Page 55 of Mac
"Mom, knock it off.You're being rude."
"People like him don't know how to be nice."Mom waved a hand in Mac's direction.
"Actually, he's never been anything but polite to me."Dave thankfully didn't mention being held at gunpoint the night before.
"You've met him?How long has she been hiding him from us?"Mom turned back to Elyse."That you had to hide him just proves you knew he's not good enough for you."
"Mom, enough!"Dave was apparently fed up with their mother's behavior too."If you can't be nice, you can go home.This is Elyse's house and if you can't be nice to her, or her guest, then you can just as well get out.I'll come see you tomorrow while she's at work."
"Well I never!"She stood."I thought I raised my children better than to throw me out while keeping trash like that around."She tilted her head toward Mac as she passed him in a huff."Now I see why you haven't been coming around as much.This will break your father's heart."
"No, Mom.I haven't been coming around because I've been working my ass off.I've worked until I had a migraine that lasted three days, making me call in."Elyse finally found her tongue and she wasn't going to let her mother run Mac off.Not if she could help it."As for Dad, Mac won't break his heart.Dad will be happy I've got someone who makes me happy, no matter where I met him or what he looks like.All Dad will care about is that he treats me like gold and takes care of me."Elyse followed her mother through the living room and opened the door for her."Unlike you, Dad's more concerned with our welfare and happiness than what everyone on the block or in town will think."Elyse waited until her mother was on the front porch then gently closed the front door, leaving her mother on the step.Not slamming it took effort but made her point so much more eloquently.
"I'm sorry.I didn't know she would do that," Dave said from the kitchen doorway.
"I can go."Mac stood between Elyse and Dave, his hands in his pockets as if not sure what he should do or where he should go.
"No.Stay.I'd rather see you, talk to you, spend even ten minutes with you than deal with another minute of her nastiness and judgement."Elyse went to him and pressed her forehead to his chest for a moment, just breathing in his scent and wishing things had gone differently.
"Dinner's ready," Dave called from the kitchen.
Elyse looked up to find her brother had disappeared from the doorway.
"I'm sorry," she murmured up at Mac."I didn't know she was going to act like that.She's always been judgmental, but this was over the top, even for her."
"No worries,a thasgaidh,I've dealt with worse."He kissed her, and this time not a light peck on the forehead.This was the kiss she'd wished for earlier, one where she lost herself in the feel of him, the taste of him, even if just for a few seconds.When he pulled away, he stood, staring down at her for a moment."Feel better?"
"Yeah but I'd be even better if my mother wasn't so insufferable."She smiled and tugged him with her as she headed into the kitchen."Damn.I forgot there's only two chairs and three of us."
"I didn't.We can grab one of the chairs off the back porch or you can sit on my lap again," Mac said behind her.
Dave set three plates of pasta onto the table and without another word, disappeared through the back door, only to reappear a few moments later carrying one of the porch chairs.
"Here."He set the chair at the table with the others."Mom was all I can deal with now, I can't take the two of you all over each other."He grabbed a plate of garlic bread from the counter and put it on the table before sitting."Dig in."
Elyse glanced at Mac then sat in the chair from outside, giving Mac the other.
"I'd like to apologize for our mother.She's always been..."Dave paused, "challenging."
"A pain in the ass."Elyse spoke as her brother finished.
"I wouldn't go that far."He shot her a reproachful look.
"Of course, you wouldn't.Partly because you're too polite, partly because she's different with the boys.Ask Bailey, see what she says."
Dave watched her a moment as he continued eating."I've never seen her like this.It was weird.She's never been so aggressively nasty before."
"To you.Wait, it still wasn't to you, but she's never done it in front of you either, has she?"
Dave shook his head."That's why it took me so long to react.I was genuinely shocked by the amount of venom she was spewing at you."He set down his fork and watched her more intently."Is she always like that?"
"Not always, but often enough."She wanted to say more.She wanted to tell him about other incidents, other horrifying things Mom had said or done but she was trying hard not to be as bitter and narrow minded as their parent.Just the one parent.Dad was nothing like what they'd just seen from Mom.They were so different Elyse had wondered how Dad had put up with, had stayed with, Mom for all these years.
She was ready to put Mom's visit behind them.Turning to Mac she reached out and laid one hand on his arm."How long till you have to leave?You said something about a meeting?"
"I do have a meeting at the clubhouse tonight, but I don't have to leave for almost two hours."
"Good."Elyse left her hand on his forearm and shifted slightly as she continued to eat.When her knee brushed against his, she stopped.That felt nice.It was nothing big, nothing overt, but the solid warmth of his knee against hers was reassuring.
