Chapter 49
Scarlett
As the sunlight sinks into the room, I slide out of bed carefully, so I don’t wake Matt. I head downstairs for some coffee. I need to see where the heck I am in Texas.
Another thing that’s weird about Texas is I’m up first. This Matt must be someone else.
In Lakebrook he’d be up already; he would’ve completed a workout and had too many cups of coffee.
It’s like we switched. I can’t stop thinking about how it’s going to go today or where the two of us will end up.
I tossed and turned in my sleep most of the night.
The coffee maker is in plain sight, thank the heavens. He stocked the creamer I use somehow. He knows so many details about me.
Once I have my coffee in hand, I go to one of the big windows to see what’s behind curtain number one.
A view of a rectangular, in-ground pool with crepe myrtles, magnolia trees, and oak trees welcome me.
I step out onto a patio with a black metal trellis above me for shade.
I look beyond the pool to a lot of land. Not a neighbor in sight.
You can hear some tropical bird singing as the sun comes up. A few clouds float by, in several shades of pink, purple, and orange with a light blue backdrop.
The beauty almost distracts from how hot I am—I’m already sweating. That pool is about to come in handy right now. I’m debating on jumping into it fully dressed when the door opens.
“Good morning, sweetheart,” Matt says, coming up behind me. “I see you found the coffee.”
“Good morning, handsome.” I turn my head back to kiss him. He gives me a quick morning kiss, which I appreciate, considering the coffee breath and all. “You feeling okay?”
“Of course.” He furrows his brow. “Why?”
“I’m up before you.”
His laughter vibrates my back. “I’m a bit more relaxed here.”
“I can tell.”
“Don’t make me throw you in the pool. What are you doing awake?”
“I guess I’m just nervous; couldn’t sleep.” I pause. “I was considering going into the pool. How has no one melted since they started living here?”
“You get used to it.” He shrugs.
“Right. You’ll have to hose me off before we meet your parents so I can function.”
“I’m going to get some coffee. Stop worrying.” He slaps my ass.
“I’ll stop worrying after I meet your parents. What are your plans this morning? No workout?”
“Later,” he responds, stepping through the door.
I follow him in to get another cup.
~
We arrive three hours later at a house on stilts with a backdrop of the ocean.
Matt parks the truck, leaving the engine running. “ We’re here.”
“This is nice. Right on the water.”
“It is. I gave my mom the down payment so she could get it a couple years ago. I wanted her to have the home of her dreams. Especially after everything she did for me. We used to live in a mobile home, not far from here. She’s always liked the water.
She wouldn’t let me buy the entire house, though.
Stubborn woman. Anyway, you ready?” He taps my thigh.
I nod my head with a gulp. I haven’t met the parents in years, let alone parents from another state. I’m nervous. I like Matt and I know his mom means a lot to him, which will mean her opinion will mean a lot to him, I’m guessing. I want to make a good impression.
He turns the truck off and goes to get out. He comes to my side, closes the door, and puts his arm around my lower waist.
I look up at him. “Can I get some alcohol as soon as we step in the door?”
“They don’t have alcohol in the house, sweetheart. My mom doesn’t drink and once my dad went sober, they threw out the alcohol.” He gives me a pity smile. “You’ll be okay.” He kisses the top of my forehead.
I nod with my stomach doing flips. “Of course. I forgot. Makes sense.”
I fidget with my hands, taking the several steps up to the front door, passing a tall flagpole with a giant Texas flag flailing about. I look at the waves crash from the wraparound porch.
The door opens to a small figure with hair in a tight bun before Matt can knock. He’s embraced by his mother in a tight hug. Her smile pops over Matt’s shoulder with a small tear in her eye. Her skin is clear, not a wrinkle in sight. It must be all this humidity. It keeps you moisturized.
“You must be Scarlett,” she says with an inviting smile after she lets go of her son. “I’m so happy to meet you.” She gives me a brief hug and places one of her hands on my shoulder. My shoulders drop from my ears at her touch. I let out the breath I’ve been holding in.
“Please come in.” She opens her other arm towards her home.
“Thank you! It’s so nice to meet you, Mrs. Reding.”
“We don’t do formal here. Call me Libby.”
I smile, thankful for her warm welcome. I don’t know why I was worried. I’ve got this.
We walk into a living room filled with family photos over the mantel, at least five plants, several pillows on the sofa, and a lot of wooden furniture.
“How was y’all’s trek out here?” Libby asks.
“Just fine, mom.”
“Glad there wasn’t a storm. This weather never gives you any warning—changes every thirty minutes. Your father passed out in his chair. Again. He’s had a day with the fence. Maybe you could help him later? He didn’t quite finish it.”
“Yeah, sure. I’m going to grab a drink. You want anything, sweetheart?”
“Just a water.”
He nods.
Libby talks to his back. “I got your favorite soda and fizzy water. It’s nice to see my only son, you know.” She turns to me. “Scarlett, thank goodness you came around. Not sure when he would come back to his parents if it wasn’t for you. Taking that funny job out in Washington, of all things.”
My face heats. “Yes, thankfully he made it to the west. I wouldn’t have met him otherwise. ”
She looks at me with an expression I can’t quite place. Maybe she’s thinking I’m excited about his money and crazy cars. Nope. I’m not going there. She can think whatever she wants. I’m going to be me, and I am excited I met Matt. So there.
“Whatever is meant to be, will find a way.” She grins. She looks around the room, then whispers, “I’m fixing to make myself a drink, would you like one?”
“God yes. Preferably strong,” I say without thinking. My eyes widen in disbelief at saying the statement.
