Page 29 of Flirt Away

Nothing like being put on the spot. But there was no point in lying. “Yes. I do.”

“Good. That’s good.” Anita’s smile faded. “I’m sorry you have some struggles with your mother. I never had a daughter; I understand those relationships can be difficult. Whatever the issues, don’t forget you’re making an effort. You’re the one putting yourself out there. But the only person you ever have to please is yourself.” She pointed toward Zane and his father, strolling down the corridor in their direction. “Even the men we love don’t get to tell us how to feel or who and what we should be. A good man will stand by and support you and help you through anything. And so would a good mother. I know. I shouldn’t judge. And this isn’t my place. But I heard what she said to you when my sister brought over all those snacks.”

“Oh. I see.” A twinge of shame tickled Dixie’s heart. But she wasn’t sure if it was because she was embarrassed by her mother’s behavior.

Or because she was still struggling to accept that some people honestly didn’t see her as a heavy person.

Only as a person.

“I don’t know your mother. And I’d like to believe that all parents do things because they think it’s what’s best for their children.” Anita shook her head. “I’ve certainly said some stupid things to my boys over the years.” A single tear rolled down her cheek. “When Zane struggled with his sexuality and dated a man—”

“He dated a man?”

Anita gasped, covering her mouth. “Oh, no. Me and my big mouth. Is that going to be a problem for you?”

“No. I don’t judge. I work with a lot of bisexual couples. It’s all part of my job. He just didn’t tell me.”

“Zane is such a private man. Getting him to tell us anything about you was like pulling teeth at first. But you're all he talks about in the last couple of weeks. It’s Dixie this and Dixie that. So, I figured he might have told you about that time in his life.”

“We’re still getting to know each other. And he did mention before we got the call about Gayle that he needed to tell me something about his past.”

Anita closed her eyes. “He will never forgive me for telling you.”

“He’ll never know you brought it up.”

“Thank you.” Anita squeezed Dixie’s hands before she stood and made her way across the room to her husband.

Dixie pushed back her chair. Suddenly, strong arms surrounded her body and she felt a kiss on her neck. “You and my mom are hitting it off,” Zane said.

“She’s a lovely person.”

“The best.”

Dixie turned, rested her head on his shoulder, and squeezed her eyes tight.

“Hey. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“I call bullshit.” He took her chin between his thumb and forefinger and tilted her head. “Your eyes are wet with tears.”

“It’s been an emotional hour.”

“You let your mother get to you. She said something, didn’t she?”

“She means well.” Dixie rose on tiptoe and pressed her lips against his in a tender kiss. He’d become her entire world, and in only two short months. “I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you, too.”

His brother stepped into the waiting room, raking his hand through his hair. He plopped himself down on one of the chairs. “I can’t do this,” he said. “I can’t keep holding her and telling her that it’s going to be okay when I don’t even know what’s going on with my wife.” He ran his hands over his face. “Have we heard anything?”

“My mother was going to try and scrub in,” Dixie said. “That was about fifteen minutes ago.”

“Thanks.” Xavier nodded. “I appreciate it.”

Anita sat down on one side of Xavier while Candor, Zane’s father, made himself comfortable on the other side, looping his arm around his eldest son’s shoulders.

Dixie’s mother burst into the center of the waiting room with dramatic flair, pulling off her mask. “I have good news.”

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