Page 64 of Operation Annulment
“Hello, Kate. Welcome to our home. I’m Beverly, but everyone calls me Bev. Or if you’re comfortable with it, call me Mom.” Nate’s mother pulls me into a crushing hug.
I give him a questioning glance, and he shakes his head. He hasn’t told his family we’re married yet, but his mother hugged me like she already knew.
“Mom, let her breathe.”
She releases me and grabs hold of him. “Nathaniel, you smart ass. She’s fine.”
She glances at me and then lowers her voice into a mock whisper. “And she’s gorgeous. You failed to mention that.”
He turns and looks at me. “Is she? I hadn’t noticed.”
She pops him on the arm, and I smile. I think I’m going to get along with her just fine.
“Aunt Katy! Aunt Katy!” Daniel runs in, holding a piece of paper in his little hands.
I kneel down to his level. “What do you have here?”
It looks like two aliens floating beside a house.
He proudly points to it. “See! It’s you and me. And that’s the table with basketti on it. Just like how you made it for me.”
I smooth his unruly hair. “It looks just like us. Where’s that crazy dad of yours?”
He pulls back and turns serious. “He’s on the phone with my mama. She keeps taking off to god-knows-where, and there’s not a damn thing he can do about it.”
I instinctively cover his mouth, and he giggles. “Oh, we shouldn’t say that word. Um…”
Beverly leans down. “Daniel? What did Grams say about grown-up words?”
He looks down at his shoes. “We shouldn’t say them until we’re in college and ignore Daddy and Uncle Nate because they’re bad influences.”
She kisses his head. “That’s right. Now run on and tell Poppa that you need a snack before we have Thanksgiving dinner. Nathaniel, are you going to show Kate the property? There’s a lot to see, and we’ve got a little bit of time before dinner.”
Nate rubs at the scruff on his face. “Yeah. Can we take the Gator?”
She tosses him the keys. “Just promise you’ll wear the helmets.”
He laughs easily. “Mother, I’m a doctor. I know how important helmets are.”
My boots crunch over the fallen leaves as we make our way out to the barn. His parents live on an enormous section of land with mature trees surrounding the house. It’s only about a half-hour outside Lubbock, but it doesn’t feel like a desert out here.
Nate pulls the helmets from the back of the little vehicle. “You ready for a ride, Katy girl?”
I lick my dry lips and nod.
I do want a ride… desperately.
Has it been sixty days yet?
He brushes my hair back off my face and helps me put the helmet on, even taking the time to fasten the strap under my chin.
The cool breeze catches his cologne, and I fight the urge to clench my thighs together.
Keep it together, Kate.
We climb in and buckle before Nate takes off down a narrow path near the barn. The little vehicle easily navigates the steep drops and shifts in the terrain.
It’s exhilarating.
