26. 26
26
LYLA
T he next morning, we head to the hospital to visit with my mom. As we enter the hospital’s lobby, a nervous energy settles over me. My mom is meeting Parker today and I hadn’t anticipated them meeting this soon. I’ve never introduced a man to my mother. She’s uncomfortable around most males and she has a hard time trusting them. I don’t blame her, as I had the same reservations for a long time. But as I hold Parker’s hand, I know that this is the man I want to meet my mom.
The nurse at the desk directs us to my mother’s room and we amble down the hallway, searching for her room number. My breathing becomes erratic as the anxiety sets in and I halt my steps. Parker gives me a curious look and I sigh.
“I’ve never introduced my mom to a boyfriend before. I’m so nervous.”
“I promise to be a complete gentleman.” He places a kiss on my forehead.
“I know you will,” I laugh. “But she’s really skeptical around men. So make sure you ease into things and let her warm up to you.”
He nods in understanding and we continue making our way to her room. I stop just outside the doorway and spy my poor mother, curled up in a hospital bed, eating the breakfast they provided. Tears fill my eyes as I take her in and realize she’s gained some weight. She isn’t as slim as before which overwhelms me with happiness. I take a few small steps into the room, pulling Parker with me.
“Mom?”
She glances up at me, gives me a huge smile, and opens her arms.
“Lyla, my sweet girl.”
I drop Parker’s hand and run to her bed, stopping abruptly at the edge and gingerly sitting beside her.
“Mama, I was so worried.” I sniffle. “How are you feeling?”
Her gaze cautiously moves over Parker’s form, still standing close to the doorway. When she looks back at me, her eyes fill with curiosity.
“I’m fine, baby. You didn’t need to come all the way here, though I did miss the heck out of you.”
I slowly wrap my arms around her neck and bury my face in her hair. She always smells like cinnamon rolls, a mix of spice and sweetness, and I relax as she embraces me back. She brings her hand up and strokes my hair, soothing me as I silently weep. After a few moments, I pull away and turn to look at the man that has stolen my heart.
Looking back to my mother, I say timidly, “Mom, this is Parker. His family owns the bookstore I work at in Emerald Falls. He offered to drive me since Cherry is in the shop.” I awkwardly scratch my neck and blow out a breath. “He’s also my boyfriend.”
My mom’s gaze lands on Parker again and her face lights up.
“Hi, Parker. It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Kathryn, but you can call me Kathy.”
Parker walks tentatively into the room, trying to assess my mom’s body language, which is surprisingly relaxed despite the big, burly man I had brought with me.
“Hi, Kathy. I’m so happy to hear you’re recovering well, and it’s lovely to meet you. Lyla has told me so much about you.”
He stands a few feet away from me now and my mom doesn’t tense up like she usually does when men approach her. In fact, she seems entirely unbothered by his presence.
“Thank you for driving my girl here.” Her gaze bounces back to me and she gives a sly smile. “Would you mind grabbing me a bottle of water from one of the vending machines, Parker? I would love to have a moment with my daughter.”
“Of course, I’ll be right back.”
He comes over to kiss my cheek before heading out to scout a vending machine and my mom eyes me suspiciously.
Once he’s out of earshot, she says, “So, when were you planning on telling me you had a boyfriend?”
“Um, now?” I chuckle. “To be honest, it’s new. We started off on the wrong foot, but we became friends and it just developed into more.”
She nods and reaches out her hand to tuck a piece of hair behind my ear, some strands having escaped my messy bun. She sits silently as I give her the reduced version of our story and I grow more and more antsy. I’ve never seen this version of my mom, and I wonder how she’s changed so much in just three short months.
“You seem really happy, baby.”
“I am, Mama. He’s my best friend. He’s helped me work through some things and I feel… lighter. Like when I’m with him, I don’t feel so weighed down by everything.”
I clamp my mouth shut, worried he might hear the next part. After listening for footsteps, I continue.
“I haven’t told him yet.”
