“Cybil, I’d like you to meet Janet, Blake’s mom. Mom, this is Cybil,” Tanner says, setting the containers on the island, completely missing the way her face softened when he called her Mom.
“It’s so nice to meet you.” I smile as Tanner comes around to take the spatula from me. “Tanner told me that you’re responsible for all the delicious food I ate this week. You’re an amazing cook.”
“It was fun trying some new recipes, so I’m glad you enjoyed everything.” She motions to the containers. “That’s why I stopped by. There were some leftovers and dessert from last night that I didn’t want to go to waste.”
I don’t believe her, not even a little. My guess is she heard I was staying here, and like any good mama bear, she came to check me out and see what her cub was up to. And honestly, that makes me like her even more, especially after finding out today that Tanner didn’t have that in his life growing up.
“Thank you, it won’t go to waste,” I say, and she nods; then her eyes drop to my hand.
“How are you feeling today?”
“Better. The pain pills are kicking my butt, but I’m definitely better than I was yesterday. Tanner’s been taking good care of me.”
“I’m sure he has been.” She smiles softly, then glances at the watch on her wrist. “Darn, I need to get home to make dinner myself before Dave burns down the house. It was nice meeting you, Cybil. I’m sure I’ll see you this week for dinner.” She looks to Tanner for confirmation.
“We’ll set it up,” he assures her, and she nods. Then, after a quiet goodbye, Tanner walks her to the door. When he comes back a few minutes later, I can’t help but laugh. “What?”
“You do realize that she only stopped by to make sure you didn’t invite a crazy woman to stay with you, right?”
“No, she didn’t,” he denies with a shake of his head.
“She totally did.” I take a seat on one of the barstools, and he looks toward the door, seeming surprised by the thought. “It’s sweet that you call her Mom.”
“Yeah.” His expression gentles. “When Blake, Mav, and I would get time off, we’d come here, and after about the third visit, she started insisting we call her Mom. We didn’t fight her on it. She’s a good woman.”
“She loves you.”
“The feeling’s mutual.” He shrugs like it’s not a big deal, but I know it is, especially given his relationship with his own parents. “Are you ready to eat?”
“Yes.” I start to stand but stop when he shakes his head.
“Stay. Just tell me what you wanna drink. I have pop, water, and juice. I’ve also got beer and wine, but you can’t drink with that pill.”
“Juice, please.” With a nod, he grabs two plates, setting them on the counter before taking beans and tortillas from the oven and sour cream, salsa, and cheese from the fridge. Once he has everything laid out, he pours us each some juice, then takes a seat next to me. “Thank you for cooking.”
“Anytime.” He turns his head my way and leans in, so I smile and touch my mouth to his.
An hour later, stuffed full, I watch from the stool I haven’t been allowed to move from as he shoves the dishes into the dishwasher, and I somehow manage with a whole lot of willpower not to tell him he’s doing it wrong or to cringe when he doesn’t rinse things off. “Are you sure you don’t want me to help?” I ask, watching the gunk-covered pan go into the dishwasher, and he gives me the same look he’s given me every time I’ve asked. “Okay, do you mind if I call Jade’s parents?”
“You don’t have to ask if you can make a call, sunshine. You just can’t help me clean up.” He grins, pushing my bag toward me, and I roll my eyes as I listen to him chuckle. Once I find my phone, I ignore the messages on the screen and dial Maisie’s number.
“Cybil, honey,” she greets softly after the third ring. “I’ve been anxious for you to call and check in.”
“Sorry, we didn’t have service. Then yesterday, I had a little accident.”
“Oh no, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I just have a new set of stitches.”
“Child, you’re so clumsy. What did you do this time?” she asks, and I smile at her exasperated tone.
“The usual. I tripped over my own feet and fell. Only the rock I landed on wasn’t happy about it.”
“How many stitches this time?”
“Six.” I study my palm, which is now an ugly shade of purple and green.
“So less than the time you fell down the stairs and more than when you decided to cut a frozen chocolate cream pie with a butcher knife.”
“Yeah,” I say with a laugh.
“Well, I’m glad you’re okay.” She sighs. “So besides ending up in the hospital again, how was your trip? I know you were nervous about going.”
“It was really good. I learned a lot and actually had fun.”
“That’s good. I’m glad you had a good time.” I hear her moving around; then she asks quietly, “Do you know when you’ll be home?”
I glance up at Tanner, and my stomach flutters. “In a week or so. I’m . . . well, I actually met someone here, so I’m going to spend some time with him before I head back.”
“You met someone on a couples retreat?” I hear the frown in her voice.
“He was our guide. His name is Tanner, and he and I were partners all week. He—”
“Did Jade tell you about Galvin?” she says, cutting me off before I can tell her how great he is and how much I like him.
“She did.”
“I knew she wouldn’t keep quiet about that. I told her not to tell you until you got home. That girl never listens.”
“Maisie—”
“Honey, people are going to say what they want to say. You can’t run away from this. You’re going to have to come home eventually.”
“I’m not running away,” I say to defend myself, disappointed that she thinks I would; then again, maybe I haven’t given her much of a reason to think differently.
“Honey, you spent the last few months since Galvin ended things locked in your shop. I get it—we all get it—but you can’t live like that, pretending things aren’t happening when they are. You didn’t do anything wrong. You have nothing to be embarrass—”
“Maisie, please stop,” I interrupt while dropping my eyes to the top of the island. “Please listen to me. Really listen to me.”
“Okay, Cybil, honey. I’m listening.”
“I met someone I, like . . . really like, and I’m spending a week with him. I know that, given what happened with Galvin and Chris, it’s easy to assume the two things are related, but they are not. I’m spending a week with Tanner because I’m not ready to leave him yet, and he’s not ready for me to go.”
“Cybil—”
“Maisie, I’m asking you to trust me.”
“Okay,” she says, giving in quietly, and I let out a relieved breath.
“Are . . . are you sure about this guy, honey?” she asks, and I meet Tanner’s gaze, and as I look into his eyes, I know that no matter what happens, I want to see where things might go between us.
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
“Okay,” she whispers. “I love you.”
“I love you too. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Tell him to take care of you.”
“I will.” My shoulders sag as I end the call.