Chapter 21
My mother took me to school Friday, and as school let out, she was there to pick me up.
Dreux was holding my hand as he walked me out front where my mother was waiting at the curb against her Jetta.
“Gross!” Cameron pretended to scowl and groan as she caught us on her way to cheerleading practice.
Debriefing her and Vanity had been almost painful. Neither were in shock about the status of Dreux and me, with Vanity boldly snorting and going, “About time you woke up.”
Even Bonham had held a knowing smirk when I let him know.
“The guy’s been about to rip Lane’s head off for weeks,” he’d joked.
I guess it was obvious to everyone but me.
“Hello,” Dreux greeted my mother as he and I came to a stop in front of her.
My mother studied the two of us and where our hands were intertwined. Her brows raised. “Well, hello.”
“Mom, you remember Dreux?” I said as I gestured to him.
Dreux, being polite, shook hands with my mother. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
My mother shot me an impressed look as she shook Dreux’s hand. “Nice to meet you as well. Please, call me Madeline.”
Awkwardly, I stood between the two of them. My whole relationship with Kevin had been under wraps. I’d never introduced my mother to a boy before. She hardly liked my friends; I knew for certain she’d never approve of my type of guy. But that was before Dreux.
Still, I found myself shy and nervous. It was the most normal thing in the world, and I was just getting used to that.
“I actually have to work. Can you drop me off at the salon?” I asked my mother.
“Sure.” She turned, prepared to get in behind the wheel. “It was nice being introduced, Dreux.”
Dreux walked me over to the passenger side. He rested his arm against the roof behind me as he hovered close. He touched my face, smiling down at me. “Enjoy your mom.”
She was leaving Sunday, and I probably was going to spend the whole weekend catching up as much as I could. I loved that he was supportive and not bummed.
I leaned up on my toes, wanting a quick kiss. Dreux snaked his arm around me, kissing me like he’d miss me. His lips brushed mine until they were open. I tilted my head back as the kiss deepened into something more.
“See you there,” Dreux promised before he let me go. He opened my door for me and I climbed into my seat.
I was a giddy mess as he shut the door and took off for the student parking lot.
“Well, that’s certainly new,” my mother teased as she started up the Jetta.
All I could do was blush the whole way over to Angela’s salon.
“Can’t believe you got a job. My baby’s growing up. I’m proud of you,” my mother said as she pulled into the strip of shops where Angela’s was located.
“It was Scott’s idea. I got in trouble when I first got here, so he worked out a deal with Dreux’s mom,” I explained as she parked.
“Still, I’m glad you’re sticking with it.”
It was a new experience in a new environment, but I liked it.
The stylists and their clients told the funniest stories or the juiciest gossip.
And it was always mesmerizing watching them create art with hair.
Once they’d held a potluck where I got to gorge on the best foods—between Miss Josephine’s taco salad, Chanda’s banana pudding with shortbread cookies, and Angela’s perfectly seasoned chicken wings, I was in heaven.
Vanity even came in once and it was nice to have a friend to talk to while she waited.
We got out of the Jetta just as Dreux pulled in next to us. My mother waved to him before following me over to Angela’s.
She was inside talking to Miss Josephine as she styled and cut her client’s purple hair.
At the sound of the front bell going off, Angela turned and noticed our arrival. She did a double-take at the sight of my mother. “Hello.”
“Hi!” Miss Josephine said chipperly as she continued to work her magic.
“That’s Miss Josephine, and this is Angela,” I told my mother as I pointed to each woman. “This is my mom. She’s in town to visit me for the weekend.”
“It’s nice to meet you. You’ve got a great girl, there,” Miss Josephine spoke up. She offered my mother one of her warm smiles, already welcoming her into the fold.
My mother waved as she stepped more into the shop, never one to be shy. “Thank you. I’m Madeline.”
Angela came over and shook her hand. “It’s to meet you, Madeline. It’s been a pleasure having Saylor working here at the shop. I’m not sure it’s ever been so organized. You and Scott have done a wonderful job with her.”
My eyes doubled. I wasn’t sure she liked me most days, or even wanted me here, let alone admired what I brought to help out.
My mother tugged me close. “You can thank her dad for that. He’s done a great job with her down here.”
“Oh, Scott’s amazing,” Angela agreed. “My son, Dreux, loves him.” She turned to me. “Why don’t you enjoy this weekend with your mom, Saylor?”
“I couldn’t,” I rushed to say. “I mean, I can’t just take off work every time I have guests come see me.”
