Page 67 of Talk Birdie to Me

“Are we done here?”

Taylor hugged her sister, and they walked together to the door. “See you next weekend. You’d better do those runs. You promised to give it a week.”

“I will,” Geena said with less enthusiasm than Taylor probably wanted. “Promise.”

Cody followed his nose into the kitchen where his mother was brushing sauce on a sheet pan full of ribs. It was her favorite dish to make for him, and she woke up early to cook them on low heat for several hours before basting and broiling them at the last minute. She always picked up the side dishes from a local market, but the ribs she made especially for him.

“Smells awesome, as usual.” He kissed his mom on the cheek. “I brought the French bread.”

She closed the oven door, then wrapped him in a big hug. For a tiny woman, she packed a mighty embrace.

“I thought I told you to bring a date, not bread.”

“The bread was easier.”

“Who said anything about easy? You think these ribs are easy? No. But they’re worth it.”

Ah yes. His mother still couldn’t admit that his father wasn’t worth all the years she gave to him. All the forgiveness. All the tears. She couldn’t admit she’d gambled and lost.

But he saw what his father took from her. He saw how no matter how much his mother had loved him or how much she’d given, it still wasn’t enough to make up for the man’s selfishness.

Cody had long ago vowed never to do what his father did to anyone else. If it meant he stayed single for the rest of his life, or at least until he was sure he wanted to settle down with the right person in the right place at the right time, so be it.

Maybe one day love would be worth it.

For now, it was just these ribs.

“Next time I’ll bring bread and dessert. How’s that?”

“I’d rather you bring a girl home.”

“What if I brought a guy?”

Cody had never outright told his mom about his sexuality, but he’d never intentionally hidden that fact either. Whether she considered the guys he’d brought home in high school to be friends or dates, he never knew.

“I will be happy with any human you bring in this house.” She took both of his shoulders in her hands and looked into his eyes. “I just want to see you happy.”

“I am happy,” he said. “Because I’m not tied down or hurting someone when it’s time for me to move on to another job elsewhere.”

Her hands dropped from his shoulders, and her whole body slumped. “Why does it have to be time to move? I wish you could stay here longer.”

“No. You wish I’d stay forever.”

“Okay, fine. I wish you would stay forever,” she said. “But I’d settle for a little longer.”

“Well, you’ll be happy to know I didn’t get the Arizona job.”

“I’m sorry.” Her face displayed genuine remorse. “I’m not happy about your disappointment. And I assume you’ve sent out more resumes.”

Cody nodded. “Waiting for a few responses.”

He’d enjoyed this time at his hometown zoo, but he had to move on before he got attached to the job or his coworkers.

Or anyone else.

Geena, in her llama pajamas from the first time he showed up at her door, flashed across his memory. Their easy conversations over the last week and a half had been a pleasant surprise. Even more so after their crappy first date. He felt comfortable around her now.

No, it was more than comfort.

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