Page 57 of Taking the Pitch
“I know you can, but my mom would have my balls if I wasn’t acting like the gentleman she raised,” he says, giving me a wink and closing my door.
Judd lets Bruno out next, and he darts into the front yard, zigzagging back and forth over the perfectly manicured lawn until he finds a spot worthy of his mark.
“Come on, Mom’s dying to meet you,” Judd says, placing his hand at the small of my back and guiding me over to where his mom is waiting for us.
“Mom, this is Amelia,” Judd says, introducing me once we reach the porch. Now that I’m closer, I can see the glittering of silver weaved throughout her hair and I can’t help but wonder if my mom would have gray or silver in her hair if she was still alive. I tuck that thought away. Now is not the time to dwell on what I’ll never know.
“Amelia, it is so nice to meet you. I’m Marlene,” she says, stepping forward and enveloping me in a hug. My body stiffens at the contact. It’s been years since I’ve had what can only be described as a motherly embrace. I feel my body relax as it realizes it’s safe and I melt into the contact, hugging her back. My eyes stinging.
I release a breath that feels like I’ve been holding in for years and an extreme sense of calm falls over me.
I don’t know how long we stand there like that, but Marlene seems to know I need this because she doesn’t pull back until I release her, stepping back into Judd. His hand falls to the small of my back and he swipes his thumb back and forth in a soothing motion. I quickly swipe at my eyes, embarrassed over the wetness I find there.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me,” I apologize.
Marlene brushes it away, giving me a warm smile. “You never have to apologize for your emotions to me, dear.”
Bruno comes charging over and rudely pushes his head into Marlene’s hands.
“Bruno!” I chastise. “You know better!”
“It’s ok,” she says, crouching down to pet him. Bruno takes advantage and licks her face, making Marlene laugh. “Nice to meet you too, Bruno.”
“Bruno heel,” I command. I swear he rolls his eyes as he hangs his head and mopes to my side.
“I am so sorry. He knows better than to behave like that,” I apologize again.
Marlene chuckles. “It’s fine, I love dogs. We just haven’t had one since the boys were teenagers.” She stands and brushes her hand down over her apron that says ‘I’m not old, I’m well-seasoned’.
“I love your apron.”
She shoots a smile behind me where Judd is standing. “Judd got it for me for Mother’s Day. Now come on in out of the cold, Kessler called and said they would be over in a bit, sounds like Lucy was able to get a nap in,” Marlene says, opening the door off to the side of the front door, ushering us inside a mudroom where we kick off our shoes and Judd takes my coat before hanging up his own. He looks incredibly good in a navy-blue and white flannel that looks like it was painted on. Judd grabs a towel out of a cupboard and kneels down to wipe Bruno’s paws.
“I can do that,” I say, reaching for the towel.
“I got it, Shortcake.” He nods towards Marlene. “Go in with Mom, and we’ll be there in a minute.”
I turn to Marlene, and she looks between us quickly before rolling her lips inward like she’s trying to suppress a smile, and opening another door that leads into the house.
I follow her through, pausing once the door closes behind me. I thought the outside was amazing, but it has nothing on the inside of the house. An enormous stone fireplace with awarm crackling fire greets us off to the left, surrounded by plush, oversized furniture. Various smells from the adjoining kitchen are the next thing that hits me, making my mouth water.
I follow Marlene into a kitchen that I’ve only ever dreamed of. Dark wooden cabinets line the walls. A copper farmhouse sink looks out over a huge picture window. Uneven, pearlescent subway tiles contrast with the charcoal granite countertops.
“Make yourself at home, dear. Would you like anything to drink?” Marlene asks, opening the giant stainless-steel refrigerator. “We have water, juice, wine, beer…” she says, trailing off.
“Uh, water would be fine,” I tell her, still taking in the breathtaking kitchen as I settle onto the plush stool at the island.
She sets a glass of ice water down in front of me. “Thank you.”
She gives me a wink and a smile and turns back to the stove to stir something.
“Smells good, Mom. What are you making tonight?” Judd asks, walking in from the mudroom. Bruno tries to go into the kitchen, but I tell him to get out and he sulks over to where I’m sitting before plopping down onto the floor.
“Just roasted chicken with garlic mashed potatoes, corn, buttermilk biscuits, and of course two new desserts I’m trying out before Thanksgiving,” Marlene tells him over her shoulder, still tending to things in the kitchen. Judd grabs a glass out of the cabinet next to Marlene and gives her a kiss on the cheek as he passes by.
My heart melts a little bit at the sight, and I feel like I’m getting to see a side of Judd only his family is privy to.
After filling his glass with water, Judd joins me at the island, taking a seat next to me.
