Page 70 of The C Agreement

“Yeah, she’s just on her way down. Come in. Sit.”

As far as stepdads went, I got a good one. Bernie’s first wife had died about five or so years before he met my mom. He had two daughters, who had also been out of the house when he started dating my mom, but the daughters fully supported their relationship. I didn’t know either of my stepsisters very well, but we got along. I really had lucked out. Yet, sometimes, I missed it just being Mom and me even though I didn’t live at home any longer.

“Cade,” my mother said just as I took a seat on the couch.

I stood and gave her a hug. “Hey, Mom.”

“I’ve missed my boy,” she said, smiling. “What brings you here?”

“I haven’t seen you in a while, and I was free tonight.”

“My baby doesn’t have a hot date?” she teased.

I rolled my eyes. “Mom, I’m not your baby anymore. And, no, no hot date.”

“You’ll always be my baby,” she said, squeezing my cheeks.

It was then that I really looked at my mother and Bernie. They weren’t dressed up, but they definitely weren’t wearing clothes that said they were staying at home for the night. They both smelled good, and my mom had jewelry and makeup on.

Immediate disappointment hit me, but I tried not to show it.

“Oh, hey, were you two going out?”

“We’re meeting some friends for dinner,” Bernie said.

“Oh shit—”

“Cade Thomas.”

“I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

My mother stared at me with her lips pursed.

“And I’m sorry for swearing.”

She patted my chest. “It’s fine. We were just about to walk out the door. Do you want to come with us?”

Waving my hands back and forth, I said, “No, no, no. I’m not tagging along. You two go and have fun.”

Mom looked sad, and I didn’t think it was because I wasn’t going with. Just what I needed. My middle-aged mother feeling sorry for me because she had something planned tonight and I didn’t.

“We’ll get together sometime soon?” Hope filled her eyes.

“Of course. Let me know what works for you.”

“How about dinner next Sunday?” She fisted her hands. “Oh shoot. I can’t do that day. I have my group. How about the following Sunday?”

That would be my last weekend with Rayne. No, my lastnightbecause it would be one month that following Monday. But I felt bad, saying no. And it was only dinner. I’d have the rest of the night to spend naked with Rayne.

“Sure. Let’s plan on dinner.”

She beamed. “I’ll cook your favorite.”

With a smile, I patted my stomach. “You don’t have to, but I always appreciate it.”

After giving her a hug and telling her I loved her, I quickly left, so I didn’t keep the two of them any longer.

A tightness hit my chest, and I rubbed the area as I started my vehicle. I was happy that my mom had found someone to spend her golden years with. For the first time, I wondered if she had gotten lonely after I moved out. While she’d spent a lot of time raising me, I remembered her having friends while I was growing up. I hadn’t been her sole focus, nor had she ever treated me as some weird replacement for a spouse, like some single parents did. But I had to consider if all those years she’d spent alone, even if she was content with life, was because she didn’t want to date with me at home.

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