Page 64 of An Unexpected Turn
“When Mom asked who you were calling, I told her I had a good idea, but didn’t say who she was.Thatyou can tell her.”
“Not that you’re forcing my hand or anything.”
Kristina rolled her eyes. “Aren’t you tired of keeping this in-plain-sight secret?”
“Could the two of you stop being so cryptic? I just wanted to know who my son is seeing. Why is who she is such a big deal?”
I rubbed my temples and groaned. After the post-phone-sex epiphany I’d had, I hated that I couldn’t just tell my mother I’d fallen in love with someone. It had to start with who she was connected to, not how we felt about each other. I didn’t blame Peyton for getting drunk tonight because this was ridiculous and taxing as fuck.
“Jake Thomas, I’ll ask you again. Who is she?”
Kristina and I flinched at the same time.
“Her name is Peyton. She’s a lot younger than me, but she’s beautiful and amazing—and I think I’m in love with her.”
Mom’s gaze softened as a slow smile crept across her lips.
Kristina’s brows shot up. “Wow, Jake. You think, or you know?”
“I know.” I gave her a slow nod. Kristina’s smile was tempered with sympathy, reflecting my big realization on the way up the stairs.
This all was now even more complicated.
“Ever since the divorce, I’ve been so worried about you. I was afraid you’d never get close to anyone because you blamed yourself. This is wonderful.” Mom clapped her hands together, beaming at me. “So, she’s younger than you. What’s the big deal?”
Mom caught Kristina cutting me a look.
“Okay, what else aren’t you telling me?”
“She works at the high school as a guidance counselor.”
“With Mikey?” she asked, her brow furrowed. “Okay, that’s a little messy, but manageable, right? And Mikey likes her?”
“Yes, she’s actually been great with him—”
“Okay, so fine. Not ideal, but not such a terrible thing, right?”
“Hit her with part three,” Kristina whispered.
“What did you just whisper?” Mom asked, glaring at us with an impatient huff.
“She’s ... Keith’s niece.”
“Wait a minute,” Mom said, her eyes losing their shine. “Your best friend Keith’s niece? Donna’s daughter? The last time I saw her, she was Emma’s age. Keith’s mother, rest her soul, would always tell me how Keith was more like a father than an uncle to her and Donna got jealous of how close they were. Has that changed?”
“No,” I said, cringing when I met her widened eyes. “It hasn’t.”
She fell back in the chair, exhaling a long breath.
“Well, shit.”
I couldn’t help the laugh that slipped out of me.
“Pretty much, Mom.”
“All right,” Mom started, holding up her hands as she stood and made her way to my end of the table. “I’m guessing because of who she is, you didn’t come into this lightly, am I right?”
“No, I tried like hell to stay away from her, but I just ...”
