by Lisa Olsen
“Oh, you should definitely come next summer!” my mother gushed happily even as I cringed inside. “You can stay with me and Marie on your way down and we’ll have a good long visit! Of course, we only have the two bedrooms now, so you might actually be more comfortable in a motel… and you’ll want to let us know ahead of time so we can make sure it’s a good time… and come to think of it, next summer I was thinking about going to visit my old friend Claudia in Bend, but we’d love to have you if you can work the timing out right.”
“We’ll see what we can do, Mom,” I smiled tightly, well used to her excuses. “I think we’d better let Adam get going though, I know he did have some other plans for the night. Didn’t you, honey?” I nodded until he started nodding too.
“Yeah, I really should scoot before I end up staying the whole night and we wouldn’t want that, would we, Mrs. R?” he grinned, rising to his feet.
“Oh, so soon? I’m looking forward to a nice long visit with the two of you while I’m here. Now give me a hug, we’re practically family now.”
Parker gave her the requested hug, patting her back a little awkwardly while I tried to figure out what had her thinking he was almost a part of the family. The last email mentioned I was thinking of moving in with Adam, nothing more.
“Thanks again for coming out here, honey. I’ll be right back, Mom, I’m gonna walk him out.” Practically dragging him to the door, I was about to demand he tell me what they’d talked about, but instead, he pulled me out into the hallway outside, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper.
“You’re moving in with him?”
“She said that?” I blinked. “I told her I was thinking about it, yes. Why? What did you tell her?”
“I smoothed it over when she mentioned it, but you could have warned me.”
“There wasn’t time, I wasn’t expecting her to show up here, you know. What’s the big deal?”
“She wanted to know if we’re getting married, because she doesn’t want her daughter living in sin.”
“Oh great…” Adam was gonna love that. “What did you say to that?”
“I told her I was going to propose very soon,” he waved that away as if it was unimportant. “Are you really going to move in with him?”
“I’m seriously considering it. Why?”
“Don’t you think it’s a bit soon?”
“No, I don’t. I’m a little more concerned about you telling her we’re getting married. What am I supposed to do when Adam doesn’t actually ask me to marry him?”
“Considering that she thinks I’m Adam, that shouldn’t be such a big shock when it doesn’t work out.”
“You think it’s not going to work out between Adam and me?” I raised my brows at him expectantly, and Parker let out a long breath.
“I think… given his track record, it’s only a matter of time before he disappoints you again, that’s all I’m saying.”
“He hasn’t…” I pressed my lips together to keep from raising my voice. It was pointless to argue Adam’s finer qualities with a man who may or may not still have some sort of feelings for me. Besides, my mother was waiting. “I should really get back before she wonders what we’re doing out here. Thanks again for keeping my mother entertained. That was really going above and beyond the call of duty.”
“It was no problem, she’s great. A little bit of a handful, but then so are you,” he smirked.
“Funny.”
“Hey, at least she cares about you, that much is obvious.” There was a wistful tone to his voice, and I was reminded that he hadn’t had much in the way of family interaction for a long, long time.
“I know, she’s just… better in small doses, that’s all.”
“What about your dad? I got the feeling he’s not in the picture anymore.”
“Not really something I want to get into right now,” I offered a tight smile. That was a subject I didn’t open up to many on, even if I did trust Parker. “Listen, thanks for doing this, I really appreciate it. I’ll see you tomorrow at work, okay?”
“Alright. Oh, and I think I mentioned something about being best man at your brother’s wedding, so…”
“Anything else I should know?”
“I might have given the impression I want a large family. Four, maybe five kids,” he grinned and I shook my head with a snort.
“I’ll keep that in mind. Goodnight, Parker.”
“Later, Merce. Let me know if you need any more help with her. You know, this probably qualifies as one of the longest relationships I’ve ever had?”
“Goodnight,” I shoved at his shoulder playfully, returning to my mother with a smile still on my lips.
*
“I can tell how much you love him.”
“Hmmm?” I plopped down at the end of the couch, “Oh, you mean Adam? I wouldn’t move in with him if I didn’t love him.”
“He loves you too, that’s easy to see. You know, a little birdie told me he’s going to pop the question before too long.”
“A little birdie… like Adam?”
“Maybe,” she giggled like a teenager, and I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes. “Isn’t that exciting Merceline? Just think, you and Matty both will be married soon and I’ll have grandbabies and…”
“Whoa, slow down there, Mom. Don’t count your grandchildren before they’re hatched. One thing at a time.” At this rate she’d have me barefoot and pregnant by the end of the year.
“Adam told me he likes children, it’s a shame more people don’t have big families anymore, don’t you think?”
I couldn’t help but think about my Adam, and how unlikely an event that was to be. “I’m not ready to have kids for a while,” I said quietly, not quite sure who I was trying to convince more. “I don’t even know if I’ll ever have kids.” I might have said more, but Adam strolled in from the bedroom, momentarily distracting me.
“Don’t be silly, of course you’ll have children,” my mother gabbled on happily, oblivious to his arrival.
“We should get you set up in the bedroom.” I tried a change in subject, but she wasn’t so eager to let go of it.
