Chapter 16 #2
I gave her a small smile. “I have zero doubt that you’re right about that. And when that happens, I’ll work through it. But for now I’m fine.”
She studied my face like she was searching for the truth.
Whatever she was looking for, she must have found it because she gave me a decisive nod before putting her head back on my chest. We stood there in companionable silence, and I felt a peace that was unfamiliar to this space.
I could only assume it was due to the presence of Jules, and maybe the fact that I wasn’t bracing to be told I was a disappointment—which was its own mindfuck.
“Noah, I found— Oh—” Mary’s reentry into the kitchen was accompanied with her dropping something on the floor, causing Jules to spring back from me like we were teenagers who had just been caught making out.
In Jules’s defense, I hadn’t warned her to Mary’s presence, so she hadn’t known anyone was in the house.
“Oh, I’m…” Jules stuttered, clearly not sure what to say to this grandmotherly-looking figure in a work dress, staring at us with a pleased expression on her face. If I could see into Jules’s brain, I was certain she was running through all the possibilities of who Mary could be.
“Jules, this is Mrs. Doyle—”
“Mary,” she said. Stubborn woman.
“My apologies,” I gave Mary an indulgent shake of my head and smiled at her. “Mary, Jules. My parents would have been lost years ago if Mary hadn’t taken charge of their household. She runs this place.”
Jules put her hand out, but Mary wasn’t having any of that.
She walked up to Jules and pulled her in for a hug.
“Come here, sweet girl. You’re going to need to tell me why I found you in our Noah’s arms. Then we’re going to conspire against the man and take care of him while we figure out what is to be done after his parents’ passing. ”
Jules let out a laugh and looked from Mary to me, her eyes twinkling. “I think you and I are going to get along just fine.”
“Oh boy,” I said, grateful for the lightness of this moment. “I think you two together equals trouble.”
“You know it,” Mary said with a wink. “Now both of you, sit. Noah, here’s your mother’s book so you can contact Barry Foley. Jules, what do you want for breakfast?”
With that, I lost Jules to a flurry of a conversation about everything Mary could whip up at a moment’s notice. I knew she’d make me an omelet, so I excused myself to call Barry and wrap my brain around what needed to happen next.
Coming back into the kitchen twenty or so minutes later, I found that I was incorrect in my assumption that I’d be having an omelet because Jules was behind the counter with Mary, and they were making pancakes.
I leaned against the wall and took the time where they didn’t know I was there simply to observe.
There was a lot of laughter while Mary gave Jules gentle advice on how big to make the pancakes and how to know when to flip them.
“Yes, that one looks good.” Jules cheered as she looked to Mary.
“Couldn’t make a better-looking pancake myself,” Mary said as she moved the completed pancake to a stack on a platter.
“Can we put some chocolate chips in a few?” Jules asked as she ladled some batter into the skillet.
“Sure, though maybe we should tell Noah to come from the back of the kitchen to join us and then we’ll know what he wants on his,” Mary said without turning around. The woman had always been all-knowing since I was a kid.
Jules looked in my direction and I raised my hands.
“Busted, and I’ll take whatever you give me.” I headed to join them at the counter. “And Jules, I hope you know Mary is already playing favorites—she sure never taught me how to make any of her secret recipes.”
Jules looked to Mary, “Is that true?”
Mary laughed. “That you’re my favorite? Of course. Now flip.” She pointed at the pancakes and revealed the truth of her feelings for me as she moved to my side and gave me a small hug. “Now Noah, don’t you go telling lies. I taught you to cook when I could.”
I nodded and looked at Jules’s confused face while she poured the last pancakes into the pan. “The truth is, I haven’t learned how to make her pancakes, but she used to teach me basics when my parents weren’t here.”
Jules drew her eyebrows together in a clear sign of confusion. “Why only then?”
I looked to Mary, who shrugged before she spoke. “Not to speak ill of the dead, but Noah’s parents wouldn’t have approved of him learning to cook.”
“Why?”
I thought of how to phrase it without them sounding like entitled asses, but that was difficult at best. “They wanted me to work for my dad and make enough money that I could always have someone to work for me and do tasks like cooking and cleaning.”
Jules didn’t look any less confused than before. “I thought you mentioned you enjoy cooking?”
“Yep.” Best to leave it at that.
Mary clucked her disapproval at the memory of my parents. Looked like their passing might make her blunter. That was going to be enlightening.
“Did you talk to the lawyer?” Mary asked as she helped Jules plate the final pancakes. A plate was slid to me at my stool at the island, then one for Jules. I cleared my throat, trying to tell Mary to make her own plate, but got a “mind your business” look back from her.
I rolled my eyes at her like my ten-year-old self had done so long ago before answering her question. “I did. He’s swinging by here in half an hour to go over the will.” I took a bite and groaned in pleasure. I hadn’t had Mary’s pancakes in years, and they were just as good as I remembered.
Jules took her first bite next to me and let out her own noise of pleasure that had me sitting up and praying that my current pair of joggers would not make my sudden arousal visible to all.
My brain was all too happy to catalog that noise and pray I could get more from her in another setting. Jesus. Not. The. Time.
Luckily, she put down her fork to take a sip of coffee, then turned to me.
“Should I make myself scarce when he comes? I mean, I need to get some writing done…” Her eyes flashed in panic as she glanced toward Mary, not that Mary was even paying attention.
She’d already started cleanup and was happily humming to herself as she got her kitchen back in order.
“It’s fine,” I whispered, reaching over to squeeze her knee. “And if it’s all the same with you, I’d love some company. I’m sure it’s going to be another chance for them to insult me, but it would be nice to have someone by my side while that happens.”
Jules laced my fingers with hers. “Then by your side sounds good to me.”