Page 141 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
It took me a long time to break whatever spell kept me from seeing Jocelyn for who she was. Our relationship wasn’t all bad, not until the end. But even when things were good, she still held all the cards. She had an idea in her head about how our life was supposed to look and didn’t want to give me an inch. It was her vision, or no vision. Needless to say, I chose the latter option.
“Not anymore,” Mom says knowingly. “Maybe you ought to go to the reunion to show her just that. That you’re absolutely fine without her.”
“Or I could justbeabsolutely fine without her. Reunion not required.”
Momtsks.“That’s probably the more mature thing to do, but I sure do love the idea of someone giving that woman what for.”
I chuckle. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Dad comes into the kitchen, his empty plate in hand, and mom hurries to take it from him. He still isn’t as steady on his feet as he used to be. “Let me grab my jacket,” Dad says to me before disappearing down the hallway.
“How are things with your new assistant?”
“Good. She’s good. Great, even. She’s helping me a lot.”
“And it’s all virtual? I swear, you young people and your technology.”
“Mostly virtual, but she’s actually here today. Working in person.”
“Really? Olivia mentioned she was someone local. An older lady, right?”
Here, I need to tread carefully. If Mom already picked up on the Jocelyn vibes, she’ll for sure pick up on whatever I’m feeling—starting to feel?—for Lila. “Um, no, actually. She’s younger than me.”
“Is that so?” She’s trying so hard to play it cool, but I can practically see the questions buzzing around in her brain. “Is she married?” she finally asks.
“Not a relevant question, Mom.”
She huffs. “Of course it’s relevant. You never leave the farm, Perry. How will you ever meet anyone? The fact that a woman is coming here? Come on. You can’t blame me for asking.”
It’s only a matter of time before one of my brothers—probably Lennox—mentions to Mom that Lila is very single, and I’m veryinterested. Better to let her find out that way than tell her right now. If she knew, she’d be over at the farmhouse in a minute, doing her own recon work.
“Ready,” Dad says, stopping in the kitchen doorway.
I lean down to kiss Mom’s cheek. “Bye, Mom.”
“Child, we aren’t finished with this conversation.”
I look back over my shoulder, imagining for a split second how Mom and Dad would respond to becoming instant grandparents to a kid like Jack. I’m getting ahead of myself.So far ahead.But it still feels good to know that if it ever came down to it, they’d embrace him as their own without a second thought.
As Dad and I drive over to the warehouse, it occurs to me that it wouldn’t just be Mom and Dad becoming instant grandparents. I would also become an instantdad.
It’s not like I haven’t known about Jack from the very beginning. I have. But thinking of Jack asLila’sson is very different from thinking about him asmyson. But he would be, wouldn’t he? My stepson, at least. Or mystairson.Jack’s misspoken word flits through my brain, and I smile.
Smiles or not, it feels ridiculous to even be asking myself these questions when I still have no idea if Lila is even interested. Then again, it’s not like the presence of a kid in her life is this changeable factor. Like a job or a living situation. Lila is a mom. She’s always going to be a mom.
How do Inotthink about that?
It would be ridiculous—irresponsible—not to.
I sigh and try and swallow down the doubts rising like bile in my throat.
It’s just lunch.
Just a woman.
Just a woman with akid.
A woman with a kid whose real dad was a military hero.