My mom gives me a sympathetic look and holds my hand in hers. She sits thoughtfully before finally breaking the silence.
“I understand why you’re nervous to share this piece of you with him. I think that’s fair, given how your father reacted. But Lyla, you need to tell him. Especially if you really see this going somewhere. If he’s a good man and truly loves you, it won’t deter him. He will listen, he will ask questions, and he will do what he can to support you. It sounds like he’s already doing that, so I don’t think this will scare him off. And if it does? He isn’t the one for you.”
My eyes burn from unshed tears and I whisper, “I don’t want to lose him.”
“Oh, my sweet girl.” She places a hand on my cheek. “If he’s anything like the man you say he is, you won’t lose him. If anything, it will help him understand you better.”
A tear finally breaks free without permission and slides down my face, followed by another. A throat clears behind me and my mom and I look up to see Parker standing in the doorway, holding two bottles of water.
“I can come back,” he says awkwardly.
“No, that’s okay hun,” my mom replies. “I’m feeling a little tired, so I might have a nap.”
“We’ll let you get some rest. We have to head back to Emerald Falls and relieve Parker’s family, but call me if you need anything, okay? Gloria said she’s going to pick you up tomorrow and take care of you while you recover.”
“Have a safe trip back, baby. I love you a million M&Ms.” She quotes our favorite movie, What A Girl Wants .
“I love you too, mom.”
“And Parker?” She looks behind me. “Take good care of my girl.”
I turn around just in time to see the look of pure conviction written in his gaze.
“I will, Kathy. I promise she’s safe with me.”
We hit the highway around noon, after a delicious brunch at one of my favorite spots, and I can’t help but stare at the man beside me. His sleeves are rolled up, showing off his muscular forearms as he grips the steering wheel, looking sinfully delicious.
He glances over at me before looking back to the road and quirking a brow.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
My face flushes as I reply, “Nothing. I mean, I’m not. Not looking at you.”
I turn towards the window and feel his gaze burning into the back of my head.
“Thank you for taking me to see my mom. And for standing up for me against my—I mean, those girls. I can’t even lie and call them my friends.” I let out a humorless laugh.
“Anytime, sweetheart.”
What had once felt like a condescending nickname, now feels like a sweet sentiment. I smile at him before turning back to look outside. We sit in companionable silence listening to Parker’s indie-alternative playlist when the snow starts. Parker releases a frustrated groan.
“Dammit. It looks like there’s a storm brewing. Hopefully it will hold off for us.”
It does not hold off for us. Three hours into our four hour road trip, we can barely see anything in front of us. It’s white-out conditions and Parker is white knuckling the wheel.
“We have to stop for the night, I can’t see anything and the snow is covering the ice. I don’t want to end up in the ditch. Can you look up how close to Hinton we are?”
Pulling out my phone, I bring up Google maps and find that we’re only a few kilometers away from the town.
“Take the next exit, we’re almost there already.”
Parker nods, not taking his eyes off the road, and a few minutes later we’re exiting off of the highway. We go to a few hotels and everything is booked because of stranded travelers, but one of the inns has a room still available.
With one queen sized bed.
“Do you have a cot or anything we can bring into the room?” Parker asks the lady behind the desk.
“I’m sorry, sir. All of our cots are being used. A lot of folks needed to take shelter for the night.”
I place a hand on Parker’s shoulder. “It’s okay, we’ll make do.” He gives me a skeptical look as I turn back towards the hotel employee. “We’ll take the room, please.”
“Are you sure?” Parker asks, something lingering in his eyes that I can’t quite place.
“Yes. We need somewhere to stay and everywhere else is booked up.”
He hands his credit card over, despite my insistence on paying half the cost. As we enter our room for the night, Parker turns on the lights and I take a look around. It isn’t a five star inn by any means, but it’s clean, warm, and has hot water.
“I’m going to take a shower.”
Parker’s eyes darken before he looks away and clears his throat.
“Sure. I’ll just—um, I’ll be right here if you need me.”
I decide not to analyze the innuendo and make my way into the bathroom.