The idea of anyone hurting Scottie had me livid. I’d thought of little else ever since he’d shared his story with me a week ago. It all made sense to me now why he’d been so standoffish and unwilling to connect at first. I couldn’t imagine how traumatizing that must have been to have someone you thought was your best friend turn on you and viciously beat you and then attack you with a knife. Surviving a violent assault like that had taken real courage, and it only made me want to be with him even more.
I entered my mom’s apartment and found her on a step ladder replacing a light bulb in the kitchen.
“What are you doing?” I hurried over to her with a scowl.
“I’m changing a light bulb.” She grumbled and wobbled on the stool. “Whoa.”
I grabbed her elbow. “Mom, get down.”
“Why?” Her eyes flashed with irritation. “I’m not done yet.”
“You’re going to hurt yourself.”
She scowled. “It’s a light bulb. I’m not rewiring the apartment.”
“I know you don’t like hearing this, but you’re at the age where people fall and break their hips.”
She crawled gingerly down the steps, and once she was on the ground she turned to me with her cheeks red. “No I’m not.”
I held up my hands. “Don’t get mad at me. The statistics don’t lie.”
“What statistics?”
“The ones about people your age falling and breaking their hips. That happens all the time. Am I wrong?”
“Yes you’re wrong!” She smacked my shoulder. “I’m not hip-breaking age.”
“Women sixty-five to sixty-nine who break a hip are five times more likely to die within a year than women who don’t.”
She widened her eyes. “I’m only fifty-eight.”
I grimaced and grabbed the bulb from her hand. “You know what I mean.” I climbed the ladder and twisted the old light bulb out of the light socket. I screwed in the new bulb and winced as it shone brightly in my face.
“The only thing I know is you’re trying to add ten years to my life.”
“I don’t mean you look that old. I can’t tell peoples ages.” I tried to backpedal as I jumped down from the step stool and tossed the old bulb in the trash.
“Of course I don’t look that age. I’m not that age.”
“You’re being too sensitive.”
She chuffed and headed to the wine rack. “I suddenly have an overwhelming need for a glass of wine.” She shot me a grumpy look. “Is it okay if I open this bottle or is that too dangerous for an old woman like me?” She pulled the corkscrew from the drawer.
I moved over to her and hugged her from behind. “Sorry. I just don’t want you falling off a stool and getting hurt.”
She grunted and wiggled out of my grasp impatiently. Then she opened the wine and poured two glasses. She handed me one. “I’m not a decrepit old person.”
I took the goblet. “I said I was sorry. You know you’re gorgeous.”
She sighed and sipped her wine. Then she moved into the living room, and she settled on the couch. “What brings you here? Did you run out of other old women to insult?”
I gave her a stern look. “Mom. Stop.” I sat across from her and sipped my wine.
Her lips twitched. “Okay.”
I leaned back in my chair. “I was wondering if you’d want to have me and Scottie over for dinner one night this week?”
She perked up immediately. “Really?”
I nodded, feeling a little embarrassed by how surprised and excited she sounded that I was dating someone she could meet.
“Does that mean you really like him?” A happy smile lit her face.
My face warmed. “I… I do.”
She set her wine down, and she clapped her hands. “For real?”
I grimaced. “I’m not asking you to throw us an engagement party. Calm down.”
She grinned. “You haven’t brought anyone to meet me since you know who broke your heart.”
“You can say Paul’s name.”
“I prefer not to.” She sniffed, but then her expression brightened again. “I liked what little I could tell about Scottie. He seemed nice.”
“He is nice.” My stomach warmed with memories of Scottie in my bed earlier in the morning. “He’s amazing.”
“Tell me about him.” She clasped her hands in her lap like an attentive student.
I laughed. “Well...… he’s quiet. But he’s funny and intelligent once you get to know him.”
She nodded. “I will say, when I met him for those few moments, he was nothing like what I pictured the guys you date would be. He didn’t seem shallow or like someone who’d be into casual sex.”
“You could tell all that from meeting him for five seconds?”
“I can read people.” She winked. “He didn’t try to impress me. I liked that.”
“That’s what you liked?”
She smiled. “What I mean is he was real. He wasn’t trying to snow me with how charming he was.” She grinned. “In fact, it was more like he couldn’t wait to get away from me.”
I winced. “That was my fault for dragging him to meet you when we didn’t even know each other yet.”
“So what is it you like about him?”
A small smile touched my lips. “Everything.”
“Oh, boy.” She laughed. “I’ve never seen you like this. You’re almost giddy.”
I knew she was right. Even with Paul I’d held back my emotions more. “He’s a gentle soul. I want to protect him and take care of him.” I grimaced. “God, I sound like a sap.”
She leaned toward me. “So he’s someone you could be serious about?” Her voice was soft and coaxing.
“Yes.” Saying that aloud was jolting. But it was the truth.
She pressed a hand to her heart. “I’m so happy.”
“I don’t want to put the cart before the horse. I mean, we’ve been enjoying each other’s company and things like that. But no one has said the ‘L’ word or anything.”
“So you’re just letting it take its course.”
I nodded. “We’ve hung out every night for weeks.” It was hard to contain my excitement about Scottie. I wanted everyone to know how much I liked him, even though I realized it was really new. “I enjoy being with him and it seems to be mutual.”
