AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I smile gratefully. “Thank you.”
“So, Eric, tell me a little bit about yourself,” my mom starts, her voice laced with curiosity as she pours herself a glass of wine. Her inquisitive nature is something I’ve grown up with, but I can’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Eric.
“Well, I’m originally from here, but I moved away when I was ten,” he responds, taking a bite of his food.
I try to catch his eye, offering an encouraging smile as my mom gears up for her interrogation.
“What made your family move?” she prods, leaning forward slightly.
“My dad passed away in a boating accident. My mom needed a fresh start, so we moved,” he shares, though I can sense the underlying sadness in his voice.
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” I express my condolences.
“It’s alright,” he replies.
“Are you currently employed?” she continues with her questions, and internally, I can’t help but sigh. Here we go.
“Yes, I’m a construction worker,” Eric replies, maintaining his composure.
“Ah, my father was one as well.” My mom nods, placing her fork down as if she’s settling in for a serious conversation. “What made you move back to Beaufort?”
Eric takes a sip of his Pepsi, momentarily breaking eye contact with my mom. “The last construction business I was working for cut everyone’s hours. A buddy of mine happened to be opening up the same business here, with better hours and better pay. I decided to leave that job and come here for a fresh start.”
“Sounds like it worked out for you,” my mom says, her tone softening.
Eric turns his head toward me, and a warmth spreads through me at the smile he offers. “It sure did,” he responds, his eyes locking onto mine.
I can feel the blood rushing to my cheeks, and I lower my gaze, taking a bite of my spaghetti to hide my growing grin.
Despite my mom’s relentless questioning, the evening is going better than I had expected. As I steal glances at him between bites of my food, I can’t help but be struck by how perfectly he fits into this moment, into my world. Eric’s fingers brush against mine under the table, a silent show of support that makes me feel stronger. Despite the challenges ahead, having him by my side gives me a newfound sense of courage. As I savor the last bites of my dinner, I glance over at Eric, who is finishing his with a contented smile.
With the plates emptied, he stands from his seat and begins to collect not only his plate but also mine and my mom’s. “I’ll take care of these,” Eric says.
As he disappears into the kitchen, the sound of running water and clinking dishes fill the background, a comforting lullaby to our conversation. Mom leans over and whispers in my ear, “He’s a keeper, Hailey.”
I nod, unable to hold back a smile. “I think so, too.”
After a few minutes, Eric walks back into the dining room, and I stand up from the table. “I’m afraid I’ve got to go home, Mom. I’ve got to work early in the morning. Thanks for dinner,” I explain, seeing it’s already nine in the evening.
My mom walks toward me and gives me a hug. “Love you,” she says.
“Love you, too,” I reply, hugging her back. We pull away, and she walks to Eric.
“May I have a hug?” she asks him.
Eric embraces my mother, and he has a smile on his face before they pull away.
“Have a good night, you two. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”
“Mom!”
“What?” she asks, shooing me away.
I roll my eyes and chuckle.
“Have a good night,” Eric says, and we head back to my car.
* * *
