9. Eliza #2
Humming flatly in response, I took the boxes from Mary to fully assemble them.
"I don't know about having Adam as a constant in my life, though.
" At least I could admit something truthful out loud.
"I just… I don't know him, and he seems kind of too good to be true, and I don't want to get hurt or find out later down the line, after I get involved with him, that Asher doesn't get along with him or he feels different, and I just don't know about him.
" Well, now everything came out after I pulled the plug.
My worries rambled on and on until Mary grabbed my shoulders and flashed me a stern look.
"Eliza, honey, that's what the dating period is for," she reminded me with a motherly smile.
"And life is nothing if you don't take chances.
You can't play it safe all your life, or you'll get nowhere.
" Comfortingly, she rubbed my shoulders and upper arms. "And yes, dating is scary, but what is your heart and gut telling you about Adam? "
"Mary, my gut and heart don't exactly have a good track record," I joked dryly with a chuckle. "I don't know if I can trust it with how much it's led me astray," I admitted with a crestfallen smile.
"We all learn from our mistakes as we mature, and it's a part of human nature to stumble here and there," Mary said with a wary chuckle.
Turning away from me to the cookies, she started to lift them off the baking sheet before continuing, "But we have to fall in order to learn.
If we don't fall, then how will we learn to get up?
Or to not do what we did that caused the fall? "
Her warm eyes glanced at me intermittently as she sorted the delicacies of cookies into the various boxes.
"No doubt you've learned from your past at this point, and your instincts have honed after becoming a mother.
So, you need to trust yourself a little more.
" Reaching over, she gently patted my arm.
"I care for you, Eliza, and I usually don't advise those I care about to take chances easily if I don't have a good feeling about things.
" The genuine smile on her face, along with her tender look, made it hard for me to resist her advice.
"You don't have to flop at his feet, but give Adam a chance.
" Her old and worn eyes lit up with a nostalgic and hopeful fire.
"Both of you are good people who need to take chances, but you are also both young and stubborn.
Your hearts and souls already know before your mind, but you two don't want to admit the sparks that light up the whole world around you. "
Furrowing my brows together, I let out a ridiculous chuckle as I hugged Mary tightly. "Okay, I get your point. Let's not get too deep and sentimental because my heart won't be able to handle it." Having it said to my face repeatedly wouldn't make the situation any different.
Unless James disappeared or forgot about me, I wouldn’t ever be able to settle or have an ounce of solace in my life.
Pulling away, I helped Mary pack the rest of the cookies.
To further pass the time, I decided to break the peaceful silence.
"Mary, what can you tell me about Adam?" I didn't know who else to go to for information, and I was at a loss when it came to social media.
I could ask Eve for help, but she already had so much on her plate—I didn't want to add something so trivial to it.
Smiling and chuckling warmly, Mary flashed me a cheeky wink.
"He's downright handsome, obviously." She snickered, making me roll my eyes.
"As I said, he's a good man, always helping people around the town whenever he's out and about, never afraid to offer a lending hand either, as you probably experienced at the grocery store that day. "
Yeah, that was the whole problem. He sounded perfect. Too fucking perfect, and no one was perfect. Even saints had their sins, was how I always saw things.
With a warm and encouraging smile, she squeezed my hand with beaming eyes. "Just do both of your sakes a favor and give him a chance and take things slow. You only have one shot in a lifetime at true love, and it's better you shoot and miss than don't shoot at all and live with regrets."
Sighing heavily, I flashed her a lopsided smile. "No promises, but I'll try if I cross that path." I wasn't confident about it, probably because I had little intention to do so.
I couldn't be selfish and let myself be happy like that, not at Asher's expense.
If I got comfortable and James found Asher, then our lives would be turned upside down.
The last thing I wanted was to have Asher back in his biological father's grasp.
I had to keep a clear head and remain vigilant to protect my son.
Changing the subject a little, I asked in a genuinely curious voice, "Is he really a businessman? Or do you know what he does for work?"
Mary instantly gushed over Adam like some proud mother with how her eyes lit up like a beacon in the night.
"Oh, that boy has got his life set with how he runs things.
Struck it lucky right out of school and landed a position at Goliath Financial, then expanded to some of the casinos along the coast before the hotels and restaurants came, and all the other little businesses here and there naturally came with the years. "
Huffing, she hooked her hands on her hips as she finished boxing up the last of the cookies.
"And he's such an amazing son. He shared a lot of the money with his parents.
Started up a vineyard for them in eastern Oregon to let them live out their dream.
That boy is a godsend. Hopefully, you'll snatch him off the market before someone bad can.
" Looking at me with a kind grin, she shoved a few of the boxes into my arms. "Those are for you and Asher, and since you're going to be seeing Adam, could you give him his portion as well? "
Rolling my eyes, I tightened my hold around the boxes, and smiling gratefully, I leaned my head onto her shoulder in an armless hug. "Thank you, Mary." It was impossible to say no to her whenever she offered me food. Well, it wasn't even so much an offer as it was a demand.
With a warm chuckle that sent shivers of calm down my body, Mary urged me toward my bag with a pat on my back. "Drive safe now, alright? And have a good evening."
"I will," I replied with a widening smile. "And you and Rob have a good one yourselves."