Chapter 15
His mother's flight had been canceled once, and the next flight Malcolm could book was delayed twice. “Finally,” she huffed as Aurelia Sutter stormed up the ramp, towing a designer carry-on. “Thought I'd never get here.”
“I'm glad you made the effort, Mother. I had no idea the flight would be so miserable.” He kissed her on the cheek and was surprised when she looped one arm around his neck in a tight hug. She wasn't a woman who gave in easily to her emotions.
“Wouldn't have missed it for the world.” Backing away, she patted his chest. “I think my son needed me.”
“R-really? You thought I needed you?” he sputtered. Maybe she was right. In any case, Malcolm was used to her surprises. When he was growing up, he’d seen his father glance over at his mother as if to say, who is this woman I married?
“Which way to the luggage?” She glanced around. “What I meant to say was, after that miserable debacle with Darcy Hightower you might want some bolstering.”
“Let's put that behind us.” He hoped they wouldn't have to hash over his disastrous engagement during her visit. Taking her elbow, he steered her to a bench. “Stay here and I'll get your bag.”
Throwing him a benevolent smile, she sat down. He had to admit his mother had a certain air about her. Regal. Imperious. And it was the last quality that usually got her into trouble.
Fifteen minutes later they were in the jeep and headed for Sweetwater Creek. Head swiveling from side to side, her mother took it in. “It's all rather provincial, isn't it?”
“If you mean simple and peaceful, then yes, it is provincial.” He heard the defensive note in his voice.
His mother threw him a crooked smile.” I'm not being critical, son, I just meant that it was, you know, healthy. All these open fields.”
He burst into a chuckle. How would she react to this little town?
Malcolm had tried to prepare her for his apartment.
He’d told her that it was a work in progress.
After they’d trudged up the steps and he’d thrown open the door, he watched her eyebrows disappear into the silver hair that waved back from her forehead.
Taking her bag to the guestroom, he was glad that he’d made some changes. At least the room had a bed and a dresser and he’d cleaned out the closet. When he returned to the living room, she was standing in the center of the small room, staring at the purple sofa.
“Of course I intend to make some changes,” he said quickly. “This furniture all belongs to Victoria, the woman who owns the building and the pantry downstairs. She lived here for a while.”
His mother tapped one finger against her lips. Was she hiding a smile? “Oh yes, the pantry.”
“I expected Darcy to kind of take hold here and make some changes.”
When his mother swung her eyes his way, Malcolm saw the laughter in them. “Oh my poor, deluded son. Darcy would never have ‘taken hold’ of this.”
Hmm. Really? Malcolm was so glad that Victoria wasn't there to see his mother dismiss the furniture with one quick motion. “I mean, really Malcolm. This is a little bit of Versailles mixed with Alice in Wonderland.”
Laughter tickling his throat, he looked at the room with new eyes. Then he roared while his mother chuckled. “You do have a way with words, Mother.” He swiped at his eyes. This visit might be more fun than he’d anticipated. “Now come to the window and look at the square. You're going to love it.”
Edging to the long windows, she took in the square with one cursory glance. “Very nice, very nice. Now, about those baked goods. Did you say they were downstairs?”
“Right this way.” Malcolm had a feeling that this visit was going to be a real eye-opener for her.
“Oh, how very mysterious to go in through a back door,” his mother commented as he led her down the stairs and in through the pantry’s rear door.
Her nostrils flared as she seemed to breathe in the smell of croissants and cookies and Christmas cakes.
When they came to the busy room where Christmas gifts were heaped around a tree and ladies visited around the circular tables, she looked positively delighted. The tension in his neck eased.
Thank goodness Josie was there with her friends. It looked as if they were having lunch and she waved them over.
“Mother, I want you to meet my...boss,” Malcolm said.
“How lovely,” she said as Josie nodded and said hello.
Josie quickly introduced his mother to the other girls and their babies.
And it surprised him to see how taken Josie was with the two babies.
For once, Bryn’s little boy was awake, staring at the lights on the Christmas tree.
