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13
Blake Williams glanced over to Lauren Keller as he set up the camp chair for his mother.“There you go, Momma,” he said pleasantly.He took her arm and helped her ease into the chair.“Now, I don’t want you doin’ anything tonight.If you want a drink, tell me and I’ll get it for you.We’ve got food and snacks.Those licorice whips you like.”
His mother glared up at him, but she didn’t try to stand up again.He might forcibly and firmly push her back down if she did.She’d had a hip replacement only seven weeks ago, and he’d only brought her because she’d threatened to come whether he helped or not.So he figured he better help.
“I’m fine, young man.”
“I’m forty-five,” he shot back.“Your grandson is a young man.”His son was only twelve, actually, so he technically didn’t qualify as a young man either.He was a preteen, and Blake had half-custody of him.He had him quite often, as he and Jacinda spoke all the time and had to work out Tommy’s schedule.She traveled often enough to make a regular schedule hard, and Blake had some business trips every now and then too.
This weekend, Tommy had gone to Carter’s Cove for the holiday, and Blake would get him back on Monday.The boy had swimming lessons starting next week, and then they had a father-son camping trip on the weekend for his Boy Scout program.Blake loved being outdoors with his son, and he volunteered to go on every camp, every hike, every fishing trip, that fit his schedule.
“Yes,” Momma said.“How is Tommy?You’ve kept him away.”
“Only because he’s such a klutz right now.”Blake set up his own chair, aware of someone watching him.He looked over to Lauren, and she quickly looked away.He wasn’t sure what that was about, but his chest grew a bright spot right in the middle of it.
He knew what that was, and he should not be feeling attracted to her.She probably thinks you’re a liar, he thought.He’d told her he was going to get his girlfriend and his mother, and he’d only returned with one woman.
The older one, still currently glaring at him.“He is,” Blake said as he sat.“Every time he goes to your place, he breaks something, and then you’d be left to clean it up.”
“Who’s watching him while you work then?”Momma folded her arms.
Blake squirmed and then crossed his legs.He didn’t want to say, but Momma likely already knew.
“He’s twelve, Blake,” she said.“He can’t stay home alone.”
“He can,” Blake said, swallowing hard.“He comes into the office for part of the day, and then I give him work to do at home.He does that, and I’m home in three or four hours.It’s fine.”He did work reduced hours in the summer, and Tommy hadn’t complained one bit about having to clean out the fridge—a twenty-minute job—and then playing video games in the air-conditioned house for a few hours.
Momma pursed her lips.“Where’s Camille?”
“She’s with her aunt, I guess,” Blake said.“I didn’t realize she’d said we’d sit with them, and I was already set up here.”
“Mm.”Momma didn’t say anything else, but the humming said it all.Must not be serious if you can’t sit with her family instead of your friends.
And maybe it wasn’t.His relationship with Camille was a few months old, and he didn’t feel too terribly much for her.Certainly not the same burning sensation beneath his ribs that flared to life as his eyes drifted over to Lauren again.
He’d met her a few times now, and he’d been happy to see her once again in the parking lot.She had gorgeous dark hair and eyes, with thick eyebrows and beautiful, full lips.
She laughed, further driving his hormones up a notch.He couldn’t be feeling this way about her, not when he had a girlfriend.She wasn’t here, but that didn’t mean Blake could entertain such thoughts about another woman.
He put Lauren out of his mind, which was easy as Grant said, “Miss Linda,” in his gushing, salesman voice.Blake knew it, because he’d often used a voice like that when entertaining potential new clients.“Look at you out of the house.”He glanced over to Blake, because Grant knew the story behind Blake’s mother’s presence.
He rolled his eyes, but Momma said, “Yes, the warden approved some released time.”
“Momma,” Blake started, but his defense got drowned out by Grant’s hearty laughter.His daughter Shelby stood next to him, and she laughed too.
Blake glared at his mother, then Grant, who finally stopped laughing.
“Let me get you a lemonade,” Grant said.“Mango or strawberry?”
“Raspberry,” Blake and Momma said together, and their eyes met.Grant and Shelby moved away, and Blake reached over and squeezed her hand.“I love you, Momma.”
“I love you too, son,” she said, softening like melting butter in the microwave.
Satisfied that he wouldn’t have to endure the evening with a Grumpy Gus, he pulled out his phone and navigated to Camille’s name.He didn’t know how to break up with her via text.They’d been dating for months.Didn’t he owe her a personal, face-to-face explanation?
Listen, he tapped out.I’m not sure things are working between us.Should we go to dinner and talk about things between us?
Camille responded lightning-quick, the way she usually did.He really liked that, because he hated being on the hook when he had hard texting conversations.We don’t need to go out just to break up.
