Page 91 of Honey Undone
“I know that tray is up there!” She swatted my hand away but got off the stool. “The one with the blue jays that your grandmother gave me.”
“It’s not up there.” I shook my head, sliding the stool back against the counter.
“Why isn’t it up there?” She eyed me.
“Dad broke it last summer while you were in Greece and claimed you’d never find out because you don’t use it.” I shrugged.
“Unfortunately for you and your father, I use it when we have company,” Mom sighed and looked over at Adeline.
“Right…” I grimaced and turned to her. “Mom, this is Adeline,” I said.
“You’re prettier than he gives you credit for,” she winked at Adeline, who laughed and gave me a death glare.
“At least he talked to you about me, I’ve been in the dark…” she said, still staring at me.
“Quit stirring the pot.” I smirked at Mom with a shake of my head.
“Oh I raised you better,” Mom scolded, but there was no malice in her voice. “Keep it up, and you and Dad can get crackers for dinner while Adeline and I enjoy the risotto and lamb.”
“You made the lamb?” I stepped forward, and Mom stared me down.
“Not for rude little men without manners,” she said.
“Who conspire with their fathers over broken plates,” Adeline teased.
“It was a beautiful plate,” Mom sighed.
“Can you two not team up on me? It's been two minutes,” I asked, completely defeated but the color had returned to Adeline’s face.
“You broke my plate,” Mom smiled as her phone rang.
“I’ll find you another one,” I said softer.
“Watch that pot,” she said, pointing behind her. “Excuse me, Adeline.”
“See, not so scary,” I whispered, grabbing the side of her head and pulling her temple to my lips. “Unless you break one of her favorite plates.”
“Right,” Adeline purred. “Is this where you grew up?”
“Kinda,” I said, looking around the kitchen. “We travelled a lot growing up. Once Mom’s business went international, she was needed all over the place to oversee construction and openings.”
“She’s a big deal,” Adeline noted.
“She is, but not in this house. In here she’s just mom.” I said, it was a rule made a long time ago that when Mom was home, she was Mom. Nothing else. She had been putting me first my entire life, and it wasn’t until lately that I realized how selfless she was. She had struggled and crawled her way out of the dirt, having a baby so young should have crippled her but she was smarter and more innovative than anyone gave her credit for.
It’s why I was given every opportunity, why I always said yes. Because I had been raised by someone who never told me or anyone else for that matter, the word no.
“Canada, Greece, Japan, Spain and France,” I listed them off for her and she gently shook her head in disbelief. I followed her as she started to explore the house. The walls were decorated with treasures from our travels and pictures of us against monuments and in museums.
“Were you ever in school?” Adeline asked in amazement.
“I was homeschooled for a while, but Mom wanted me to have some socialization other than rich businessmen and my dad,” I said, pointing to a photo of her opening one of the hotels in France. “We spent the longest time in France. It was her first hotel from the ground up. Two years,” I explained.
“Explains why you can speak it,” Adeline grinned ear to ear as she took it all in. We stopped at a door on the end of the hallway with a do not enter sign on the first of it. Without a second thought, Adeline popped the doorknob.
“Wow, yeah just ignore the sign.” I gasped as she wandered into my room.
“Holy crap,” she said, ignoring my jab as she took in the shelves of trophies. “It’s like a shrine in here, did you win all of these?” She stepped forward and pulled down one of the ones I got in sixth grade. “Dance?”