I’d already inconvenienced her when the boys came to visit the week before. I didn’t want to cross any lines.
Something like respect crossed Angela’s face. “That’s very mature, but I insist. You’re off next week from school and I already planned to utilize you.”
She was giving me the weekend to spend time with my mother. She didn’t have to, but she was. “Thank you, Angela.” I looked to my mother and got back to Angela. “Can I talk to you for a second?”
Taking the hint, my mother waved goodbye before going out to the car. Angela followed me over to the waiting area where I nervously fiddled with my hands.
“Yes?” Angela pressed when I didn’t speak up.
“I thought you should know I…I like Dreux. A lot,” I announced. “And he likes me, too.”
Angela’s lips twitched, like she was amused. “Last night at dinner, according to him, you two were seeing each other.”
Shit. He’d told his parents about us.
“And you don’t approve,” I said defeatedly. “Is…is it because I’m…”
“A brat who flew into town screaming at my son and even your own father? Who seemed mad at the world? Yeah, that may have had something to do with it.” She loosened up suddenly, flashing a rare smile in my direction.
“But, I can say I’ve seen the change in you.
The effort. I was positive this wouldn’t work out, but you’ve been a big help at the shop.
I mean it. As far as Dreux goes, I just want him happy and safe. ”
She wanted what any good parent wanted: the best for their kid.
“Just be careful, Saylor.” She nudged me with her elbow. “And stop acting so afraid of me.”
My cheeks burned. “Can’t help it!”
Angela shook her head, smiling nonetheless. “Enjoy your mom.”
“Thanks,” I said.
I went and got back in the car, feeling lighter. Feeling accepted.
“So, Dreux’s mom, huh?” my mother said as she started for Scott’s.
I ducked my head. “Yeah. He told her and his dad we were seeing each other. Guess it’s official.”
“Oh.” My mother smiled as she kept her eyes on the road. “You really like this boy?”
“Yeah, yeah I do.”
He held my hand. He kept me close. He encouraged me when I was feeling down. He was good for me. And he made me happy.
My mother didn’t push as she drove the rest of the way home. I liked that, because this was big for me and I was still processing it all.
Scott was off from Marty’s and my mother came in with me instead of going back to her motel.
“Hey.” Scott came down the hall to greet us after hearing us enter the house. Almost right away his gaze floated to my mother as hers drifted to him. She blushed. He grinned.
Scott came back to me, his brows furrowing as he angled his head. “I thought you had to work tonight.”
“Angela’s letting me off to spend time with Mom,” I explained.
“Nice.” Scott glanced back down the hall toward the kitchen. “Maybe we can all tag-team dinner? I was thinking clams and linguine.”
I loved that Scott cooked more seafood since that’s where I leaned most days. He still cooked red meat once a week, but once he noticed my affinity for fish or chicken, he was quick to work my taste into the equation.
I set my school bag on the last step before following Scott to the kitchen with my mother in tow. Bright blue grocery bags from Marty’s covered the counters by the sink and classic rock was playing from a speaker on the island. Queen.
“By the way, I haven’t forgotten you promised to play me ‘Blackbird,’ ” my mother said as she eyed Scott.
I snorted. “No way you tried to schmooze her with the guitar card.”
Scott puffed up his chest with pride. “You’re damn right I did.”
My mother laughed and Scott was beside her. Just looking at them, I couldn’t help but note how normal this felt.
We washed our hands and began our separate dinner duties. I was creating a salad, Scott was preparing the clams while the pasta boiled, and my mother was making the garlic bread. Three people in the kitchen sounded crowded, but we made it work.
“This garlic butter smells delicious,” my mother commented as she finished smearing it on to some fresh Italian bread from Marty’s bakery.
“I use that for everything,” Scott insisted.
My mother tore a piece of bread off and dipped it into the garlic butter and ate it. Her brows shot up. “Oh, that’s good.” Without even seeming to think it over she fed a piece to Scott, like she’d done it a dozen times before.
Adverting my gaze, I added croutons to the salad. More, I pulled my phone out and shot Dreux a text, needing a distraction.
Me
Making dinner with my parents. It’s like I’m a third wheel
Dreux
How we feeling about it?
Me
I love the way he looks at her. Like he’s prepared to worship her for the rest of his life
Dreux
Can you handle that?
I paused, looking up and catching Scott speaking lowly to my mother.
She was flushed and focused on him completely.
It had never been that way back home. I’d yet to see Scott breathe in the direction of another woman.
They almost had it eighteen years ago, but life got in the way. Could it really work now?
Me
I think so
Dreux