Page 68 of Lee

“Hey there, Lee.”

Lee turned to see Jackson’s mom, Julia, coming towards them, a friendly smile on her face. “Hi, Aunt Julia.”

Though they weren’t technically related, they’d always called Jackson’s parents aunt and uncle.

“How are you doing?” she asked.

“I’m doing really well. How are you and Uncle Robert?”

“We’re great. Rob convinced me to go on a cruise with him, so we’ll be leaving in a week for a two week cruise. I’m so excited. It’ll be like our second honeymoon.”

Lee listened as the woman talked about how much she was looking forward to spending time with her husband, the man she clearly loved a great deal. He could understand why Jackson was so desperate for a relationship of his own. The guy no doubt saw how happy his parents were together and wanted that for himself too.

“Are you Rori?” Julia said, turning to her.

Rori looked startled for a moment, then nodded. “Yes. I’m Rori Harlow-Gray.”

“It’s lovely to meet you.” Julia held out her hand. “Jackson was telling me about you this morning. He’s my son.”

“Oh.” Rori’s laugh was clearly nervous. “He seems like a nice man.”

“He is,” Julia said, her smile affectionate. “But he probably shouldn’t have come on as strong as he did. I’m not surprised you turned him down for a date.”

“It had nothing to do with him,” Rori assured Julia. “I’m just… I have…”

Julia reached out and laid her hand on Rori’s arm. “Is there someone else?”

Lee hadn’t expected the question, and he held his breath as he waited for Rori’s answer.

She glanced at him before saying, “Sort of.”

Well, that wasn’t what he’d expected her to say, and he wasn’t sure how he felt about it. Hopeful it might be him, but realistic enough to know it might not be.

“Well, I believe my son deserves to be loved wholeheartedly, so if you didn’t think you could give that to him, I’m glad you turned him down.” Julia looked at Lee. “Especially if your emotions are tangled up in someone else.”

Things had taken an awkward turn, and this was not at all the conversation Lee had thought they’d have as they wandered through Walmart.

“Anyway, I must run. I told Rob I wouldn’t be long.”

Lee bent to kiss her cheek, then watched as she turned to Rori and once against touched her arm. “I hope to see you around. It was lovely meeting you.”

After Rori had echoed the sentiment, they watched as Julia hurried away. They stood in silence for a moment, then Lee cleared his throat. “Well, I guess she doesn’t hold it against you for turning Jackson down.”

Rori looked up at him, a hand pressed to her chest. “Thank goodness. I wouldn’t want an angry mother after me.”

“Julia and Robert are both really nice people, and they dote on their son. However, they’re not oblivious to his faults.”

Lee wanted to ask about her reply to Julia’s question, but he bit his tongue. Instead, he pushed the cart to the registers at the front.

Though he would have liked to offer to pay for the blinds, Lee let Rori take care of it because he suspected the offer wouldn’t be well received. She’d accepted a lot from them already that day, and he had a feeling his offer to pay might tip things over the edge.

When they were back in the car, Lee said, “Anywhere else you need to go?”

“Nope. This has been great. One more thing checked off the list. Several things, actually. Courtesy of you and the others. I’m very thankful.”

“Glad we could help you out.”

Once back at the apartment, they unwrapped the first blind. Lee had hung blinds before, but he’d never call himself a pro. He just hoped that he had everything he needed in Blake’s tool chest.

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