Page 83 of Mind Pucked

“Mom,” I say, stepping aside to let her in. “What are you doing here?”

“Does a mother need a reason to visit with her only son?” she asks, looking around as if looking for something. “I saw Hayden and Amelia walking to the park,” she adds as she goes over to the stove and begins making herself a cup of hot tea.

“Mom, I really have to get going,” I say. “I have?—”

“Yeah, I know, practice,” she says. “Well, Coach isn’t going to kick you off the team for talking to your mother, is he?”

“I…I…” I begin, but then I throw my hands up and sit down at the table with her as she offers me a cup of tea as well. I take it.

She then goes to work cutting a couple pieces of the cake and handing me one on a small plate with a fork.

“Eat,” she commands as she finally sits down with me, her cake and tea in hand.

“Yes, ma’am,” I say, as I sip my tea and take a bite of my mom’s cake. “Satisfied?” I smile at her through the bite.

“Not completely, but somewhat appeased.” She smiles too, and then takes a bite of her own piece of cake. “Make sure Hayden and Amelia get a piece of this, will you?” she adds as she takes a sip of her tea.

“I’ll make sure Hayden gets a piece,” I say dryly, wondering why my mom has come all the way from Ohio just to bring me cake.

“And Amelia,” she adds.

“Mom, what are you doing here?” I ask, trying not to sound rude. “I mean, I love seeing you, but we just saw you in Ohio, and boom—here you are. You didn’t mention a trip here when we talked.”

“Well…” She pauses for a moment. “While I don’t think I need an excuse to come visit my baby boy, granddaughter, and Amelia, I am in town for just one day on business.” She smiles. “I thought you could use one of my cakes…you are rather thin these days.” She pokes at my stomach, and I roll my eyes. “I didn’t know I was coming over until this morning and I just thought I’d pop in.”

“Well, I have to head to practice, and you already know Hayden isn’t here right now…but I hate to just leave you.”

“I thought I might visit with you until you leave, then stay and do some work on my laptop and visit with Hayden and Amelia until my meeting once they get home.” She beams.

“Mom,” I say, reaching across to take her hand, “since you’re planning on doing that…” I pause for a moment, trying to think of the best way to tell her. “You need to know that Amelia and I are no longer together.”

“What? Why?” she asks. “But you’re letting her still work for you?”

“First of all, I don’t want to get into it, and second…yes. Amelia and I might not have worked out, but Hayden loves her and until I find someone just as good as Amelia to replace her, I’m going to keep her on.” Deep down, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to find anyone better than Amelia.

“What happened?” my mother demands as she turns her hand over and gives my hand a little squeeze.

“I don’t want to—” I begin, but she cuts me off.

“Jackson, tell me everything.”

I give in, knowing she’s not going to let this drop. “You know the day Hayden and I went to dinner with you guys in Ohio?”

“Yes,” my mother says. “The same day you told me about you and Amelia?”

“One and the same,” I sigh.

“Okay…” She prods me to continue with a circulating motion of both her hands before she puts her hand back in mine.

“Well—” I take a deep breath. “You know how Preston’s things were found in the car with Lyla when she died, right?”

“Yeah, a wallet, right?” she says with a shudder. “And loads of his blood.”

“Right, and for the longest time I wondered if they were having an affair or something—and let me tell you, at this rate, that might have been easier to deal with than the truth.”

“So, you know the truth then? They didn’t find his body, did they?” she asks, a bit of hope in her voice. “And I don’t know what any of this has to do with you and Amelia not working out.”

“You will,” I say. “Just be patient.” I smile at her a little, but then the frown returns to my face just as fast.

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