Chase had to work Friday and since I had the day off, I didn’t set the alarm and ended up sleeping until well past nine. When I woke, Izzy was watching cartoons in the living room with a bowl of cereal and a half-gallon of milk, half of which seemed to have pooled on Chase’s glass-topped coffee table.

“Izzy, you’re making a mess,” I said, rushing into the kitchen for the paper towels. “Did you climb onto the counter to get the cereal down?”

She shook her head, not even bothering to look at me, entranced by the cartoons.

“Uh-uh. Daddy left it on the table for me with a note that said not to wake you.”

Oh my god. Not this again. “Izzy! It’s Chase. Don’t call him Daddy.”

Twin pools of icy blue stared up at me. “He said it’s okay.”

My daughter wanted a daddy, and I couldn’t think of a better one, but that still didn’t make it right. The last thing I wanted to do was scare him away, even though he was the one pushing for us to live together. It was all too good—except for that whole jealousy thing—that I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.

After cleaning up Izzy’s mess and getting her dressed, I made a quick pass around the apartment, scrubbed the kitchen and the bathroom, and then Izzy and I went to the grocery store.

Roast beef was a specialty of mine. I was also making Chase’s favorite mashed potatoes, glazed Brussels sprouts, an autumn chopped salad with dried cranberries, and for dessert, chocolate cake from scratch. My mother was bringing the wine.

Back at Chase’s apartment, I put the cake together first, and while it was baking, I prepped the rest of the dishes. I fried bacon and toasted the nuts for the salad, chopped the cranberries, and washed the lettuce. At four o’clock, I seasoned the roast and left it to rest on the counter, then set the table.

Izzy was playing in the guest room, which was looking more and more like a little girl’s room than a spare bedroom in a bachelor pad, and I still needed to shower. But first, I needed to figure out what I was going to wear. After allowing myself a few moments of panic, I settled on black leggings and a belted sweatshirt tunic. It was the most conservative thing I had with me, although now that Chase had made me feel self-conscious about how I dressed, I worried that it still wouldn’t be stodgy enough for his mother.

I laid the items out on the bed and myself alongside them. I needed to rest my eyes. Just for a few minutes or I wouldn’t make it through dinner.

It was dark when Chase shook me awake. “Babe. Rain. Wake up!”

I squinted up at him, trying to make out his face.

“What time is it?”

“It’s almost five thirty.”

“Why are you waking me so early?”

“In the evening. My mom will be here in a half hour, and you haven’t even put the roast in yet.”

I sprung up. “What? How? Are you sure?”

“Yeah, come on. I put the oven on, but I don’t know what temperature.”

“Shit. I just lay down for a second. I’m sorry.” I flew into the kitchen and cranked the oven up to three seventy-five—higher than I’d usually cook a roast, but I didn’t have time to do it slow. I put the roast in, slammed the oven door shut, and flew back down the hall. Chase had stripped out of his work clothes.

“I need a shower,” I announced.

“So do I.”

“We can take one together.”

“Yeah, because that will make us get in and out faster.” His frown showed how ridiculous he thought that was.

“I’m serious.” I yanked my T-shirt over my head and tossed it in the corner. “I need to get in the shower too. You’ll just have to keep your hands to yourself.”

What a joke. He didn’t even try to keep his hands to himself, and by the time we got out of the shower, I was hoping his mother would stay for about five minutes and leave, so we could pick up where we’d left off. I’d been so tired lately I was falling asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow.

Being in a normal relationship was wearing me out.

When I opened the door to dart down the hall to the bedroom, Izzy was speaking with someone in the living room.

“Chase is going to be my new daddy.”

“Oh god,” I whispered as I stepped back into the bathroom and pushed the door closed quietly.

“What are you doing?”

“I think your mother’s early. Either that or Izzy just told the UPS lady that you’re her new daddy.”

“Will you stop freaking out about that?”

“It’s been two months, Chase. You and I haven’t even discussed it.” I was practically hissing. “Do you think my daughter and your mother should be the first to hash it out?”

“Don’t worry about it.” He poked his head out the door and when the coast was clear, he motioned for me to make a dash for the bedroom. As I did, he went out to greet his mother wearing a towel. I knew she’d seen him that way before, but it probably didn’t reflect very well on me.

“Everything’s fine,” he said, joining me a few minutes later as I yanked a comb through my wet, tangled hair. I hadn’t had nearly enough time for conditioner. “Oh, and your mother just arrived.”

“Are you kidding? She’s late for everything and today she decides to be on time?” I slipped into my clothes, but I still had to dry my hair and put my makeup on.

“That’s not all. She brought Bert.”

Bert was my mother’s latest boyfriend. Although he was funny, he could be loud and a little obnoxious. He was also a little grabby, especially with my mother. Not that she seemed to mind.

