Page 22 of The Beautiful Mess

“I should get one of Lucinda’s cast-iron skillets,” Sven countered.

“Oh dear,” Lucinda said. “I hope I shredded the chicken well enough.”

“It’s fine, Ma,” Kerry replied, then drained the glass of water. “I know better than to hoover my food. It’s just so delicious.” And he was horrible about eating well during the rest of the week. Kerry gestured at Keegan. “I’m sorry I interrupted. You were telling us your plans to have four kids, two dogs, and a cat with Danny.”

Keegan narrowed his eyes, and his face turned a darker shade of pink. “That’s not what I said.”

Food forgotten, Kerry leaned back in his chair. “I’m a little surprised big topics like kids and pets came up so soon. Didn’t you just meet the guy last night?” He knew it was the wrong thing to say when Keegan’s eyes snapped with irritation.

“Why does it matter to you?”

Kerry shrugged his shoulder like he didn’t have a vested interest in Keegan’s answers. “Just seems soon.”

“So, you’re saying one or both of us is desperate?” Keegan asked.

“I don’t think that’s what he meant, honey.” Lucinda pinned her son with a dark scowl. “Right, Kerry?”

“It sure sounded like that’s what Kerry meant,” Sven said. That little shit was enjoying every bit of Kerry’s comeuppance.

“I just want you to be careful,” Kerry said.

“Because I’m pathetic and stupid in addition to desperate?” Keegan asked.

Kerry pushed back from the table and put his hands up in the air. “Whoa. I didn’t say any of those things.”

“But you thought about them, right?” Keegan pressed.

Kerry sighed and stood up. “I think I’ll head back to the station and catch up on some paperwork.”

“Kerry, no,” Lucinda said. “This is a simple misunderstanding that you and Keegan should work through.”

“Preferably right here,” Debbie said.

Kerry looked at Keegan. He was only three chairs down, but he might as well have been sitting on the opposite side of the Grand Canyon. Maybe building a bridge was impossible after all. “I hope Danny turns out to be everything you want him to be because you deserve the best.” He picked his plate up and took it to the kitchen, where he fed the leftovers into the garbage disposal. The whir of its small engine and running water covered the sound of his mother following him, but Kerry sensed her presence. He rinsed off the plate, set it in the sink, and turned off the faucet. When he turned around, Lucinda was spooning food into containers. Kerry knew it wasn’t because she was eager for him to leave. His mother just knew there was no changing his mind once he’d made it.

“I made pineapple upside-down cake for dessert,” she said. “Would you like a few slices?”

“I’d take the entire cake if you let me.” A few slices of that and some good bourbon ought to make the night a lot better. Maybe if he drank enough, he’d get some sleep.

Lucinda looked over her shoulder and smiled. “If I had a backup plan for dessert, I’d let you have the whole thing.” She turned back around to her task, her movements concise and sure.

“I meant what I said. Keegan deserves the best.”

She stilled for a moment but didn’t turn around. After a few seconds, she resumed packing enough food to feed an army. “He does,” she said. “You and I just don’t agree on who the best person is for Keegan.”

“Ma, I told you I’m not made for relationships.”

“And I told you a long time ago that you’d change your mind when you met the right person.”

“You did,” he agreed.

“I knew Keegan was that special someone the first time Sven brought him home to meet our family. You come alive, and you navigate toward him like he’s a beacon pulling you out of the dark.”

“Ma, you’ve read too many romance novels,” Kerry said.

“And you haven’t read enough,” she countered. “I’m right, and we both know it.”

“I don’t want the kids and dogs, and I already have the most perfect cat.”

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