“That’s great sweetie. When it’s right, it’s right.” She gave a melancholy smile. “I knew the second date with your father that he was the man I was going to marry.”
“Really?” My eyes stung as she gave me a sad little smile.
“Yes. I just knew.” She touched her heart. “We had many amazing decades together. And even though he died younger than I ever imagined, I wouldn’t trade those years for anything.”
“I know.” I held her gaze. “I don’t know what will happen with Scottie. But he’s the first person who’s made me want more, if nothing else.”
“You have to start somewhere.” She smiled and sipped her wine. “And I guess it’s a good sign that when I asked what you liked about him you didn’t say he has a nice body or anything shallow like that.”
I grinned. “Well, I do like his body. A lot.”
She smirked. “Naturally.”
I cleared my throat. “So when do you want to have us over?”
“How about Friday?” She grabbed her cell and scrolled through it. “I have my book club Wednesday and Zumba on Thursday.”
“I think Friday will work. I’ll double-check with him of course.”
She set her phone down and leaned toward me. “So if things keep going well, what do you want from him? Do you plan on moving in together?”
My chest tightened with excitement. “I’ve barely let myself think about the future. He only recently shared something really personal and traumatic that has held him back from being open to a relationship with anyone.”
She frowned. “Oh, dear.”
I grimaced. “Yeah. It was five years ago. He was beaten by someone he thought was his best friend.”
Her intake of breath was sharp. “That’s horrible.”
“It was. He’s struggled with trust issues ever since.”
“Of course.” She bit her lower lip. “I noticed he had a scar on his jaw.” She held my gaze. “Was that from the attack?”
I nodded. “Yes.” I felt uncomfortable giving her all the details of Scottie’s attack, because it wasn’t really my story to share. But she needed to know some of it so she could maybe give him a pass if he acted standoffish or odd during our upcoming dinner.
“Are you sure he’s ready for a relationship with you?” Her tone was gentle. I could feel her concern from across the room.
I hardened my jaw. “He’s worth it, Mom.”
“I’m not saying he isn’t, honey. I just would hate for you to fall in love with a man who can’t give you what you want.”
“I think he can, and I’m not giving up on him.” My heart ached as I thought about how much he’d gone through. “He’s already opening up to me more and more every single day. I’m sure the more time we spend together, the more he’ll share.”
“But if he doesn’t, then your feelings will be even stronger by the time you figure it out.”
I squinted at her. “You’re always nagging me to settle down and find a nice guy, and now that I’m doing that you’re telling me to stop?”
Her cheeks turned pink. “I’m not saying break up with him, I’m saying be careful. Don’t fall in love until you’re sure he can give you everything you need. Because you’ve waited a long time to allow yourself to be open to love again. You don’t want to pick a person who sends you into a tailspin again if he lets you down.”
“He’s not going to let me down.”
She pursed her lips and studied me with a worried expression. “People who’ve been wounded are often not the best choices for a life partner.”
“That’s one hell of a broad statement.”
Her expression softened. “You’re right. I don’t even know him and I’m passing judgment. Hopefully when I have you two over I can get a better sense of who he is.”
Some of the tension left me when she backed off. “That’s all I want is for you to give him a chance. You need to get to know him, and I think you’ll see he’s a good person and a good fit for me.”
She laughed. “I can’t even believe you’re saying those words to me. I’ve worried about you so much these last few years. You were so closed off I thought you were going to crash and burn.”
“I know I was a jerk.”
“You were a tomcat.”
I pinched the skin between my eyes as I thought about the parade of men I’d gone through the last two years. “All I know is I’m glad to put that behind me. It wasn’t making me happy, and it was leading nowhere.”
“I’m relieved as well. I just don’t want you going back to that life. Ever.” She sighed. “Do you know anything about his family?”
“All I know is they aren’t close. He doesn’t really talk about them.”
“Oh, that’s too bad.” She bit her lower lip.
“He’s an only child.”
“Uh, oh. So are you.” She laughed.
“What are you saying?”
“That you have always liked the limelight.” She smirked. “Only children are used to being the center of attention.”
I snorted. “The last thing Scottie likes is having the attention on him. He hates it.”
“Then I guess there’s hope because everyone can still mostly dote on you.”
“Is that your subtle way of saying I’m an attention whore, to get back at me for calling you old?”
Her gaze twinkled. “You didn’t think you were going to get away with it, did you?”
“Not even for a minute.” I stood and carried my empty glass into the kitchen.
“Does Scottie have any allergies I should know about?”
“He’s allergic to crowds.”
“I meant food allergies.”
I squinted. “Not that I’m aware of.”
She snapped her fingers. “Oh, I can make my famous coq au vin.”
I nodded eagerly. “Yes. You haven’t made that in forever.”
She sighed. “I haven’t had anyone to cook for. You’re always busy, and I’m not going to make that fancy of a dish for myself.”
I walked over to her, and I bent down and kissed her. “Thank you for doing this, Mom.”
“Thank you for bringing Scottie to meet me.” Her smile was warm. “I’m glad my opinion still matters to you.”
I straightened. “Your opinion will always matter. You know that.”
She grinned. “Honey, I didn’t even know I was an old lady until you informed me of that tonight.”
I groaned and headed toward the door. “I’m never going to live that down, am I?”
“Nope.”
I smiled as I closed the door behind me.