Page 93 of Marry Me, Maybe?
It would take work, money, and patience to build a home, but I had all three. Hudson and Ivy deserved a good home.
By the time I pulled up to the ranch, the sun had shifted in the sky, casting long shadows across the fence posts. I cut the engine and climbed out, brushing dust off my jeans. I wouldn’t have much time to talk to Dad before I had to head back to Hudson’s to watch Ivy while he went to the clinic.
I’d told him he didn’t have to, since I believed him that he hadn’t slept with anyone else, but he’d insisted. Said he wanted no doubt in my mind. So I’d shown him my latest results too, which I’d done after breaking things off with Todd. It was only fair.
I was halfway to the porch when a slender figure descended the steps.
My mother.
She smiled like it meant something. Like she had any right to smile at me after ruining my life.
“Matty, darling, I was hoping to catch you before I left.” She tucked a curl behind her ear. “Didn’t want to leave town without seeing you.”
I stopped at the foot of the porch steps, arms crossed, jaw tight. “When did you get here?”
“A couple of hours ago.”
“What are you doing here?” The last time she’d been with Carter, they’d been horrible to Ozzie and Dad. Fuck. Just like I had been to Ozzie. I really owed him an apology.
Her smile faltered. “Matty, this is my home too. Regardless of who’s living under this roof, I’ve got as much right to come here whenever I want.”
“You remember that? Because before this thing with Carter and Ozzie, you only recognized Denver as home.”
“Honey, where’s all this hostility coming from?”
“You know what you did.”
She blinked. “I-I don’t understand.”
“We need to talk.”
“I thought we were talking.”
“Inside.” We’d given the ranch hands too much gossip to bring into the town lately.
She followed me inside, her heels mute against the carpeted floor. The screen door creaked shut behind her.
I turned to face her. “Why did you do it?”
“Do what?” She looked confused again, like she was trying to read my mind. “If this is about Carter using Ozzie to get his inheritance, I had no idea?—”
“What?” I stared at her. “That’s not what I’m talking about.”
She hesitated. “Then?—”
“I’m talking about you interfering in my life four years ago. About you threatening Hudson into breaking up with me.”
She opened her mouth, closed it again.
I stepped closer, fists clenched at my sides. “Did you think I’d never find out?”
“I… He told you?”
“He showed me everything, Mom. What right did you have to interfere in my life like that?”
“It was for your own good.”
“I’m twenty-three years old. That excuse does not fly anymore, so try again.”
