk to the door.
I glance around, noticing onlooker’s eyes are glued to us. Suddenly, I start thinking my excuse about wanting her mom to find out from us and not a stranger might actually have some merit.
Amber unlocks the door. Once we’re inside, I pinch her hand, trying to comfort her and soften her worries. Just then, her mom appears around the corner in the kitchen.
“Hi, Mom,” Amber says, not letting go of my hand. Her grip tightens as her mother walks toward us, and I can’t help noticing how good her hand feels in mine.
“Amber, who is this?” she asks, ignoring her greeting and making me nervous.
Please don’t ruin this….
Amber starts stuttering and tripping over herself, trying to form the words. I decide to jump in, saving Amber from herself.
“Hi, Mrs. Coleman. I’m Kaden Williams. Your daughter and I have some news we wanted to share with you personally before word got out,” I say, being as gentlemanly as possible.
Her eyes dart back and forth as she stares at us, not saying a word. My heart pounds. I can feel Amber’s palm starting to sweat in the grip of my other hand, telling me I must act fast.
“We got married today!” I exclaim, blurting it out before I lose my nerve or Amber stops me. I hold her hand up to show off the ring on her left hand. Her mother snatches Amber’s hand out of mine and brings it closer. She stares at it for a few moments, and my heart races, hoping she doesn’t get angry and ruin this whole thing.
Suddenly, she drops Amber’s hand, and hers flies to her face, “Oh my gosh, what a ring!” she says. “But, what do you mean that you got married? I didn’t even know you were seeing someone, Amber.”
“Don’t be upset, please! She wasn’t keeping it from you on purpose. We have been keeping it pretty quiet. We got married on paper and have kept the whole relationship under wraps because we plan on focusing on our careers first. But, once Amber agrees to a wedding in a church, I’ll marry her again, the right way!” I say, smiling at her.
With my mention of a possible church wedding, her whole demeanor shifts. She hugs me tightly, and a weird feeling emerges from within. It’s the first motherly hug I’ve had since my mother died, and I don’t know how to feel about it.
Her warm body holding mine is something I have almost forgotten. It’s strange to notice the feeling from someone who has no relation to me. It’s a feeling I never thought I’d have again after losing my mom.
I find myself holding onto her a little longer than I want to admit when she suddenly lets go. “Call me Amelia!” she says. I nod, trying to answer, but my mind is still thinking about the warmth of her hug as she continues.
“Come on, let’s go sit down!” We follow her into the living room and sit around the coffee table. “Sorry for my rudeness at first. You see, my daughter has been cheated on in the past, so I’m hesitant when she’s around a man. I don’t want to see her in tears again. So, please take care of my daughter, son.”
Amelia shifts on her cushion beside me, and I’m at a loss for what her mother is calling me. The words son haven’t come in my direction from a woman’s mouth in far too long, and it almost hurts me to hear it.
Suddenly, it’s like I have an out-of-body experience and no longer have control over what I’m doing or saying. My lips start moving all on their own. “I will take care of her, and I won’t hurt Amber. I love your daughter,” I hear myself say. The words flow out of me, and I can’t stop them.
Amelia’s eyes fill with tears. She claps excitedly, turning to Amber, and starts asking her motherly questions about her romantic life.
My heart pounds as I look at Amber to see her expression, which seems as shocked as mine. I turn back and stare at the glass top of the coffee table, thinking about what I just said. Those words are now ringing in my ears. Those words have never come out in all the time we’ve known each other.
‘I love your daughter.’Where the hell did that from?
7
AMBER
Kaden’s luxurious mansion is definitely not something I’m used to, and his words about making myself at home keep echoing in my head. I’m trying my hardest, but it’s strange coming from such a small place where we barely have the necessities to get by, to a place that would make giants feel small.
I’m also struggling to be away from my mother. It’s embarrassing for a grown woman to admit that, but it’s true. It’s been a long time since I have spent time away from her since losing my father, and it’s uncomfortable not to be under the same roof. Especially considering her health problems.