“No, I can sleep out here on the sofa, you take the bedroom, baby,” the offer was made, but she waited expectantly for me to counter it, I could see it in her face.
“Don’t be silly, Mom. You take the bed, it’s much more comfortable.”
“I don’t mind taking the sofa, Lord knows I’ve slept on my share of sofas in my lifetime. But maybe you’re right, it would be better if I took the bed, with my back and all.”
Dutifully, I inquired politely about her back, and she launched into a detailed account of the trouble she’d had over the past year, culminating in a lack of care when her health insurance ran out. I tried my best to keep an interested look on my face, but it was hard with Adam in the background making snide comments. “But listen to me go on about myself. What were we talking about before? You said something about never having children. You’re not afraid are you?”
“She doesn’t know you very well, does she?” Adam smirked, and I resisted the urge to smile.
“Afraid? No, I’m just not in that headspace right now. Things are finally settling down and I want to enjoy some alone time with Adam. Talking about anything more right now is premature.”
“Plus, there’s the whole Angel of Death angle,” Adam added.
“I want you to be happy. Isn’t it natural I should want that to blossom into a family?” My mother opened the photo album to a picture of me as a baby.
“Wow, you really were a chunky little kid, look at those cheeks.”
“It’s called baby fat for a reason…” I muttered, biting my bottom lip as I mentally swore for responding to Adam’s dig out loud.
“Of course it is, and you were a perfect baby,” my mother smiled. “It’s easy to see how happy you are with Adam, and he’s so kind and charming. I bet he’d make a wonderful father.”
Adam didn’t have a witty reply for that. He glowered to himsel
f quietly in the corner and I wasn’t sure if that was because he didn’t like the idea of becoming a father himself, or the idea that my mom thought Parker was kind and charming.
“Let’s just say… I’m not sure it’s a good time to even think about having kids. My life is too up and down.”
“Your life changes when you have children, you’ll adjust, I did. You have to put your children first and things will stabilize, you’ll see.”
“Yeah, and we had such a stable home growing up,” I muttered sourly, wishing I could take it back the instant the words were out of my mouth from the look on my mother’s face.
“I did the best I could…”
“No, I know you did, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. But you have to admit, I did not have a normal childhood by usual standards.”
“Your father meant well, he…”
“I don’t want to talk about him.”
“Merceline, it’s been fifteen years, don’t you think you’ve held a grudge long enough?”
“Sixteen, but who’s counting.”
“Why are you so ticked about your father anyway? Is it because of that thing with the beach?” Adam’s brows knit together, but I studiously ignored him. Why was everyone so keen to talk about him? I’d done my level best to forget I even had a father for longer than I’d lived with him.
“The thing about your father is…”
I interrupted her, standing up. “Nope, we’re done talking about him.”
“Merceline, he’s the only father you’ve got.”
“I’ll make sure there are clean sheets on the bed for you, and I’ll take the pull out couch out here. Tomorrow we can set you up at a nice motel because this isn’t the best neighborhood.”
“I thought I was going to stay with you.”
“I think a motel would be better, don’t you? My place is kinda crowded, and I keep odd hours with work.”
“Are you still working in that bar?”
I bit back the retort at her tone, and focused on maintaining my calm. “It’s a club and yes, I’m still working there, which is why I think you’d be a lot more comfortable in a motel.”
“I didn’t budget for an extended motel stay…”
I shot Adam a mute look of appeal and he nodded. “Let me take care of that, Mom. I’ll make all of the arrangements, and we can still have a good long visit.”
“If you think that’s for the best.”
“I really do. Plus, I have no idea when Matty and Oriana will be back, did he say anything to you about where he was?”
“No, I thought he was here.”
Typical. “Maybe you can call him tomorrow and let him know you’re in town and he’ll come back. Oh, if you do talk to him, tell him Ben’s back in town, I know he was wondering about that.”
“Ben’s back in town,” she repeated.
“Yes, he’s an old friend who’s been gone and I know Matt will want to invite him to the wedding.” Not a lie…
“Alright, if you say so. I am pretty tired, now that you mention it. It’s this new medication I’m on. I wasn’t sure how comfortable I’d be on the plane, so I took two of them before take off and now I’ve been wondering if it’s safe to take another so I can sleep, or if I should wait it out until morning.”
I listened to her yammer on about her aches and pains again while I stripped Matty’s bed and put on fresh linens. All that was required of me was a nod every now and again, and the occasional “huh”. For someone who professed to be tired, she sure had plenty of energy to talk. Adam hung back in the living room, obviously disinterested in listening to the topic.
“I think you’re all set now, is there anything else you need?”
“No, I think I’ll be fine until morning,” she smiled, wrapping her arms around me for a big hug. “It’s so good to see you again, Merceline. We don’t see enough of each other.”
I repressed the comment that sprang to my lips, laying the blame at her door and hugged her back, taking simple comfort in my mother’s arms before pulling back with a tired smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow. We’ll have a nice breakfast, and we can catch up more then.”
“I’ll take you out, it’ll be my treat,” she smiled brightly. I knew it wouldn’t be, but I smiled back, leaving her with the door firmly shut as I returned to find the rickety pull out bed already set up, Adam kicking back above the covers.
