Page 100 of Finding Hayes
“Hayes.”
“Sav.” I mimicked her serious tone.
“It’s dinner. It’s family. You make an effort because sometimes people are worth making an effort for.”
I sighed. “I’ll do it for you.”
“I’m fine with that.” She chuckled and turned back around to stir the sauce.
The doorbell rang, and she shot me a look without speaking a word.
Lose the attitude and answer the door.
My wife and I didn’t need words. Never had.
I walked toward the entryway and pulled the door open. There was no more snow on the ground in Magnolia Falls, but the evenings were still chilly.
“There’s my handsome son,” my mother said with a big smile on her face, like we were the best of friends. She held up a pie, and I took it before opening the door wider and inviting her in.
“Hey, Mom. Thanks for coming.” I cleared my throat.
“Wow. Look at this place. Savannah has done wonders to warm it up. And it smells so good.” She rubbed her hands together and followed me into the kitchen.
“Stella, it’s so nice to see you,” Savannah said, as she came around the island and wrapped her arms around my mother like she was her favorite person on the planet.
“Thank you so much for the invite.”
“Of course. Would you like a glass of wine?”
“I’d love one,” Mom said, and I grabbed the bottle of chardonnay that Savannah had set out before handing her a glass.
Savannah was sticking to her sun tea, and I opened a beer. I needed to take the edge off.
We made some small talk before heading to the table. There were place mats and plates and napkins and flowers all set out. I didn’t know when my girl did half the shit that she did. Shewas always going. Working at the farmhouse, on the phone with doctors about her father’s treatment, getting things set up for her new business, cooking for the guys at the firehouse, spending time with the girls, and fixing up our home.
I’d never known anyone who worked as hard as she did. She gave a lot of herself to the people that she loved, and here I was being annoyed that I had to have dinner with my mother.
“So, Hayes, you’re taking over as captain soon, right?”
“Yep. In two weeks.”
“That’s incredible. Did you ever think you’d be captain of a firehouse? And you’re still so young.”
I thought it over as I twirled the pasta noodles around my fork. “Not really. I never thought I’d be a firefighter, honestly.”
She paused, and her gaze locked with mine. “You always wanted to be a veterinarian when you were young, didn’t you?”
I shrugged. “Yeah. I liked animals more than people back then.”
Savannah laughed. “You really did. That’s why I was surprised you didn’t have any animals of your own by now.”
“I agree. You used to beg me to get a dog. It went on for years. But your dad was allergic to most animals, and then Barry just refused to consider bringing in another mouth to feed.”
I cleared my throat and bit my tongue because the topic still pissed me off. It was a small request. Saylor and I had begged her for a dog, and she’d always had an excuse.
Dad is allergic.
They cost too much money.
