I had just finished my final sketches for next weekend’s tattoo convention when the bell rang.

I wasn’t expecting any company, but Belle Musique didn’t operate that way, so I took a few cleansing breaths as I walked to the door, squeezed the knob on a deep exhale and pulled it open. The older blond woman was tall and beautiful with big blue eyes that I’d know anywhere, and that’s when my stomach turned to sawdust.

“Davis’ mom.”

“Call me Darlene. Or Mom,” she said and pulled me into a fierce hug that lasted about ten seconds too long, but it felt too nice for my usual snark and I closed my eyes. Savored it. “It’s so nice to meet you, Magenta!”

She was really chipper. “It’s nice to meet you too, Darlene. Come on in.” I stepped back to let her in, helping her with one of her two giant suitcases. “I thought you were coming tomorrow. And staying for just a few days.”

Darlene laughed prettily and stepped inside, giving the place a mother’s appraisal. “Don’t worry, I won’t intrude on your honeymoon for too long.”

“It’s no problem. We just got back from a couple days in New Orleans. It was nice.” It was more than nice, but I didn’t think that was something you said to a guy’s mom.

“That good, huh?” She laughed at the blush on my face and patted my shoulder. “Don’t be embarrassed honey, I’m just glad you both are happy.”

“That’s what Davis said you’d say.” They were so much alike in demeanor and mannerisms it was uncanny. “Would you like something to eat or drink?”

“Yes to both if it’s no trouble. I was so excited to get here that I didn’t eat breakfast, and then I stopped at this diner for lunch and there was this poor young girl there with a small child, they were both starving and I got them settled with food and some clean clothes from a secondhand shop. Then I left without even ordering anything for myself.”

A do gooder, just like her son. Must be genetic. “Well there’s not a lot because today is my shopping day. But there’s leftover chicken and sandwich fixings.”

“Would you mind if I go shopping with you? I was thinking I could make dinner tonight.” She looked so hopeful I couldn’t say no, especially when she was offering to cook.

“I can’t let you cook after you spent all day driving.”

She waved me off. “I’m more than capable of doing more than one thing a day.” Her chin lifted defensively, I knew that stubborn look, and I knew what it meant.

“Fine, let’s go.”

It wasn’t as painful as I thought it might be. Darlene was funny and curious, and she had plenty of helpful shopping tips that never occurred to me.

But when we got back home and began to unload the groceries, trouble started. “So Magenta, do you love Davis?”

“It’s not that simple,” I told her, wondering if she was going to warn me off her son.

“Sure it is. Do you?” Darlene leaned over, big blue eyes watching me as a slow grin spread across her face. “You do,” she gasped, but her smile morphed into a frown. “What’s the problem? Davis says your skittish, but don’t tell him I told you that.”

She was so open and happy as she unloaded the bags, setting aside the ingredients for dinner. I told her the truth. “I’m not cut out for relationships.” I told Darlene the truth about my parents and their neglect, my inability to make a relationship work, and even my odd relationship with Mason. “I don’t want to hurt Davis. I like him, and if you knew me better, you’d know that I don’t like many people. I don’t want to be the person who turns him into me.” I held my breath and waited for her to realize that I was right. That I was no good for her son.

“You want him to be happy.” She said it plainly, not like a question as she rinsed the vegetables. I stayed frozen on the other side of the counter as she began to chop.

“That’s right, I do.”

“That’s love, Magenta. Don’t run scared from it. Stay.” It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her that was easy for her to say, and then I remembered about Davis’ dad. “Do you regret falling in love with Davis’ dad?”

“Not at all. Justin was a really good man with a kind heart, and he was a romantic. Completely irresistible. And he taught me how to love and showed me what the love of a good man should look like. Justin gave me Davis and he was the first great love of my life.” She still sounded in love with the man I knew had died when Davis was a boy.

“He was the first great love of your life?”

“Oh yes.” She looked lost in thought for a moment as she chopped broccoli and then bacon.

“Justin taught me about love, but Harris has helped me see what it looks like to find love again. He’s my people. He gets me in a way that only Justin ever did. That feeling is like…home.”

I knew just what she meant, and that worried me because I wanted her words to be more than a story. I wanted them to be true.