“No, Jimmy. You need to know when something has given up the ghost and needs to be traded in for a newer model.”
Gavin looked up in thanks at his mother. “Amen to that, Mom. Tell him he needs to get a new lawn mower.”
His mother rolled her eyes. “As if I could tell him anything. In matters of the outside and the garage, he is king of the world.”
“Damn right.” His father looked at Gavin. “We’ll get her fixed.”
Gavin cast a pleading look at his mother.
She laughed. “Gavin, come in and get the iced tea I made. You and your father look like you could use a drink.”
He could kiss his mother right now. “Sure. Be right back, Dad.”
His father waved him off. Gavin followed his mom into the kitchen and took a seat at the kitchen table.
“What is his deal?”
She shrugged. “I have no idea. He’s always been fond of fixing things, but lately he’s got some bug up his butt about retooling the lawn mower and the weed whacker, and he even found an old window air conditioner in the attic and has been futzing around with that, though I have no idea why.”
“You have central air.”
“Exactly.” She threw her hands in the air. “Maybe he’s planning to air-condition the garage. I don’t have a clue.”
He took the tea his mother offered. “He’s bored. That’s got to be it.”
“If he’s bored, I have a whole list of projects that need to be done around here, starting with a new fence. He ignores those and fiddles with stupid things.”
“Well, those projects aren’t fun, Mom.”
She laughed. “I guess. And I don’t know how he could be bored. There’s the bar.”
“Jenna probably manages the bar single-handedly these days. And we have great cooks and waitresses. Dad probably feels like he’s in the way.”
“Hmmm. You know, you could be right about that. I don’t know what to do about it, though.”
“Just tell Jenna to give him more work to do at the bar. Anything to keep him from tearing things apart here. Or find something here that interests him.”
She inhaled, then sighed. “I suppose so.” She took a drink of tea and studied him.
“What?”
“It’s nice to have you here.”
He knew what that meant. Something was on her mind. “Go ahead. Spill it.”
She took a seat at the table. “Mick came by and said he ran into you and Elizabeth.”
Somehow he knew this was going to come up. “And?”
“You could have told me you and Elizabeth were dating.”
“Do I ever discuss women I’m dating with you?”
“Elizabeth isn’t just one of the many women who parade in and out of your life, Gavin. She’s . . . Elizabeth. She’s practically family.”
“I don’t really know what’s going on with me and Liz yet, so there wasn’t a point in mentioning it. Mick said you were pissed at her.”
She narrowed her gaze. “He did, did he?”
“Yeah.”
“About what happened with Tara and Nathan?”
“Yeah.”
“Elizabeth apologized?”
“She did.”
“Mick said she corrected her error.”
“Yeah, she did.”
“Then why would I be angry with her? She made a mistake. We all make mistakes. Michael fired her for it. I would think losing a prominent client like Michael would teach her not to manipulate a client again.”
“I think she learned a valuable lesson from it.”
“Michael should be the last one to throw stones.”
Gavin shrugged. “He holds a grudge, and he’s protective of Tara and Nathan.”
“Understandable. But Elizabeth did some very good things for him and for his career. He needs to get past it.”
“Yeah, tell him that. He laid into me about seeing Liz and told me I should dump her.”
His mother’s eyes widened. “He did not.”
“Not in so many words, but he made his feelings clear.”
She sighed. “I don’t know why you two have always gotten into it. So competitive all the time. I’ll talk to him.”
He laid his hand over hers. “Thanks, Mom, but I don’t need you to fight my battles. It’s like you said. He’ll have to get over it. I’ll see Elizabeth for as long as whatever it is we have together lasts. If Mick doesn’t like it, that’s too bad. He’s going to have to deal with it.”
“How does Tara feel about you seeing her?”
Gavin shrugged. “I have no idea. Haven’t seen her since I got back from Florida.”
“Maybe you should tell her. If Elizabeth’s going to be in your life in a romantic way, she’s bound to run into Tara. You should pave the way and prepare her—prepare both of them—so it’s not a shock when it happens.”
“I’m sure Mick’s already told Tara I’m seeing Liz.”
His mother folded her arms. “And maybe he hasn’t.”
He nodded. “You have a point. I’ll talk to her.”
He’d try to make sure Elizabeth and Tara didn’t run into each other, which was easier than trying to explain to Tara why he was dating a woman she hated.
They both jumped at the sound of metal against metal coming from the garage.
“Now what?” Gavin asked.