“When you have something sensible to say.”
He gave himself a few seconds so none of his frustration would show in his voice. Hopefully. “Remember after high school when I dumped my bike and I told you I had a bruised elbow and a little road rash?”
She pinned him with a look that made him want to squirm. “Yes.”
“Well, I dumped my bike because a truck hit me. I also had a bad concussion. And four broken bones.”
Her expression froze for a few seconds, but then he saw the comprehension in her eyes, followed by an unholy gleam of pissed off. “You little bastard. Why would you do that?”
“I didn’t want you to worry. You wouldn’t have believed I was okay without leaving your family to come take care of me and Lisa was so pregnant she was going to pop any day.”
“You’re my family, too, and don’t you forget it.”
“You would have been stressed out for no reason because there was nothing you could do. I didn’t want that for you so I talked the others into lying for me. It’s the same situation Emma found herself in, more or less.”
She glared at him, her arms folded across her chest. “Protecting weak, old women from the truth, you mean?”
Oh, hell no. “You are not weak or old, Aunt Mary, and neither is Cat. I know you’re upset about this, but I bet you’ve hedged around the truth a time or two to keep somebody you love from being unhappy.”
When she didn’t respond right away, he thought maybe she was softening. “I don’t like this at all, Sean.”
“I gave her my word.” That was the bottom line.
Her mouth tightened. “And?”
“And…” He took a deep breath. “If you can’t back me up on this, I’ll have to keep Cat away from here. And she knows you’re nearby, which means I’ll have to say we had a falling out.”
“Don’t threaten me, young man,” she said, but her tone was a little softer. She of all people knew Kowalski men were stubborn and meant what they said.
But the last thing he ever want to do was have conflict with this woman. He loved her too much. “I’ve seen them together and Emma was right. Cat’s a lot happier now, thinking we’re engaged, and that’s all Emma’s trying to do. Please, Aunt Mary. I gave her my word.”
She sighed—the deep, meaningful sigh only a mother could really master. “What is it you want me to do?”
“Cat wants to meet you. Maybe have dinner. I was thinking…hoping you and Uncle Leo could have a barbeque.”
She was still considering it when Joe walked into the kitchen and stopped. Sean watched him take in his mother’s body language and turn to retreat.
“Joseph, did you know about this craziness Sean’s involved with?”
The guy gave him a look promising retribution in the near future and turned back to his mom. “Yes, I did.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“It wasn’t my place, Ma. And they’re not hurting anybody.”
“It’s wrong.”
Joe smiled what was probably supposed to be a placating smile, but his obvious amusement at Sean’s predicament was ruining it. “It’s wrong that Emma wanted her grandmother to enjoy her new life in Florida?”
“Don’t get wise with me, Joseph. That’s not the issue here.”
“It is the issue,” Sean said, drawing his aunt’s gaze back to him. “Her grandmother’s peace of mind is exactly the issue.”
She stared at his face intently for what seemed like forever and he hoped like hell none of his own doubts showed there. “Saturday. Anytime after three and we’ll fire the grills at five.”
“Thank you, Aunt Mary.”
“I’ll keep my mouth shut and play along, but if she asks me outright if you two are up to no good, I won’t lie.”
He couldn’t see why Cat would ask a question like that. “I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”
“Go before I change my mind.”
He went, Joe on his heels, and didn’t stop until he was safely in the driveway. “Your mother can be a scary lady sometimes.”
Joe leaned against the fender. “How the hell did you talk her into it?”
“I told her I’d have to stay away—claim we had a falling out—if she didn’t.”
“Ouch. But I hope you realize Ma was the easy part.”
That was the easy part? He didn’t think so. “What do you mean?”
“What are you going to do about the five kids who know that not only were you not engaged last week, but that they haven’t been writing letters for Lisa to send to you at Emma’s house for the last year and a half.”
“Shit.” Every time he thought he had his eye on the ball and could smack it out of the park, it curved on him again. “I didn’t even think of them. Dammit.”
Joe laughed and slapped him on the back. “We’ll take care of the kids. Don’t worry.”