Without missing a beat, she replies, “Is there any other kind?”
She’s funny. Thank goodness she has a sense of humor. She bends down and pulls out what looks like cleaning supplies in a spray bottle. “Never-been-used spray bottle. I keep some goods around when we have company.” She winks.
I smile. Not my first choice, but alcohol needs to happen right now. “Your house is beautiful! I’ve never seen a home on stilts before,” I say.
“Thank you. Matt helped us build it. Did he tell you anything about it?”
“He doesn’t say much.”
She looks in the direction of her son. “No he doesn’t, but he had better be a perfect gentleman.”
I start laughing, thinking about what a douchebag he was when we met. I’m not sure I should tell her the details. “He’s very chivalrous when he wants to be.”
Matt turns, flashing his crooked grin. And as a way to change the subject he turns to Libby. “Mom, what can I help you with? Are we barbequing?”
“Yes, I got those special hot dogs you told me about. The things they come up with these days.” She shakes her head.
My face must be the color of Santa’s suit. He told his mom to get tofu dogs. She must’ve been thrilled.
“How’s your sister doing?” She gets ice in the glasses.
“She’s hanging in there. Scarlett and her friends have been helping her fit in. Have you had any issues here?”
“You know if we did, your father knows how to take care of it.”
“Yeah, I figured you guys would be fine.” Matt walks out to the porch.
The saying “Don’t Mess with Texas” rings through my head.
Libby hands me a drink after a final stir. “Thank you!” I take a sip. I go to stand up to join Matt, but instead, she stops me.
“So, how long have y’all been dating?”
I sit down in an inconspicuous manner. “A few months now. It’s flown by.”
“Yes. Matt said he was bringing someone special home. I’ve been waiting for those words to come out of his mouth for years.”
“He said ‘someone special?’” My stomach flutters.
“He did.” She gives a small smile.
“He doesn’t tell me a lot about his feelings.”
“You have to read in between the lines with him sometimes. He’d be great at poker.”
“He’s great at anything.” I roll my eyes as Libby laughs. “Anyway, Dani seems to be liking Washington. You stayed with her, right? Did you enjoy your stay?”
“It was much nicer in Washington than it is here for the summer. I didn’t get out much. That new house he bought there sure is something.”
I laugh a bit. “Yeah, bachelor pad on steroids. ”
She laughs too. “So what are you two going to do when Matt is through with his project?”
Getting right into it then. I wish I knew what the future holds for us. “I’m not really sure,” I say, with my grin fading.
She stares at me for a bit while I stare back. Not sure why we’ve entered a staring contest.
“Well, doesn’t that bother you?” She puts her hands on her hips.
“It’s still new.” I shrug. “We’re still trying to get to know each other.”
“Ah, is that what he told you?”
I take a sip of my drink, not sure what else to say. After a few moments I want to get out of this conversation. “Speaking of Matt, I’m going to go melt outside and see if he needs tongs or something.”
She smirks at me as I walk away.
What the fuck was that?
Once I make it outside alive, I whisper to Matt, “Your mom is trying to interrogate me.”
He looks over to me with a wily grin. “Oh, don’t worry ’bout her.”
That’s it. That’s his advice for dealing with his mom. Typical.
He turns back to the grill. Meanwhile, I down my drink, though I have no idea what was in it.
I should drink water after this. For all I know, she put truth serum in here and I’ll be telling her all my secrets.
Secrets I didn’t even know I cared about anymore, like how I cheated on a test in second grade with Lana by writing all the answers on the inside of our jackets.
I was like eight, so she probably wouldn’t judge me, but still.
Then a big, burly guy with a gray beard hitting his shoulders and salt and pepper hair comes walking outside. “Hey, y’all. How ya doing?” he asks, looking like he’s missing his motorcycle.
Matt shakes his hand. I follow Matt’s lead and stand up and put my hand out to shake his.
“Hello, I’m Scarlett. Nice to meet you.”
He shakes my hand back, keeping a neutral expression. His eyes are covered with sunglasses so I don’t know what they’re doing.
“I’m doing just fine. No need to get up for me.
Make yourself comfortable.” He turns his attention back to Matt.
“That fence is giving me a bit of trouble, but nothing a strong arm can’t fix.
Damn near threw my back out. You think you can give some help to your old man there, son?
” he asks, slapping Matt’s shoulders with a firm grip.
“Yeah, I’ll help you out after dinner,” Matt responds.
“Okay, do you need any tips on the grill, or you got it handled?”
“I’ve got it.”
“Good. I’ll tell your mother.”
Then he walks back inside. Now I know where Matt gets his stoic, determined temperament from. I realize I didn’t catch his dad’s name; I was distracted by the sheer size of him.
“What should I call your dad? He didn’t say.”
“Well, mom calls him honey muffin. I call him dad. You could try honey muffin, but you’d probably get smacked by my mom.”
I squint my eyes at him.
“Ah, you have jokes, huh? Didn’t know you knew what those were.”
He holds up the spatula towards me. “Don’t make me use this. ”
I break into a full smile now. “Oh please.” I roll my eyes. “Try it and see what happens to you.”
There’s a look of desire plastered on his face. It seems inappropriate since his parents are inside. They’re probably spying on us.
“I guess Mr. Reding will do,” I say to myself.
Once Matt is done cooking, we eat inside and then play some fun games on the back patio overlooking the ocean. The temperature has dropped a little and the breeze from the ocean helps cool us off.
Now I see why people live here. The sea, the family, the barbeques—it does seem nice.