“Could you set another place at the table and see what they all want to drink? The roast has another hour yet, and I didn’t plan any appetizers. You think your mother would mind if we started with chocolate cake and worked our way backward?”

“Stop worrying. Everything will be fine. She’s gonna love you.” He gave me the fastest kiss ever and left me to finish getting ready.

While Chase entertained everyone and hopefully put a lid on Izzy, I dried my hair and pulled it into a loose bun. I was about to skip the eyeliner, but I just couldn’t do it. I did, however, forego my usual wings in attempt to be more conservative.

It wouldn’t have mattered if I’d taken twice as long to dress. The moment I met her, I sensed that Mrs. Holgate didn’t like me. What I also knew was that her entire opinion of me had been formulated long before we met, thanks to Lorraine. When I’d told Chase I knew Lorraine from school, I’d failed to mention that her best friend had been dating Izzy’s father, who dumped her for me.

If Lorraine still hated me for that, then so be it. She wasn’t the first person to be wrong about me.

“Mrs. Holgate.” I held out a clammy hand and tried to smile. “It’s so nice to meet you. Please forgive me for being so late. The day just got away from me. Welcome.”

She gave my hand a limp bob. “I’ve been here before.”

“Of course you have. I guess you should welcome me, then.” My laugh erupted like a donkey’s bray. Chase looked startled, and my mother wore a pained expression. “What can I get you to drink? Anyone? Maybe I better have a drink.”

“Why don’t you have a seat?” Chase said. “I’ll get you a drink.”

I nodded and crossed over to my mother to give her a kiss. She pulled me into a bear hug.

“Calm down,” she whispered between gritted teeth. “You’re acting like a fool.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I whispered back. “Oh, and thanks for making me look like the conservative one.”

“No problem.” She winked as I pulled away. Mom wore skintight black jeans and a black V-neck sweater that showed a considerable amount of cleavage. She also had on a pair of leopard-print stiletto ankle boots, and when she moved, her chunky gold jewelry tinkled like a tiny symphony.

In contrast, Chase’s mother wore flats, dark slacks, and a gray sweater set that might have been cashmere. The requisite single strand of pearls was draped around her neck. The only thing that surprised me was that she wasn’t clutching them.

“Hi, Bert.” I’d only meant to acknowledge him, but he caught me off guard, treating me to a face full of thick chest hair courtesy of his overly enthusiastic hug.

When he finally freed me, I saw that Chase had set out a bowl of nuts, a bowl of olives, and some cheese. At least his mother wouldn’t starve to death while waiting for dinner. I squeezed onto the sofa beside my mother.

Chase handed me a glass of wine. I took a mouthful, then popped up like a timer on a roast chicken. “I have to finish the potatoes and check the roast.”

I had cooked the potatoes earlier. I heated some cream and butter and then mashed them, grated some cheese, and popped them in the oven to bake while the roast finished cooking. I checked the temperature. Hopefully, Mrs. Holgate liked her meat rare, because that was how I was serving it. Twenty more minutes and then a few minutes to rest. If I could keep everyone happy that long, we could start the salad.

Conversation during dinner was polite. Chase kept trying to draw his mother out, but she wouldn’t cooperate. Used to a more animated dinner table, even when it was just the two of us, Izzy was surprisingly quiet, which was probably a good thing, given her new focus. My guess was that she was as uncomfortable as I was.

When dinner was over and I stood to clear the table, Bert and my mother stood as well.

“Sorry, darling, we’re meeting friends for drinks and we’re already late.”

“You’re leaving?” I gave her a pleading look, but she ignored it.

“Sorry. Save me a piece of cake.” She smiled down at Mrs. Holgate. “Rain makes the best chocolate cake. When I put it on the menu, we sell out within a half hour.”

“I thought you were a bartender,” Mrs. Holgate said, ignoring the comment about my cake.

“Just a few days a week to make ends meet. I cook at my mother’s restaurant. That’s my real job.”

She lifted her eyebrows. “Hmm.”

“Rain is a wonderful cook, obviously,” my mother said. “I wish I could pay her what she’s worth.”

Mrs. Holgate’s face contorted into something that resembled a smile, but she didn’t comment on dinner one way or another.

After my mother and Bert left, I finished clearing the table and put on a pot of coffee. I had given Izzy a piece of cake earlier, and now I told her to say goodnight. She was polite with Mrs. Holgate, but when she came to Chase, she wrapped her little arms around his neck and begged him to put her to bed.

“Not tonight, sweetie,” I said. “Chase hasn’t seen his mommy in a while, so I’ll put you to bed and read you a quick story. He can put you to bed tomorrow night.”

My daughter was not happy.

