Page 45 of Charming Crosschecks

Molly placed her hand on his cheek, offering a soft smile. “I can’t wait to get to know Aldonard,” she said gently.

“Thank you,” Gerry murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “This means a lot to me.”

“And you mean a lot to me,” she replied, her tone just as soft. “Besides, it’s just some casual hellos and dinner with family, right? We can talk privately later?”

“Absolutely,” he chuckled, the sound light and affectionate as his gaze lingered on her. “I see a pajama party behind closed doors later with my favorite girl. We’ll sneak around, steal a few kisses, and plot out our weekend.”

“Sounds good,” Molly said, feeling a little more grounded.

“Let me go check in with Mom,” Gerry said almost apologetically. “I’ll be back up soon. Remind me to show you the solarium. I love the flowers she keeps in there, and…”

“Solarium? Seriously?” Molly muttered, the word feeling as foreign as everything else in this house.

Gerry’s laugh rang out, warm and unguarded, easing the weight of her lingering apprehension. She couldn’t help but smile. No matter how overwhelming this place—or his family—felt, Gerry made it all seem manageable.

CHAPTER 14

THIERRY

“That’s her?”

Gerry chuckled nervously, shutting the door behind him as he cast a glance toward his mother, who was perched on the corner of her desk, her neatly crossed ankles swaying ever so slightly as she studied him. Her expression, a mix of apprehension and warmth, softened just a touch as she heard the uncertainty in his tone. “You didn’t tell me she was so petite and adorable.”

“You can be a little intimidating when you have the whole ‘I’m the boss’ persona going.

“She looks nice.”

A shy smile crept across Gerry’s face, his heart skipping a beat as he heard his mother say the words out loud. It felt surreal, hearing her speak about Molly like that. He knew he wasn’t the easiest person to love, but Molly had embraced him, all of him, scars and all.

“I love her, too,” he admitted, his voice soft but full of certainty. There was no hesitating this time, no doubt. The words came from somewhere deep inside, a place that knew without question that Molly was the one. He felt like he needed to convince his mother about his choices when she turned to sit down behind her desk. The minutes ticked by and it felt like forever, but he knew in his gut it was only seconds.

His mother’s expression shifted—more caution, more wariness. She didn’t answer him right away but instead stood up, the creak of her chair echoing in the room. She looked at him with an almost maternal seriousness, her hands resting on her hips as she moved toward him, her heels clicking against the polished floor.

“You’re young,” she said, her voice steady but laced with concern. “Don’t rush into things.” She paused, studying him, her eyes narrowing just slightly. “And stand still so I can look at you.”

“Mom…” Gerry’s voice cracked just a little, as if he hadn’t expected to feel the weight of her scrutiny again. Her eyes bore into him, as they always had. He felt like a child again, under the weight of her gaze, but he wasn’t a child anymore. He was a man who knew what he wanted—and what he wanted was Molly.

“Don’t ‘mom’ me, Gerard,” she interrupted with a sigh, her tone affectionate but firm. She stepped forward, walking around him with a quiet grace, her fingers grazing his shoulders as she circled him. Then, with a practiced flick of her hand, she tugged at his hair, a gesture that was both loving and exasperated. “I thought I told you to get that cut short?”

“I’m an adult,” Gerry said, his voice quiet but unshaken. His fingers curled into his palms, but he held his ground. “It’s hiding a nasty scar, remember? Besides, the fans love my long hair. They call me ‘Thor’ on the ice. It’s pretty flattering, actually.” He met her eyes, trying to gauge her reaction, but he could see the familiar glint in her gaze—the one that told him she wasn’t giving in just yet.

“Oh, forheaven’s sake,” she muttered, exasperation in her voice, though it was laced with fondness. She patted his cheek gently as if the small act could reassure both of them. “You look wonderful,” she said, her voice softening.

Gerry felt a warmth spread through him at her words, the tension in his shoulders loosening just a fraction. He hadn’t realized how much he’d needed her approval, how much he craved her acceptance. His smile widened, and he found himself stepping closer to her, his hand reaching out to grasp hers.

“I’m really and truly happy,” he confessed, his voice carrying a note of vulnerability he rarely showed. It wasn’t just the smile on his face—it was the certainty in his heart, the way everything felt right when he was with Molly.

His mother met his eyes, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then, she sighed, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “It shows,” she replied easily, her voice filled with both relief and a little sadness. “I’m hoping you are happy in your life and not putting all your happiness in that girl. People always tend to let you down and…”

She trailed off, her words laced with a quiet bitterness that Gerry had heard many times before. It wasn’t that she didn’t love him—she did. It was just that, sometimes, she couldn’t help but be cautious, wary of the way life could surprise them both.

“Mom,” Gerry said softly, pulling her hands away from his face where she had begun smoothing back his hair again as though trying to protect him from the weight of his choices. He held her hands in his, his grip firm yet gentle, a silent promise in the way his fingers wrapped around hers. “Mom, I’m an adult. I’m grown up. I’m not getting my hair cut, and I’m going to do what makes me happy, and…” He paused, searching her eyes for understanding, hoping she could see the truth in his words. “You should know that Molly makes me happy. She’s everything I need, everything I want. And I want you both to get along. She’s the woman I am choosing for my partner in this life, and I know, if you give her half a chance, you’ll love her.”

For a long moment, there was nothing but the sound of their breathing, the silence thick with unspoken emotions. Then, finally, his mother let out a soft sigh, a resigned acceptance in her gaze. “We’ll see,” she murmured, but the hardness had softened, and that was enough for Gerry. He knew it would take time, but he was willing to give it.

His mother would have to welcome Molly into her life – whether she liked it or not. He couldn’t imagine a scenario where he'd have to choose between the two of them, but if it came to that, he knew where his heart would lie. It would shatter him to be torn between the woman who gave him life and the one who gave his life meaning.

Molly wasn’t just someone he loved; she was the heartbeat of his world, the constant warmth that kept the cold at bay. She was his light, the radiance that pierced through the darkest moments. She was his joy, the laughter he could count on in the loneliest days. She was his happiness, the reason he smiled even when life tried to drag him down. And most importantly, she was his rock, the unwavering strength he leaned on when everything else felt fragile.

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