“That’s really nice of you to offer,” Mia managed to say through the lump of emotion clogging her throat, “but we’re fine for now. I’ve got some savings, and so does Danny.”
Brenda blinked in surprise. “He does?”
Mia nodded. “He’s saved every penny he’s made working for that landscaping company. He even has his own bank account. And he’s ridiculously responsible with his money—he doesn’t spend a dime unless it’s for something important.”
Her mom’s expression reflected back the same pride Mia was feeling. “He’s a very smart boy.” Brenda’s voice cracked. “You’ve done a wonderful job with him, baby.”
“I didn’t exactly have a choice, seeing as his mother couldn’t be bothered to raise him.”
The muttered response triggered a wave of tension that crashed over and efficiently wiped out the emotional moment they’d been sharing. Mia immediately regretted the verbal jab when she saw the hurt look on her mother’s face.
“Sorry,” she said, sighing. “I know you’re trying. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“I deserved it,” Brenda said sadly.
They both went quiet for a moment, and then Brenda offered a smile, albeit a forced one.
“Come on, let’s go see what kung-fu movie Danny has decided to torture us with.”
Mia responded with a weak laugh. “I’ll be right there. I’m just going to make a sandwich first. Do you want one?”
“No thank you, baby. I’m still full from those hot dogs we had at the game.”
After her mother left the kitchen, Mia drew in a deep breath. Keep an open mind, she thought, repeating the same mantra she’d been relying on for two weeks now. Brenda did seem to be making a genuine effort, and throwing her past mistakes in her face every two minutes wasn’t at all beneficial to the situation.
As she prepared a ham-and-turkey sandwich, the sound of footsteps came from behind her and she turned to see Danny enter the kitchen. His hair was damp from the shower he’d taken in the locker room, and his black T-shirt and dark-blue jeans emphasized his tall, broad frame and muscular arms. At times like these, she had to blink to make sure this was actually her little brother and not a grown man who’d somehow moved into her apartment.
She had to face the facts, though—Danny wasn’t a kid anymore. He nearly was a man, and maybe it was time for her to stop being so overprotective of him.
“Almost done,” she told him, slapping a piece of lettuce on the bread.
He walked over and stood directly beside her. “Listen, I wanted to…um…I wanted to apologize to you. I said some really shitty things to you the day Mom came back, and I…I feel really bad about it.”
A soft smile tugged on her lips. Danny hadn’t brought up the argument during these past two weeks, but she’d known he’d been trying to find a way to apologize. She hadn’t wanted to push him, though, so she’d decided to wait until he raised the subject himself.
“I’m sorry I was so rude,” he finished.
“It’s all right. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that Mom stopped by.”
“It’s okay. I know you were just trying to protect me.” Danny sighed. “But you don’t have to hide things from me. I know you think I’m a stupid kid and that I’m being gullible about the whole thing, but you only have one mom, you know? I don’t want to be one of those messed-up losers you see on Jerry Springer twenty years from now, complaining about his crappy relationship with his mother.”
Mia grinned at him. “Mommy issues are out of style,” she agreed.
“I also wanted to thank you. You know, for making an effort. I know you still don’t trust her, but at least you’re giving her another chance, and I think that’s pretty cool of you.”
“You wanna hug it out?”
“You’re such a loser.” He rolled his eyes, then shifted in embarrassment and grumbled, “Okay, fine.”
He gave her a quick hug that made Mia laugh again, and then the two of them left the kitchen together to join their mother.
Chapter Seventeen
Thanksgiving
“For Pete’s sake, can you quit grinning like that? You look like a total goofball.” Mia glared at Jackson as they walked through the automatic doors of Dallas-Forth Worth International Airport and stepped into the early afternoon sunshine.
He lugged their carryon bags toward the taxi stand, the grin never leaving his face. “I can’t help it. That was the best dang plane ride of my life.”
Hers too, but Mia refused to give him the satisfaction of admitting it, not after she’d just reprimanded him.
“Uh-huh, Mr. Sex Maniac, I’m sure you’ve never done that before,” she said sarcastically.
“Gotten a handjob under a blanket while on an airplane? Nope, hasn’t happened before.”
She eyed him dubiously.