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It’s kinda inspiring.
Go, girl.
“And who is this?” she asks, turning her slow attention to my little sorry ass.
“You’ve met Ava before, right?” Damon asks his mother.
And both Mother Penmayne and I shake our heads.
“Damon’s been such a bad son,” Mother Penmayne whispers conspiratorially to me, even though her sons can clearly hear her. “Not introducing me to his lady friends.”
Damon sighs.
“My apologies for not introducing you two sooner. Mother, this is Ava,” he says, gesturing at me. Then he gestures at his mother. “Ava, this is Alda Penmayne.”
Ah. Alda. Such a unique name for a unique woman. I wouldn’t expect anything less from such an intimidating lady.
“Lovely to meet you,” I say to her, unsure whether I should shake her hand or give her an air kiss on the cheeks or to just get down and bow to her like some Pharoah queen.
“Very nice to meet the woman that Damon has chosen for himself,” she says before turning to August. “And what about you, son? Any women here that you need to introduce me to? Any other women that my sons are hiding from me?”
August’s cheeks go a bright shade of pink.
“No one, Mother.”
“Shame,” she says. “I guess you’re so wrapped up in your work, aren’t you?”
“I guess you could say that,” the doctor replies.
“I think I should find you a woman,” Alda says coolly. “You need a woman, August. I could set you up with some respectable ladies. I’m acquainted with one or two.”
Damon sighs again. “Please, Mother. No talking about your matchmaking prowess in front of Ava.”
Alda gives me a knowing wink, just like Waylen Penmayne, before she drifts away with a simple farewell.
“Adios.”
August turns to Damon when their mum is safely out of earshot.
“Mother,” he exhales as if it’s some form of explanation.
“You were always her favorite, August,” Damon remarks. “Let her find you a nice, reputable woman from her pool of upper-crust contacts. She would love that.”
The doctor groans at that joke. “Never. I’m not letting her anywhere near my love life.”
“Better find that childhood maid crush of yours soon,” Damon says. “Otherwise, Mother will truly have her claws in you. She’ll have every good match on the Eastern Seaboard lined up.”
“Ha. I can only dream,” August replies. “The last thing I need is for Mother to act as my own personal dating app.”
“You certainly don’t want that,” Damon confirms.
“Well, I need to go, you two,” August proclaims. “I need to mingle with the rest of the family and try my utmost to avoid talk of who I might be currently sleeping with. Always lovely to see you, Ava. Take care of my brother for me.”
I smile. “Will do.”
And with that, August heads over to talk to Olivia, leaving Damon and me alone.
“So, you haven’t said a word to your family?” I ask my fiancé, deadly serious. “Nothing about what’s happened to you in the last few weeks? Being stabbed? You didn’t think of letting them know you were so close to death?”
