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It was like Mrs. Martin could sense me coming. She glanced over as I came up the sidewalk and immediately straightened. She turned to face me, gripping her pruning shears like a weapon as I came to stand at the end of her driveway.
“Morning, ma’am.” I nodded my head but didn’t step closer. I wouldn’t put it past her to throw those damn shears at me. She looked about as horrified as I expected, but she also looked angry. Nowthatwas an emotion I could work with, something I could get behind.
Before she could open her mouth to tell me off, I said, “Now I know you don’t want me on your property. And I’m not, see?” I motioned to the ground, where my boots were solidly on a public sidewalk. “I’m just here to pick up Jess.”
Mrs. Martin scoffed, folding her arms with her shears dangling from one hand. “Oh, isthatwhat you’re here to do? You think you can just show up and drive off with my daughter?”
If only I was the type who could fake a smile. Instead I stood there looking hateful as hell, trying to sound polite. At least the politeness was real. My father had instilled some basic manners but not much else.
“I didn’t think it would be all that easy, ma’am, to be honest,” I said. “I figured I’d need your blessing first.”
She raised her eyebrows, widening her eyes that were the same color as her daughter’s. So many of Jess’s mannerisms were reflected in her, it was a little uncanny. The apple didn’t fall far from the stubborn tree.
“Bonica roses?” I said, motioning to the thick bush behind her. “My mom had some too, she loved them. She used to keep big bunches of them on the kitchen table. I always liked the color of them.”
“The color of them...yes, that’s why I chose them,” she said primly. “Lovely color.” She’d been surprised, and she loosened her grip on the shears, although her gaze grew no less sharp. “What’s your name, young man?”
“Lucas Bent,” I said. “I’d shake your hand but...” I motioned to her driveway again. Until she told me I could, I wasn’t taking a goddamn step over her property line. I’d stand there all day if I had to.
“You were arrested several years ago,” she said, her mouth set in a hard line.
“Yes, ma’am.” I didn’t tell her no charges were filed. I’d sat in juvie for a few days after bashing Alex over the head, until my dad eventually came to get me. Personally, I would have rather kept sitting in jail.
“What did you do?” By the way she was looking at me, she already knew. Maybe she was pressing to see if I’d lie.
She’d get the truth from me, even if it was ugly and unpleasant.
“I broke a glass bottle over another student’s head,” I said. “Split his head open about an inch. He needed stitches. He was speaking disrespectfully about someone I...someone I cared about. And I lost my temper.”
She wouldn’t believe me if I told her Alex had been talking about Jess; it would seem like I was trying too hard.
“Do you lose your temper often?” she said.
“Not as often as I used to.” I managed something like a smile then, at least it felt like I did. “I wouldn’t hurt your daughter, ma’am. I’m not like that. I know I look like shit, and probably sound like it too. But all I want from Jess is some of her time and company. She’s safe with me.”
She nodded slowly. “Oh, yes. Isn’t that what they all say?”
The door opened, and Jess poked her head out, an expression of stunned disbelief on her face. “Lucas? What are you...” Then she spotted her mother and her face plummeted. “Oh. Uh...Mom...”
“He says he’s here to pick you up,” she said, turning back to her roses without another glance at me. I couldn’t be certain, but it seemed there was a little less venom in her voice. She went on pruning, snipping each limb with particular enthusiasm.
Catching Jess’s eye, I jerked my head toward the El Camino parked back along the curb. She nodded quickly. “I’ll be right back, just need to grab my bag.”
She disappeared inside for a minute. Mrs. Martin kept her back turned, continuing to snip without a word. Her message was loud. And perfectly clear.
***
“Ican’t believe youwalked right up to her!” Jess exclaimed. She wasn’t angry; she seemed to be in stunned disbelief. “You’re seriously lucky she didn’t call the police. She’s going to be pissed at me.”
“No, if she gets pissy with you, call me and hand her the phone,” I said. Jess laughed out loud.
“Lucas, you can’t just...you don’t know my mom.” She shook her head. “She’s even more stubborn than I am, trust me, there’s no wearing her down.”
“No? Try me. I can wear down goddamn diamond.”
Even though she sounded exasperated, I liked the way she laughed. “Where are we going anyway? What’s the big surprise?”
“I wanted to show you something,” I said. “It’s...it’s difficult to explain but I have some friends I want you to meet.”
