Page 57 of Meet Me in the Blue

Her smile faltered a little, but it recovered by the time she pulled away. “Will do.”

The small group turned to leave, and she let out a sigh of relief. “God, I thought they’d never leave.”

“Who was that?” I asked.

“I have no idea,” she said, and we all started to laugh.

The dark valleys below my mother’s eyes lightened as she giggled, the wrinkles around her mouth softening. All day she’d looked the picture of the perfect widow. Not a salt-and-pepper hair out of place on her head. Her black dress immaculate and wrinkle free. But as she ran her fingers through her bangs and kicked off her shoes, I finally recognized the woman under the shroud of grief. It was the first time I’d seen her smile, like an honest to God, sincere smile, since I’d moved back from California.

“What a day, huh?” she asked and flopped down on the couch. The dog climbed onto the cushion next to her and rested her head in my mom’s lap. “Are Natalie and Roger still here?”

“I haven’t seen them,” Rook said, and gave me a private smile. “Maybe they’re in the kitchen. I’ll go check.”

I refrained from leaning in and kissing him on his cheek before he retreated toward the kitchen. We’d discussed telling our parents about us tonight, but figured it wasn’t the most opportune time, and decided maybe we’d wait a few days to let everything settle. I didn’t think our parents would be shocked, to be honest. My mom hadn’t been subtle about her feelings on the matter of me and Rook ever being a couple. In her eyes, Rook had always been my soulmate. I was excited to tell her she’d had dibs on saying, “I told you so,” but it felt too big, too monumental, and I didn’t want to detract from today, from my dad and the gaping hole his absence had left behind. I hoped he knew somehow that Rook and I had taken this step together. He’d be happy for us, and I could picture all of the teasing he’d rain upon us for taking this damn long. It hurt to imagine it, but it was a happy feeling too.

“Have a seat,” Mom said, wielding that discerning gaze in my direction again.

I could feel her scrutiny as I sat on the couch beside her, Maribelle’s head popping up to stare at me too.

“How are you holding up?” she asked as Maribelle nuzzled her head under my mom’s hand.

“Well enough, you?”

She leaned back deeper into the overstuffed sofa cushion. “You know… I am. Today was tough, but it went well, I think.”

“Dad would have loved Roger’s story about the sailboat incident.”

Her smile was sad and soft. “He would have. I can’t believe those two never sank that damn boat.”

“Jameson and sailing do not mix.”

“Very true.” She eyed me, a curious smile forming on her lips.

“What?”

“Did you leave your tie at Rook’s?” she asked, the mischievous lilt to her tone hard to miss. I grabbed for my nonexistent tie, and she laughed. “Did you two find some time to let off a little steam while you let Maribelleget out herenergy?”

“Mom.” Blood rushed to my cheeks. “Don’t.”

She pressed her lips together and shooed her hand at me. “I’m not stupid. I just hope this means you two are done dancing around each other.”

I blamed this day as my eyes started to burn, and I blinked a few times to stop myself from getting teary. I was so sick of crying. At least these tears stemmed from a happy place. “Yeah… I think we are. We were going to tell you and his parents in a few days. We didn’t want to—”

“Steal Dad’s thunder?”

“Well… exactly.”

She patted my knee and leaned into me, resting her cheek against the side of my shoulder. “He would have been overjoyed to see you two finally pull your heads from your asses.”

“Mom,” I said and laughed when she snorted. “Are you sureyouweren’t stealing sips of Jameson today?”

“Nope. This is pure exhaustion, my love.” She lifted her head. “I’m happy for you.” She cupped my cheek. “I think it’s about time you got a taste of happiness.”

“Oh God, why is Luka crying again?” Nora asked as she walked into the living room.

Before I could answer, Rook walked in as well, with Carter and Ron behind him. “Looks like these two cleaned up everything,” he said as Ron tucked my sister under his arm and hugged her.

“You didn’t have to do that,” my mom admonished, but the relief in her smile gave her away.

---