Page 102 of Loving the CEO

"I missed you, my boy."

"Mom," I began, taking a step back, "I have someone I'd like you to—"

Before I managed to finish the sentence, she shrieked, "Tory, darling, so great to see you again!"

Tory stepped forward. To my relief, the tension simply seeped out of her body as Mom hugged her. I wondered why she was so on edge. Unlike her mom, who had never warmed up to me, mine genuinely liked Tory.

"You look fantastic," Tory said.

"I’m trying to stay young and restless by doing yoga and traveling the world," Mom said with a wink.

What did that mean?

"As you should," Tory said with warmth in her voice.

Mom turned to me. "You didn't tell me this pretty girl was going to be here too."

"Surprise!” I winked.

Mom looked at Tory. "I thought you'd moved out."

"I d-did," Tory stuttered.

"You guessed correctly, Mom. Tory and I, well, we're not just friends anymore." I looked at Tory, expecting to see her beaming with pride. Instead, her face turned beet red.

"Way to put the poor girl on the spot," Mom said. "But I'm so happy about this. I imagine Jeannie's bursting with joy."

"We haven't had the chance to tell her," I said quickly.

Mom grinned. "You mean to confirm, right? She probably knows already.”

"Something like that," I agreed.

Mom yawned.

"Come on, let's get you some coffee,” I said.

“And we made breakfast,”Tory added.

Mom startled, looking between the two of us. I couldn't properly read her reaction, so I let it slide.

"How wonderful of you two. Thanks." Stepping inside the kitchen area, she glanced around and smiled. "Tory set the table, didn't she?"

"Guilty," Tory said.

"How could you tell?" I asked.

"My darling, I love you, but table arrangements aren't your thing. And I still remember that time you threw a Thanksgiving party with your friends and Tory did this lovely arrangement." Tory softened up, clearly relishing Mom's compliment. "You made those swan-shaped napkins that looked very fancy."

"I can't believe you remember that," Tory said.

"I’d always hoped you'd stay in Boston after college," Mom said as we sat down around the kitchen island. "Maybe keep this one company."

Tory laughed without humor. "I wish I had. Then I wouldn't have gone through all of this mess."

Of course, I’d filled Mom in on Tory’s leaving Walter at the proverbial altar. Mom agreed right away that it was the best thing Tory could have done in that situation.

"I'm sorry. You’ve been through a lot."

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