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“I know you do. I love you too, Mom.”
My mom smiles at me and gives me a sneaky little sidelong glance. “Do you want to know what he said to me?”
Cringing, I shake my head. “I really, really don’t. Was it terrible? I’m so sorry. He meant well. You know that, right?”
“Of course, I know that. Lily, that man loves you. He told me how beautiful you are. And how beautiful he thinks you are. And how much he… enjoys your body.”
My cheeks are burning. My whole body is on fire. And not in a fun way. Jameson did not tell my mom that he enjoys my body. I’m going to kill him. He’s officially a dead man.
“Oh, my god. I think I’m going to be sick. Please, no. I can’t hear this. I don’t want to know this. I’m so sorry you had to hear that. You never have to see him again. I’ll keep him very far away from you. And from us, whenever we’re together. Gross. I’m so, so sorry.”
Mom just laughs at me and swats her hand in the air. “Once I got over the shock of it, it made me happy to hear that my daughter is with a man who truly loves and appreciates her. Because that’s exactly what she deserves. He told me he was going to marry you, Lilybear. And he said that you’re going to be the mother of his children. Maybe if someone had asked me a few months ago about you and Jameson Waters, I wouldn't have known what to say. But I do now. I think my daughter found a man who might actually deserve her.”
“He said all that?”
“And more. But I don’t think either of us wants to go over everything he said to me.”
“I’m really, really sorry. I’m so sorry, Mom.”
She shakes her head at me. “I’m not. He was right. You were right. I needed to hear every single thing he said to me. Well, most of it, anyway. I never want to hurt you, sweetpea. And I never want you to doubt how much I love you.”
“I know you love me.”
“I’m not going to be perfect. But I can promise you that I’m trying, and I will do better.”
“Thanks. I just… never understood it. Mrs. Waters was big—curvy—and she was your best friend. It never seemed to bother you.”
My mom smiles. “June was my best friend since grade two. We were as close as you and Jacks are.”
“Exactly.”
“And you and I both know how much Jerry loved her. But that doesn’t mean everything in her life came easy. I saw every day that her being bigger made things harder for her. From shopping to people judging her. Even when she got sick, she was treated differently than I would have been if it was me.”
“I never noticed that.”
“I know, sweetpea. You were young. And she hid it well. But not from me. And I just never wanted anything for you that was going to make your life harder. You’re my baby.” My mom has tears in her eyes and her voice catches. Oh lord, now so do I. This is going to get messy. Mom wipes at her eyes. “I only want good things for you. You’re one of the three most amazing people I know in this entire world, and I want all the best things for you and none of the bad. I never want things to be hard for you. I never want to see you hurt. But I’m the one who was hurting you when all I ever want is to help you. I’m so sorry, Lilybear.” She smiles at me with tears on her cheeks.
“Thanks, Mom. I guess at least I understand it better now.”
“That doesn’t make it okay. I know that. But I will do better. I promise.”
“I know. Thanks, mom. I might also be a little pissed that you finally listened to Jameson after he says something one time, but you never listened to me about it after all these years. Ugh, he’s never going to let me forget it.” Rolling my eyes, I can’t keep the smile off my face.
“I’m so sorry, sweetpea. I should have listened to you and Jameson never should have ever had to say anything. I do like him though. He really loves you.”
“I know you are. Thanks, Mom. And I know. He loves me a lot. Almost as much as I love him.”
“I was thinking about going into the diner for lunch. Do you want to join me?”
“Yeah, that sounds great, actually. And Jameson’s working at the farm, so he can’t try to crash.”
My mom shakes her head and holds up her hand at me. “I don’t want you keeping us apart, Lilybear. I’m not mad at him. I needed to hear what he said to me. Well, most of it. There are some things no mother should ever have to hear. But I want to see my beautiful daughter as much as possible. And I get the feeling Jameson feels that way about you, too. So, we’re all just going to move right past any awkwardness here. Why don’t you two come over for dinner on the weekend?”
“Okay… if you’re sure. But can we do Saturday night? We’re already going to the farm for Sunday dinner. It would be great if you’d come to the Waters’ Sunday dinner, too. You know you’re always welcome.”
“Are you sure you should be inviting me to another family’s Sunday dinner?”
“Yes. Selena’s the one who does the cooking. And she won’t care. And like the rest of them even get a say?”