“And I thought you talked a lot.”
“Be nice, she’s my mother,” I pulled a pillow out from behind his head to move to my side. “What are you doing here anyway?”
“I didn’t like how we left things, and I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m alright, just a little drained, it was a long day. What about Ben?”
“Don’t worry, Sam’s on Ben-sitting duty with Daphne. What’s the deal with the two of them anyway? When did they become a couple?”
“A lot of things have changed since you left,” I shrugged, settling down on the end of the bed to take my shoes off. “Since before you left really, you just weren’t here to see it.”
“I’m sorry.”
I felt Adam’s hands on my shoulders before I even realized he’d moved at all, massaging lightly, and my head fell forward with a low groan. “That feels so good.”
“Too bad your mom’s in the next room, I could keep making it up to you.”
“Not that I wouldn’t like that, but I’m afraid I’d fall asleep on you, and I’d hate to deliver that kind of a blow to your ego,” I smiled. “But you can keep making it up to me this way, I’m not complaining.”
“Alright then, lie back and I’ll give you the full treatment.”
Any other day and the full treatment might have led to a lot more interesting things than a massage, but I’m sorry to say I did end up falling asleep on him before he even got to my mid back. The last thing I recall was Adam tucking me up into his chest and settling the covers over the both of us. I can’t remember spending a more restful, comfortable night’s sleep on Matty’s crappy sofa bed.
Chapter Nineteen
I can’t remember waking up feeling more like death warmed over.
Adam was nowhere to be found when I woke up to my mother singing in the shower, and I barely made it to the kitchen sink in time before I tossed up the contents of my stomach. Luckily, there wasn’t much in there, and I didn’t feel all that better afterwards either. I’ll spare you the details of how my morning went, ‘cause… eewh. Needless to say, it wasn’t the best morning ever.
After begging off going out to breakfast, I left my mom watching morning talk shows with the promise I’d be back around lunch time to help her find a nearby motel. It turned out I didn’t need to find a place for her to stay, because as soon as I checked my phone, I saw I had a voicemail from Adam. He’d made reservations for her at The Edgewater Hotel and it was all taken care of.
Grateful that was settled, I tried to picture how she’d react to such a fancy place as I drove back to my apartment. It was a cinch she’d never stayed at an expensive hotel before, I know I hadn’t either. If Adam was around, I might have asked him about the money again, but in the end I decided not to worry my pretty little head about it, especially when the rest of me felt so crappy.
Sam and Daphne were on the couch when I got home, Daphne asleep while Sam cradled her head in his lap. I wondered if that’s how Adam had spent his night, watching me sleep, since he didn’t need to. It was either incredibly comforting or slightly creepy to think of him sitting there all night long watching over me.
“Hi,” I whispered, leaning against the back of the couch.
“You look like the cat dragged you in,” he replied, almost getting the phrase right and I gave him a pallid smile.
“I’ve had better mornings,” I admitted when Daphne gave no sign of stirring at all. “I’m sorry you had to stay here all night, is Ben alright?”
“Yes, he has been up this morning and eaten, and has since retreated back into your bedroom.”
“And he seemed… alright to you?” I asked anxiously.
“He did seem changed, though I couldn’t say how exactly,” Sam considered aloud, his hand moving absently over Daphne’s hair. “I didn’t spend much time in his company though.”
I let out a long breath, swallowing past the wave of nausea. “Thanks for hanging out, I can take over if you want to get Daphne home.”
“I’d rather not disturb her yet if it’s all the same to you. She was up very late last night.” I could easily imagine them staying up talking for most of the night. “Are you feeling alright? You look pale, even for you.”
“I think I have the flu or something, I’ve felt crappy all morning. I’ve been meaning to ask you, do you ever get sick?”
“No, I do not. I’ve seen many diseases over the years though, the flu doesn’t look at all pleasant.”
“It’s not, but it’s one of those things you can’t escape like death and taxes.” He stared at me blankly, and I realized he’d never had to think about those things either. “I guess I’m not all that angelic then, even with the Grace. Ah well. I’ll go check on Ben and maybe I’ll feel better after a hot shower.”
“Would you like me to try and heal your ailment?” he offered, but I shook my head.
“No, I don’t want to disturb you guys, she looks tired. It’s not that bad, but I’ll keep that in mind if it ends up getting a whole lot worse.” Leaving them to their rest, I knocked gently on my bedroom door, stepping in when I heard Ben’s soft reply. “Hey, how are you feeling today? You look better.” And he did, much more refreshed. A shower and a good night’s sleep and he looked almost like the Ben I knew, except for the darkening of his aura that persisted. I’d forgotten to ask Sam about that.
“Thanks, I feel a lot better, things seem much clearer this morning.” I hoped that meant he wasn’t going to try and pursue a relationship with me anymore. “I have to say, I hoped you’d come back last night though.” No such luck…
“I had to deal with my mother, get her settled in. Are you really feeling alright?” The past few months in Midian had to have been hard on him physically, I had no idea if they’d been feeding him regularly, though he didn’t seem gaunt.
