Page 74 of Sawyer
He handed her his handkerchief. “Yeah. I get a little choked up too when I think about them. You should have seen Madison talking about her cleaver. I’ve never believed in violence, but somehow it’s assuring. I know she’d never use it, but it’s like she’s a knight who’s ready to defend me. I kinda love it. And last night, Phoebe told me she’d break some kneecaps too if my mother ever crossed her path. That’s one of the reasons I love her. She’s got my back too.”
Thea wiped her tears and smiled at him. His hair was a wild mass of curls tangled by the wind. “I’ve got your back too, Sawyer.”
Suddenly she was hugging him, the lingering smells of last night’s dinner service all around them in the quiet.
“And I’ve got yours, little sister.”
The embrace filled her heart. God, she was so lucky to have found these beautiful people. It felt like the Universe had led her to this special city and given her everything she wanted. She planned to hold on to that. Someday she would put the past completely behind her. Jean Luc liked to saypetit á petit.Little by little. Indeed.
Sawyer was smiling when he released her. “Now, where is that cinnamon? We have a holiday party to get back to.”
“You’re darn right we do.” She was grinning as she went to the spice cabinet where she knew she had two extra bottles of cinnamon for her breadmaking.
The chandelier gave a harsh jangle moments before a loud bang sounded on the back door. She jolted.
“Sawyer Jing Jackson!” a woman shouted. “You open this door. Right now. I saw you go inside.”
Sawyer paled. “Holy shit. That’s my mother. I thought we were in the clear.”
Panic had her heart drumming hard in her chest. “Me too! You weren’t kidding about her being relentless. Sawyer, I’m so sorry.”
He was grim. “It’s not your fault. It was a futile hope to think my text would make her back down.”
The banging sounded again, and that harsh sound had Thea reaching deep for something she’d been finding more and more of inside herself. Courage. “You stay here. I’m taking care of it.”
Her own calm astounded her. Sawyer even blinked at her for a moment. She only smiled.
Suddenly she felt like she’d received yet another gift to the recipe that was her delicious life.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE
Thea’s smile and complete confidence had him pausing before he could cut her off.
The paranoid part of him had known it was possible his mother would be casing out the restaurant despite its closure, and he’d gone along, determined Thea wouldn’t be alone in case of a confrontation. He’d been ready to face his mother. Resigned to it even.
But here was little sister stepping forward and turning into what Phoebe and Madison and Brooke were already. A knight. Or perhaps a Valkyrie.
“Thea—” he called. “Are you sure about this?”
“I’ve got this, Sawyer.”
He watched as she firmed her shoulders and stalked to the door. Well, he could let this go on for a moment before he stepped in. Because he had to face his mother—and his father if he were there. He rather doubted it since his father wouldn’t have cared enough to waste the time.
The chandelier gave a resounding clang as Thea opened the door, followed by the terrifying voice of his nightmares crying out instantly, “I’m here to see my son. Move out of the way.”
When his mother tried to shove past her, Thea stretched her arms out in the doorway like she was playing London Bridge back home. “No way you’re seeing Sawyer. Not on my watch. Especially after the way you’ve treated him.”
“Treated him?”His mother’s tone turned hard. “I’m his mother. Now get the fuck out of my way.”
Sawyer’s heart pounded in his ears as he watched Thea lock her body in place. “No! I’m not letting you talk to him. You’re mean and you’re a bully, and if you don’t leave right now, I’m going to call the police on you. You’re lucky Madison didn’t do it yesterday.”
He winced, imagining how that threat went over. He took a few steps forward until he was behind Thea, but his mother was so enraged, she didn’t see him. She pressed her fingernail into Thea’s coat, leaning forward, her menace as strong the first flames in an oil fire. “Call the police on me? Who do you think you are? I’m his mother!”
“Okay, that’s enough,” he called, bringing her gaze immediately to him.
“You don’t act like a mother,” Thea only countered, her entire body shaking as he put his hand to her back. “Now go away and don’t come back. He doesn’t want to see you.”