And Emily's little boy was trying to cram a cookie into his mouth. Crumbs were everywhere.
After a few polite comments, his mother turned to the Christmas tree. “Look at all these gifts.”
Joining his mother at the tree, Josie begin to explain how the Christmas Wishes worked.
He could see his mother bend her head, listening to every word.
Heads together, they kept talking. He came closer.
One look at his watch told him that his extended lunch hour was over, and Josie seemed to realize it too.
“Time to get back to work,” she said, turning to him with a bright smile.
At that moment, his mother was looking like the cat who ate the canary.
That was one of her favorite phrases and it fit this moment perfectly.
“Why don't I introduce your mother to the ladies in the front before I head back to the library?” Josie said.
“Emily's neighbor, Charlotte Whipple, is there. I think they’ll get along great.”
Introductions were made and before long his mother was sitting at the table of older women. When Josie and Malcolm disappeared out the back door, he saw his mother look up and nod good-bye. She looked in her element. Malcolm felt so relieved.
That night when he got home, he discovered a note on his kitchen table. “Some of the ladies are showing me about town. Will be back soon.”
Well, she seemed to be getting along just fine.
What a relief. When he went into his bedroom, a small blue velvet box sat on his dresser.
He flipped it opened and smiled to see his grandmother’s ring.
So his mother had been true to her word.
He brought the ring out to the kitchen table and set it down.
While he was rummaging through his refrigerator, the apartment door opened.
“Anybody home?” his mother called out.
“I'm here in the kitchen.”
When his mother appeared, she looked amazingly perky, considering that she’d been up since dawn to catch her flight. “So where have you ladies been? Did you have fun?”
Sliding into one of the kitchen chairs and crossing her ankles demurely, she nodded. “That Charlotte has lived here all her life. So she told me all kinds of things as we drove around. Very historical, this town.”
He settled back, wondering where his mother had stopped. He could be wrong but she seemed a little tipsy. Brandy was her favorite drink, but only on special occasions.
“Yes, Sweetwater Creek is historical. I know that New York has a lot of history to it but it’s quieter here. I hope tomorrow you’ll let me show you around the library.”
Her eyes sparkling, his mother tilted her head to one side. “Yes, I would love to see where you and Josie work.”
What was this? The tone in her voice got his attention. “Okay,” he said slowly. “Then we'll do that.”
Her eyes fell to the little blue box. “Good thing that I brought the ring.”
“Really?” What was she talking about? “Okay, I'm glad you brought it too.”
She leaned closer. “When were you going to tell me?”
What was this? “Tell you what?”
Spreading her hands on the plain kitchen table, his mother smiled. She wore the strangest expression––defiant and victorious at the same time. “I can't wait to see the expression on Lucille Hightower’s face.”
“Okay, I lost you.” Now he was really confused.
“When were you going to tell me about you and Josie? Obviously Darcy didn't ditch you, as her mother is fond of phrasing it at the club. You and Josie, you know. Why, I hear you're both crazy about each other.” Her eyes went back to the ring and everything slotted into place.
“Oh no. You've gotten the wrong idea. It's not like that.”
And she gave him the same look she’d worn when he insisted that there was a Santa Claus and she had to break the news to him. “Son, it's very clear to me, watching the two of you together. And then Charlotte confirmed my suspicions. Why, the whole town is waiting for the news.”
Jumping up, Malcolm began to pace and it was a very small kitchen. “The whole town?” Did that include Josie?
Pushing back her chair, his mother got up. “And now, I'm starving. I'd like to go back to the Comeback Inn for dinner. Such an interesting place. So much great energy.”
“Go back to the Comeback Inn?” She must have had a busy afternoon. His mind darted from one comment to another. Things began to come together.
“Yes, of course. Charlotte said that she and her gentleman friend might be there tonight. Apparently the restaurant has great burgers.” Mom said that with great relish. “Such town spirit.”
Malcolm wasn't thinking about town spirit. He was wondering if what his mother was telling him was true. It was as if he'd been swimming underwater all this time. Finally he broke the surface and saw the shore.