Page 107 of Designs on You

After Eugene wandered off, Natalie asked, “Wow. Three boys, huh?”

“Yes. And, yes, they were a handful, especially being so close in age. But they were each others’ playmates and best friends.”

Warren coughed. Eugene choked back a laugh. Linc outright snorted.

“Okay, you three.” Lisa shook her head. “So, Natalie, tell me all about yourself.”

Natalie realized that Eugene hadn’t told his mother anything about her. About them. Which was fair. If her mother didn’t live so close, she likely wouldn’t know anything about her dating life, either. “I’m an interior designer, I’m divorced, and I have two kids. Camryn is seven and Christopher is five.”

Lisa’s eyes sparkled with delight. “Oh, you have children. That’s wonderful. They must keep you very busy.”

“They do.”

“She also just got a dog,” Hazel hollered from the dining room. “Grizelda is outside wrestling with Freddie.”

Lisa craned her neck to see the little fluffball tangled in a fun free-for-all with Hazel’s dachshund. “She’s cute.”

Natalie smiled. “Yeah, she is. The kids love her, and they really like taking care of her.”

“That’s good.” Lisa looked around. “Okay, they’ve all moved into the living room. Tell me about you and Eugene.”

“Oh. Well, we’re dating.” She had no idea what to tell Eugene’s mother about their relationship. And she sure couldn’t define it for Lisa when she had trouble doing that for herself.

Except you can define it because you love him and you know it.

Dammit. This was not the time for those thoughts to pop into her head.

“Well, of course you are. I already knew that.” Lisa laid her hand over Natalie’s. “And I’m pressuring you for information about your relationship. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine, really.”

“No, it’s not.” She leaned in closer, keeping a close watch on the crowd in the living room. “It’s just that Eugene very rarely introduces me…no, correction. He has never once introduced me to any woman he’s dated. That makes you special. Unique. Like a unicorn.”

Natalie sputtered out a laugh. “Well. I do feel special now.”

“You should, Natalie. He told me you two were together.”

“Wait. He did? So this isn’t the first time you’re hearing about me?”

Lisa laughed. “Of course not. Eugene tells me everything. Well, I mean, not everything, of course. But he talks to me about what’s important to him. Which means you are important to him, Natalie. That’s one of the main reasons why I’m here. And, of course, to see Linc and Hazel’s place.”

It took a few moments and regulating her breathing for Natalie to be able to respond. She didn’t want to make a big deal about this. Moms often read into things that weren’t there when it came to their children and their love lives. This was probably no different. Still, she owed Lisa a graceful and grateful reply.

“I appreciate that, Lisa. It means a lot to me that he talks to you about me. I think very highly of him.”

Lisa gave her a knowing smile. “Keeping your cards close to the vest. I can appreciate that, and your relationship with Eugene isn’t my business, anyway.”

She tilted her head toward the living room and saw Eugene’s apologetic smile. She gave him a reassuring one in return before answering Lisa. “I didn’t mean to insult you.”

“You didn’t insult me at all. You don’t know me, and I could be one of those overbearing moms for all you know. Which I’m not, by the way, and you’ll eventually figure that out. But I’m super happy to meet you and I can appreciate what Eugene sees in you. You don’t spill secrets, and I can tell by the way you skirt glances at him and the way he smiles at you that there’s something special between the two of you. What that is I have no idea, which is just fine.”

Okay, now she felt better. “Thanks, Lisa. I hope I’m just as protective but still open with my own children when they’re grown.”

“I have a feeling you will be. Are they here?”

“No, they’re with their dad tonight. He wanted to take them to the movies.”

“Oh. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to meet them.”

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