“Starving. Thank you, Elena. Katya, show me to the bathroom.”
Wulf had never been in her family's house before, though she'd been in his plenty of times. Genevieve was only two years younger than her, Brie around four years younger. Vieve had been away at soccer camp that fateful summer, when Katya had been talked into babysitting the youngest Stone child. The same time she'd first noticed the cranky, rude, boy next door was the sexiest thing her tiny fourteen year old brain had ever comprehended.
When Wulf passed the elder Tocci woman, she gave the thumbs up to her daughter. Katya swallowed a groan and put her hand on his back, pushing him towards a door. She should've warned him about her mother. She hoped he wouldn't do anything else to encourage her mom, but just before he disappeared into the bathroom, he stepped out and wrapped his arm around her waist. Leaned down close to whisper in her ear.
“You had better warn your mother that I never plan on giving anyone grandchildren.”
Katya wanted to die, but he gave a small chuckle and squeezed her once before letting go. The door had barely clicked shut behind him before her mother started squealing.
“Oh, honey,” she breathed, fanning herself. “I think he likes you. I think he really likes you.”
“It's not like that, Mom, I promise. Just go get lunch,” she urged, ushering her mom into the kitchen.
“The way he touched you! Katya, if he doesn't like you, then I don't know what's what anymore,” her mom said, hurrying to the fridge and pulling out a tray of tiny finger sandwiches.
“It's not like that,” Katya spoke through clenched teeth as she took the tray and carried it out to the sun porch.
“Oh really,” he mom huffed, joining her with a pitcher of lemonade. “Then enlighten me, what is it like?”
She stared while the other woman went about arranging the food on a decorative serving platter. Katya had been expanding her boundaries over the past few weeks. She wanted to become her own kind of adult, independent of the way she'd been raised, and more in line with what she actually wanted. Now was the moment to prove that she wasn't all talk. She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders.
“It's casual,” she said, as close to the truth as she was brave enough to get.
“Excuse me?”
“Our relationship. Mine and Wulf's. We bumped into each other, and yeah, sparks kinda flew. But neither of us is interested in a relationship right now. He really came down here to see his mom. He knew I was coming down here to see you. He offered to drive me. That is it. I don't want to explain this again,” she stated.
Her mother stood upright, looking shocked at the words she was hearing.
“A casual relationship? Oh honey, I don't really think that's good for you,” she tsked tsked. Katya took another deep breath.
“I'm sorry, Mom, but I know what's good for me, now. And whatever it is, it's none of your business.”
She waited for arguing. Some cajoling. The common sense talk. But none of it happened. Her mom stared at her for a long second, making worry lines across her brow. Then she smiled. Reached a hand out and smoothed her fingers down Katya's cheek before cupping it.
“Of course you know what's best for you, dear. As long as you're happy, that's all I worry about.”
Katya fell into her seat while her mom wandered back into the kitchen, looking for the fruit bowl. That was it? It was a big moment in her life, standing up to her mother's antiquated views of how a woman should behave and handle herself. For god's sake, it was noon on a Sunday, and the woman was wearing full makeup, heels, and a dress just to make snacks in her own home. Katya had assumed her admission would've caused a minor breakdown.
Of course, she realized it wasn't a fair assumption. She'd never ever once stood up to her parents before – how could she have known how they'd react? It was unfair of her, really. Her parents had always encouraged her talents and done their best to steer her in the right direction. They'd never really punished her for anything. How could she have thought they'd think less of her for wanting to live life her own way?
I had no idea my narrow-mindedness expanded to so many different parts of my life. I really need to thank Liam when I get home.
They ate lunch on the sun porch. She got to watch Wulf turn on the charm – he'd never done it for her. He smiled and teased her mother, flattering her. Distracting her from the fact that his hand spent a majority of the time on Katya's thigh. After they finished eating, he excused himself to go back to his own home, so he could unpack and take a shower, but he asked about their dinner plans.
Mrs. Tocci had made reservations at a very good restaurant downtown, but Wulf said that wouldn't do. After a few phone calls, he got them reservations at the very best restaurant. When six o'clock rolled around, he took the keys from Katya's mom, then drove both women downtown. Ordered fancy wine and fancier champagne, really showing off.
“I know it's casual, dear,” her mother had whispered while they'd waited for valet to bring the car around. “But you could consider making it serious. Any man who knows wine that well is a keeper.”
Katya actually laughed.
Wulf left them at their doorstep, kissing them both on the cheek before saying goodnight. Then Katya got to spend some real one-on-one time with her mom. They put on their pajamas and finally made those cookies. She'd always wondered where her baking talents came from – her mother was awful at anything involving an oven. How she managed casserole was a mystery. Half the batch turned out runny, the other lumpy. Katya's turned out perfect. They took all of them into the sitting room and sat on the couch together, watching an old movie.
“I'm very proud of you, honey.”
Her mother said it randomly, without ceremony, at the end of the film.
“What?”
“It occurred to me that we don't say that to you enough. Your father and I are both so proud. I worried a lot while you were growing up that we weren't giving you enough,” her mom said.
“Why on earth would you think that? I went to a private school, I grew up in this amazing home,” Katya was stunned.
“Well, I always thought you deserved brothers and sisters, but it just didn't happen. I never wanted you to be lonely, so I tried my hardest to help you become the type of girl that would have lots of friends. Be well liked. Get a good job. But I don't want you to think that's all that mattered to me. Lord, no.”