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“You don’t usually come out here,” I say as I reach for the rag to wipe off my hands. She’s carrying a soft-sided cooler as she walks over to me and leans in to kiss my cheek. “I would hug you, but I don’t want to mess you up. I’m covered in grease.”
“You have a messy job,” she replies with a grin. “I brought you lunch. Mostly, I was just missing you today and wanted to come see you.”
“That’s actually really sweet. Want to take this into the house?”
“No, because if I go in there, I’ll want to decorate everything, and you won’t let me, so let’s just keep this nice visit out here, where I’m fully out of my element. You know,” she continues as she wanders around, taking everything in, “I might have to come back here with my camera. Take some photos. You could put them on your website.”
“I don’t have a website.”
She shakes her head at me. “You need one.”
“For what? I have more work than I can handle.”
“Still. You should show off your work and share all your blood, sweat, and tears with the world. Maybe you could use the photos for social media.”
“I don’t have—”
“Social media,” she finishes for me. “Yeah, I know. One of your sisters would probably do it for you.”
I open the cooler and pull out one of the three sandwiches inside and take a bite. “This is delicious. Thanks, I was hungry.”
“You’re welcome. Have you seen Sidney lately?”
“And now we know why you’re really here.” I take another bite as Mom cringes, then shrugs.
“I’m your mother. I want to know these things. So sue me.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Everything except the sex,” she immediately replies. “Not that I’m a prude, but thinking about my children having sex doesn’t exactly sit well with me.”
I pop the rest of the sandwich into my mouth and reach for another.
“I don’t think I want to discuss my sex life with my mom anyway.”
She grins and reaches into the bag for one of three pouches of chips and digs in. “So, how is she?”
“Who?”
Mom narrows her eyes on me and shoves another chip into her mouth. “You know, you used to be my favorite son.”
“I’m your only son.”
She just holds her eyes on mine, the same green as my own, and waits.
Natalie Williams is ruthless when it comes to getting information out of her kids. She doesn’t nag; she just waits. Patiently.
Too patiently.
Until we cave.
“She’s fine,” I finally reply and reach for my own chips. “She’s in Idaho this week, visiting her family.”
“Oh, how nice. How is her mom feeling?”
“Better, I guess. Sidney seemed happy with everything when I spoke with her the other night.”
“I’m so glad. I really enjoyed her parents when we met them at Liv and Vaughn’s wedding. When is she coming back to Seattle?”
“I’m not sure. She’s playing it by ear.”
“Well, I’m sure they’re all enjoying each other. I’m surprised Stella and Gray didn’t drive over to join them.”
“I think they had a lot of work and couldn’t get away.”
She nods thoughtfully. “Are you in love with her?”
“Stella? She’s my cousin. I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
“You always were the smart-ass in the family,” she says and wipes her hands on her jeans. “Sidney, of course. Are you in love with her?”
“No.”
It’s a bald-faced lie, and we both know it. I can see in her eyes that she doesn’t believe me.
“I don’t know why not. She’s beautiful, talented, and smart. If that’s not good enough for you, your standards might be just a smidge too high, honey.”
“I never said she’s not good enough for me.” I pretend to check the time on my imaginary watch. “Well, look at the time. I’d better get back to work.”
“Smart-ass,” she says again. “I’m just trying to have an honest conversation here.”
“You’re prying,” I counter. “And sure, I know it’s because you love me, but you’re also my mom, and you’re nosy as hell.”
“I am, too,” she says, feigning indignation. “Do you at least like her?”
“Of course, I do.”
“But you don’t love her.”
I don’t say this out loud, but I can’t love Sidney. Our lifestyles will never mesh, and I’ve been honest with both of us from the start.
“Mom, I love you.”
“I love you, too, baby.”
“And I love seeing you. Thank you for the lunch and for coming to visit.”
“It’s my pleasure. Is this your way of telling me that it’s none of my business and I’ve worn out my welcome?”
“Yes.”
Mom laughs and walks over to kiss me on the cheek again. “Okay, point taken. I do love you very much, and I like Sidney. When we saw you two together at Leo’s party, you looked so happy together, and don’t think I didn’t notice that you were holding her hand.”
“She was nervous.”
