Page 64 of From This Moment (After We Fall 4)
With a sigh, Lenore looked around like she might find inspiration on someone else’s plate at another table. “I’ll try the fresh pastries. And maybe some fruit? Do you have grapefruit?”
“Not today, but we’ve got Michigan peaches, plums, and raspberries that will make your mouth water,” Margot said with a smile I recognized as her Customer Smile. “I’ll put together something lovely just for you.”
“Thank you, dear. Bless your heart.” Lenore picked up her coffee and took a tiny sip.
“I should get back to the kitchen,” I said. “I’ll try to come out again before you leave.”
“Don’t worry, dear. We know you’re busy,” Lenore said.
“Thanks. Okay to pick up Abby around two?”
“Of course. No rush at all.”
“Uncle Wes said we can make snow cones this afternoon, Mommy. And if it’s nice, we can go out in the canoe.”
“But you have to dress warmly,” Wes told her. “It’s chilly on the water.”
“Sounds like a fun day.” I made eye contact with everyone for exactly the same amount of time. “See you later. Enjoy your breakfast.”
Back in the kitchen, I felt like I could breathe again. I looped my apron over my head and started browning the sausage for the waffles.
“Wow. Lenore is really something,” Margot said behind me, taking the juice bottles from the fridge.
“Tell me about it.” What Lenore was was annoying. What she would be was another complication for Wes and me. Another obstacle.
“I’ve never seen her be like that, so fussy and prim. Almost like she was too good to be here.”
“Pretty sure I bring out that side of her.” I poked at the sausage a little harder than necessary.
“Why?”
I shrugged and admitted the truth. “She’s never really liked me.”
“Shut the fuck up. Who wouldn’t like you?” Georgia asked, checking on the scones.
“I don’t get it. What’s her problem with you?” Margot placed the glasses of juice on a pretty silver tray.
“Who knows? I think she might have had a different kind of wife in mind for Drew.”
“Like who?” Georgia stuck her hands on her hips.
“I don’t know. Someone she knew? Someone Southern? Someone smarter, prettier, funnier? Someone with an education? Someone with two parents and a family name like Beauregard, not Randazzo?” I knew I was being childish, but Lenore always managed to bring out the worst feelings of inadequacy in me, and my emotions were running on high today.
Margot sighed heavily. “My mother is that way too about family names. She doesn’t like them to have more than one or two syllables or end in a vowel. You should have seen her face when I told her I was marrying a Valentini!” Be right back.” She swung through the dining room door.
Georgia and I worked in silence for a few minutes before she spoke. “That really stinks that she treats you that way. Especially in light of what’s going on with you and Wes. Do you think she’ll give you a hard time?”
Of course she would, but I didn’t want to think about it. “It’s fine. And you know, it isn’t so much that she treats me poorly, because she really doesn’t. And she adores Abby. She just gets under my skin sometimes.”
“All mother-in-laws do that.”
We got busy in the kitchen, and I never did have time to go out and see how they liked their meals, but if the empty plates were any indication, they’d enjoyed every bite. Margot said Wes and Dr. Parks had raved about the waffles, and even Lenore had offered a few compliments on the pastries, fruit, and crème fraîche.
After work, I went over to pick up Abby, and Wes answered the door. “Hi, beautiful.”
I blushed as I stepped inside. The house smelled good, like fresh-baked cookies. “Hi.”
As soon as the door was shut behind me, he grabbed me and planted a huge kiss on my lips.
