Her mom stopped me as I took my first bite of cookie.
“Laney tells us you’re a dancer, Ash.”
I chewed and swallowed quickly. “Yeah. Yes, ma’am.”
“I imagine that’s not a very secure profession.”
“No, ma’am.”
“So how do you propose to support my daughter?”
“Mom!” Laney snapped. “I support myself. I always have.”
“Good Heavens, Laney! There’s no need to bite my head off! I’m just trying to get to know your new husband.”
“You can ask me anything, Mrs. Hennessey.”
“No you can’t, Mom,” Laney said flatly.
There was an uncomfortable silence, then I followed Nolan out of the room.
Laney
“He plays video games? How old is he?” Aunt Lydia asked, raising her eyebrows.
“Lots of people like those, but since you asked, he’s 23.”
“He looks younger.”
Sometimes he did, especially when he was freshly shaved, but his eyes were old. They’d seen too much and experienced all the wrong things.
“Laney looks younger than her age, too,” my sister Bernice said with a wink. “And I’ve gotta say, that’s a fine-looking man. Nice going, sis.”
“Really, Bernie! This isn’t a laughing matter,” Mom complained. Then she turned her attention back to me. “And what about his family? I presume he does have a family? What do they think of this secret marriage? Or maybe you told them.”
Mom was being very waspish. She was hurt, I knew that, so I bit my tongue and tried to answer calmly and comprehensively.
“His mother died when he was 15 and he’s not close to his father. Ash left home when he was 18 and has supported himself working in construction.”
“Well, I suppose that’s something,” Mom huffed, not very sincerely.
“But his passion is dancing. He’s a champion in his own country, but wanted to broaden his horizons.”
“And he got mixed up in all that unpleasant business in Las Vegas,” Mom added. “Some people just attract trouble.”
I slammed down my knife and stood abruptly.
“Since he’s been in this country, he’s been victimized and abused. I’d hoped that my own family would treat my husband better.”
And I stormed out of the kitchen.
As a rule, I wasn’t someone who stormed out of places, but Mom was dig, dig, digging, trying to get under my skin. Well, she succeeded, and I wasn’t going to have her do the same to Ash.
My uncles and cousins were all crammed into the family room watching an action movie with my dad. Kids were running around the house, high on sugar and excitement. I helped Lottie braid her hair, and broke up a fight between James and Kevin. A series of gunshots and explosions eventually drew me to Uncle Paul’s study where I found Ash sitting with Nolan, frowning in concentration. I stood and watched for a while before Ash glanced up and saw me.
“Everything okay, Laney?”
That made me laugh. “Of course. What could possibly be wrong?”
His lips twisted in a wry smile, but it was Nolan who answered.
“Granddad and Grandma are mad because they think he married you to stay in Chicago. Uncle Paddy says it’s no one’s business, and Aunt Carmen says that you should have married Collin. But I don’t like him—he never talks to me. I wish I’d seen you fight him. Trisha and Amelia said he’s cute, but they’re totally lame.”
Nolan’s verbal vomit left Ash looking bemused. Nolan was on the autism spectrum and didn’t always pick up on social cues. But at least now we knew what everyone was thinking.
“Okaaaay then,” I smiled. “Ash, I’m going to lie down for a bit. Come find me when you’re finished.”
He nodded as something exploded on the screen and I left him to it.
I’d hoped to escape everyone, but I’d barely sat on the bed in the guestroom when Mom knocked and walked in immediately after.
“Mom, I . . .”
“You will listen to me, Laney Kathleen Hennessey!”
“Why?” I said sharply. “You’ve already made up your mind, so why should I listen to you?”
She only hesitated for a second. “Because I’m your mother.”
“And Ash is my husband, so be very careful what you say.”
Her eyes widened, then she did pause. “Do you love this boy?” she asked quietly.
“He’s not a boy.” I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. “He’s amazing, Mom, if you could just give him a chance. He’s kind and sweet, really funny. He works hard and he’s so talented. I’m really proud of him.”
She sat on the bed next to me and wrapped her arm around my shoulders.
“Do you love him?”
Ash had come into my world through rage and violence, but every time I saw him, I smiled; when he walked into a room, he lit it up. The way he’d kissed me, twice, my skin sizzled under his touch.
But I couldn’t lie to my mom. I tried to find the right words and swallowed nervously.
Mom studied my face, then kissed me on the cheek.
“That’s all I needed to know.”