“I promise.” He leaned in and whispered loudly, “and it won’t be a quick story either. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Tomorrow night. Three chapters. Just you and me.”

“It’s a date.” She squeezed him tightly.

That time, Mrs. Holgate’s smile seemed almost sincere.

Despite wanting a longer story, Izzy fell asleep quickly. I had almost pulled the door closed when I heard angry whispers coming from the dining room.

“You have nothing in common with this girl,” Mrs. Holgate said. “And what happens to that poor child when you finally realize that? You’ll disrupt her home, her life. I can’t believe you’re being so foolish. This isn’t like you to rush into something like this. I would think you would take your time and find the right woman. Maybe try to make things right with Jennifer. I understand looking to have a good time. Have your fun. That’s all girls like that are good for. God knows your father—”

“That’s enough, Mom. I don’t know if it’s Dylan or Lorraine telling you this, but I expected you to make up your own mind and not listen to either of them.”

“I’m basing my opinion on what I see with my own eyes. For god’s sake, Chase, that outfit looks like it was painted on her.”

I took a few deep breaths, then pulled the door closed with a snap. The voices fell away.

“More coffee?” Chase asked his mother, louder than necessary.

It hurt for him to pretend that what I’d just heard hadn’t happened. The child in me wanted to climb into bed and crawl under the covers. The teenager wanted to march into the other room and tell her to fuck off. The adult me plastered a smile on her face and returned to the dining room.

“No, darling,” Mrs. Holgate said, standing as I entered. “I should be going. I promised your brother I wouldn’t stay out late. I don’t want them worrying about me driving those dark roads by myself.”

I wanted to be the gracious hostess and encourage her to stay, even offer to drive her home and drop her car off in the morning so she could stay later. I’d looked forward to hearing about Chase from the person who knew him best. I wanted to do all those things, but I could hardly open my mouth. I could barely manage a smile as she thanked me for dinner.

“Your mother’s right. You’re a very good cook, Rain.”

Chase slipped his arm around my waist so ferociously I almost stumbled. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, then croaked out something resembling a thank you.

“Will you be staying in the area long, Mrs. Holgate?” I asked, toying with the masochistic idea of trying to win her over with another dinner.

“Um . . . No. Actually, I’m heading home tomorrow.”

Chase had told me she would be staying until Tuesday. Deer hunting season started Monday, and Chase and Dylan had been planning to head into the woods early that morning. Lorraine had to work, so his mother was going to watch the boys. Chase no longer had plans to go hunting. Maybe Dylan wasn’t going either.

“That’s too bad.” I smiled up at Chase. “I was hoping to hear some stories about Chase when he was younger.” When I looked back at her, I saw no warmth in her eyes. “Perhaps next time.”

I knew that as far as Mrs. Holgate was concerned, there would be no next time. She slipped her arms into the coat Chase held out for her. I wanted to thank her for coming, but caught myself. I didn’t want to be reminded again that it was not my place to thank her for coming to her son’s home.

Instead, I held out my hand.

“It was nice meeting you, Mrs. Holgate.” I left it at that.

She looked down at my hand before accepting it into her own, mumbled something I didn’t catch, and without meeting my eyes, she turned to go.

While Chase walked his mother to the car, I began stashing leftovers. That would be all I could manage tonight. I wanted a glass of wine and a hot bath, but I knew he’d want to climb in with me.

For the first time since we’d been together, I didn’t think I could manage his affection. I felt raw and inferior, and I didn’t want him to know I’d heard them talking. I didn’t want him to be embarrassed—or worse, to learn that she had convinced him that she was right.

It was like meeting Preston’s parents all over again, but this time, it hurt a lot more.

I was wedging the last plastic container into the refrigerator when he came back inside. He slipped his arms around my waist and kissed the spot behind my ear. My knees wanted to bend, and the rest of me wanted to lean into him and have him prove that whatever his mother had said didn’t matter.

But I remained stiff. I’d had plenty of practice at trying to protect my battered heart. Granted, I usually failed, but at least I knew what steps to take.

To his credit, he didn’t speak. He didn’t lie and tell me it went well or that his mother really liked me. He turned me around to face him.

I hoped he couldn’t read anything in my eyes.

“Do you mind if I get this in the morning? I’m not feeling too good. I’m just going to head off to bed.”

He rested his hand against my forehead. Then replaced his hand with his lips. “I’ll clean up. You go rest. Can I make you tea or something?”

I shook my head. “I’m just tired. I’m sure I’ll feel better in the morning.”

He tilted my mouth up to his. “Thank you for this evening. Everything was amazing.”

I swallowed, then smiled. My head bobbing up and down.

“I love you,” he called as I pulled away.

“Love you too,” I called over my shoulder, afraid to face him. Afraid for him to see the sting of shame branded on my face.