Page 25 of Reckless

“All the time,” I said. “That’s why she acted so weird in Boston. She’s scared she won’t bond with the baby, just like Sylvia didn’t bond with her.”

“Bullshit,” he snorted.

“I agree.”

We looked at each other for a few seconds, then a loud knock on Tyler’s window startled me.

Sylvia Hartley was standing next to the car in her designer outfit. Her hair looked like she had just gotten out of a beauty salon. She wore a pearl white dress that covered her knees. I knew she wore high heels before I even got out of the car. She moved pass Tyler and came to kiss me, but she kissed the air around my cheeks.

“Hannah, sweetie. It’s so good to see you.”

“Good to see you too, Mrs. Hartley.” She examined my face with narrowed eyes.

“You look tired. You should sleep more, or you are going to look like a fifty-year-old in your mid-thirties.” Her snarky comment made me feel nostalgic. She hadn’t changed, even though she and Clem were in a better place right now. “Would you like to come in? I saw you two sitting in the car. I figured Tyler with his bad manners wouldn’t invite you in.”

I shot a look at Tyler who was standing behind her. He rolled his whole head along with his eyes. I grinned.

“Thank you, Mrs. Hartley, but I have to go home. I haven’t seen my parents yet. I just came to drop Tyler off.”

“Oh, yes. Your mother must be so excited that you are coming home. Although I have to tell you, I ran into her a few days ago and she was disappointed you weren’t bringing your boyfriend along.” She made a judgmental face.

“Nick is very busy.”

“All doctors are, honey. But he will be here for the wedding, right?”

“Yeah,” I answered even though I had no idea. No one knew when the wedding would take place. How could I invite him?

“Great! I can’t wait to meet him.”

I glanced between her and her son. She still hadn’t acknowledged his presence.

“I really have to go.” I pointed at the car and looked at Tyler. “Have fun on the camping trip.”

“Don’t remind me.”

I got inside the car and shot another look at the two of them through the window. Sylvia continued to ignore her son.

What the hell?

She waved me goodbye while I passed them by. When I looked in the back mirror, I saw her turning to face him. They shared a brief hug, then she walked over to the house. Tyler hesitated. He turned his head in my direction one more time before he followed her inside.

***

Dinner in my house was a thing. My father, the infamous Harry Spencer, always brought work home, but he put it aside every night for exactly one hour to have dinner with his family.

“Tell us about Nick,” my mom said while they ate. I was mostly poking at my food. I ate too much pizza at Clem’s. “How are things going between you two?”

“Good.” I nodded. “We are both preoccupied with work, so we don’t see each other that much.”

Disappointment twisted her face. She wanted something juicier than that.

“And how is work going?” Dad asked. Not that he didn’t care who I was dating, but he wasn’t particularly interested in the matters of the heart.

“Great. I love it,” I said with a lot more passion then when I answered my mother’s question about my relationship with Nick. “I’m still learning, but it’s definitely my thing.”

Being a life coach soothed my soul. It made me feel I was making a difference in people’s lives. I loved being a part of their transformation, watch them bloom into something they never knew they could become.

Technically I was still in training, but my boss trusted me with a few new clients. There was always someone more experienced in the room, to intervene if need be, but I was the leading coach.

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