Page 130 of The Bitterroot Inn (Jamison Valley 5)
“Stop. I don’t like her, but I do love you. There is no way I’m letting you deal with her on your own.”
I relaxed into his body, winding my arms around his back. “Thank you.” Could I do this without Hunter? Yes, but I really didn’t want to.
“You’re welcome.” He kissed my hair. “Now give me a smile so I know you’re okay.”
I leaned back and gave him the biggest, cheesiest smile I could stretch, showing him all my teeth.
“You have spinach in your teeth from lunch.”
My lips closed as my tongue immediately started feeling around.
He chuckled. “Just kidding.”
I laughed and pinched his side, making him yelp.
“There. There’s my smile.”
I smiled wider. “I’d better get back to dinner.”
“Okay.” He kissed me and went off to play with Coby before it was time to eat.
I went back to the stove and resumed my cooking, thinking about what this weekend would entail. Nell’s call had rippled the waters, but with Hunter by my side, I knew we could deal with it. He wouldn’t let his crazy family ruin our happiness.
How ironic. Everett had set out to destroy my life, but in the end, he’d just made it all better. I had Coby. I had Hunter. All because of him. Maybe that was why my flashes had stopped. I’d stopped being scared of Everett, instead simply being grateful fo
r all the good he’d unknowingly provided.
Now I just had to deal with his evil stepmother.
“Nell.” Hunter stood from our booth at the café and greeted Nell as she walked through the door.
“Hunter.”
They didn’t hug or even touch. They just nodded at one another.
No wonder Everett had been so cold. This woman was frigid. The minute we got home, I was asking Hunter what his father had seen in Nell. From what I’d learned, Hunter was a lot like his dad and I couldn’t imagine Hunter falling for someone like Eleanor Carlson.
Hunter swung out a hand and gestured Nell to our table.
I smiled and waved from my seat while tucking Coby even closer to my side. Earlier today, Hunter and I had sat him down and explained to him about his other grandmother. Thankfully, he hadn’t asked any questions about Everett. He’d just wanted to know why Nell hadn’t sent him a birthday present if she was a grandma.
God bless my son for his resilience.
“Hello, Nell,” I greeted when they reached the booth.
She just frowned.
Super.
Hunter slid into our booth first, followed by Nell on his side. She was wearing all black again, this time pants with a light turtleneck sweater. She actually reminded me of an older Audrey Hepburn with her hair in a French twist.
When she sat, Nell’s eyes studied the table, the water glass and the silverware. She adjusted everything at her place setting until it was precisely the way she wanted it, and the entire time, she didn’t bother to look at me or Coby.
Not that Coby cared. He just started bouncing on his knees in the padded seat, ready to get this show on the road.
“Hi, Grandma! Mommy and Hunter says you’re my new grandma and that means you have to get me a Christmas present. I like trucks and tractors. And Legos. And I saw this thing on my iPad for making Play-Doh dinosaurs.”
I pulled in my lips to hide a smile. Seriously, this kid. He was completely oblivious to Nell’s attitude.
