“Well, you might as well. Laura’s already here, she brought donuts, and I’m brewing everyone their own fuckin’ coffees.”
He straightened from the counter, while his hand came up to cup his head, which he bowed as he listened.
His hand went to his neck, and he raised his head to stare up at the ceiling. “Mamá, are you comin’ over here, or not?”
Pause.
“Then quit givin’ Penny a hard time.”
He closed his eyes and inhaled.
“She doesn’t have to accept anything, Mamá. And I wanted you to apologize to Raegan, but not first damn thing in the morning.”
“Are you there?” Mom asked.
“Yeah, Mom. I am. I don’t know what else to tell you. She should leave soon, I think. Clint’s talking to her.”
“He’s such a good man,” Mom whispered.
I pressed my lips together, nodded, and whispered back, “Yeah.”
“You were a fool.”
“Mom!”
“Well, really, you were young. You both were. I’ll let you go. But did you have a good time, dear?”
“Yes, Mom. Did you have fun with Gabe? Or is Brock more fun?”
She chuckled. “They’re both fun, dear. But instead of playing cards, Gabe showed me how to work a turntable for a nightclub.”
My eyes narrowed while my eyebrows furrowed at such an inconceivable vision of Mom in front of turntables.
“All right, Mom. Be nice to Juanita. I’ll see you soon.”
Clint
TO SAY THIS MORNING wasn’t going according to plan was akin to saying the bulls of Pamploma take a stroll in the streets.
When she found out Mamá was on her way, Laura chugged her coffee, used the wax paper from the donut box to grab her own donut, and hauled ass out of my place.
I stared at the hallway after she left before turning to Rae. “Well, so much for nobody being the third wheel.”
She burst out with laughter, making me grin. “Clint, it wouldn’t matter if she was here, or Erica. I would still feel like an outsider. But thank you for trying to keep things... even.”
She was too far away from me. Once I had her in my arms, I said, “No need to thank me, Rae. Having Laura around would’ve helped me to divert Mamá’s attention.”
Her head tilted. “What do you mean?”
I cocked a brow. “Mamá likes to fuss over all three of us, and Laura somehow dodges that more often than me or Erica. I live to make sure she gets the same treatment.”
She slid her hands up my chest while shaking her head. “Proof you’ve always been about justice for all.”
I chuckled. “Wouldn’t go that far, but when it comes to my sisters, you bet.” I gave her a quick kiss. “Now, I gotta put some clothes on since Mamá will be here in no time.” Her eyes widened and I squeezed her. “No worries, mamita. She’ll be nice. I’ll see to it.”
While I got dressed, she hit the bathroom, and by the time I’d brushed my teeth, the doorbell rang.
Rae still looked like a dead woman walking, and I winked at her to put her at ease.
Positioning myself to the right of the door, I opened it so Mamá couldn’t barge inside. “Hello, Mamá. Are you going to be nice?”
Her eyes narrowed, but her sigh was one of resignation. “Of course, I am, Clint. I’m here to apologize after all.”
I grinned. “Normally I wouldn’t believe that, since you’ve been known to deliver a nice apology while being catty. But, today, I’m trusting you.”
A serious look crossed her face. “Do you really want another chance with her? What am I asking that for? Are you sure you’re not setting yourself up for heartbreak?”
“Mamá, this isn’t the place for this—”
She held a hand up. “I know, mi hijo. But I have to ask because I know how much you loved her.”
I pressed my lips together so I wouldn’t admit that I still did.
That love had not died, even if, for the past nine years, I had pretended it did.
To push past those thoughts, I opened the door wider for her. She walked past me, and I realized she probably had to work today since she was wearing her uncomfortable-looking high heels. Anytime I said she should care more about her feet than her appearance, she muttered things about me being a man who would never understand.
I followed her into the living room where Raegan sat on the couch, but I couldn’t tell if she was still nervous or not.
Mamá set her handbag on the recliner and sank into the couch next to Rae.
Before Rae could shift her body, Mamá grabbed her hands. “I’m sorry. I never should have sent you that letter after you and Clint split up. You were both adults, and what happened was between you two. So, I really had no business butting into it.”
Rae’s eyes had widened with surprise, and I could see her swallow. For that matter, even I was stunned Mom just launched right into things.
“It’s okay, Mrs. Ramsey—”
“Juanita, Raegan. If Clint’s giving you a second chance, then I’m Juanita to you.”
I fought to keep a neutral expression after that, but I did it.
Rae smiled. “Okay, Juanita. It’s okay. You were well within your rights—”
One of Mamá’s hands let go and patted Rae’s leg. “I was not within my rights—”
“You’re a protective mother. You were within your rights, but whatever. What’s done is done. Apology accepted.”
My stoic expression faltered as my head shifted to give Rae an incredulous stare. “That’s it? After the way Penny described she had to pick up the pieces?”
Mom shot me a look to shut me up, but my focus was on Raegan, who shrugged.
“Clint, as worked up as Mom seemed to be, I figure your mother has taken more than her fair share of grief.”
I stared at her as I contemplated Penny and Mamá having words. With an upward jerk of my chin, I said, “You’re right.” I looked at Mamá. “You want coffee?”
She smiled. “If you don’t mind. And I’d love a sugar-raised donut, if my eldest daughter left
