Chapter 12 #3
"Linden, be a good boy and get the box of preserves from my car.
I didn't mean to can so much, I got carried away with the fruit.
It's just so good and I have so much fun and—oh, hello dear.
" She stopped, grinned at me with a deep pink lipstick smile, and without taking her eyes off me, called to Linden, "You didn't tell me you were having guests today. "
Her purple ankle jeans and pink pullover with a crisp white blouse underneath reminded me of a Talbots catalog, though the dark hazel eyes, just like her son's, sized me up right away.
It was the middle of the workday and I was fresh from the shower, and that meant only one thing as far as mothers were concerned.
"Just the one guest, Mom." He stood up, gave me a sorry about this shrug. "Jasper, this is my mother, Diana, who has forgotten how to knock. Mom, this is Jasper-Anne Cleary."
I held out my hand to her. "How do you do?"
Her curious grin melted into a comically gleeful smile as she pressed both hands to her chest and squealed. She squealed. "Linden! You should've told me you had such a beautiful guest!" She shot him a wink that said she was in on the joke. "Oh my goodness, you are just gorgeous!"
Then she flung herself at me, gathering me into a crushing hug that stole my breath and seemed unnaturally strong for such a petite woman.
Since I was a guest of Linden's but not a wink-wink guest, I wasn't sure how to respond, but after a beat passed, it didn't matter.
I had no choice but to return her hug. "That's so kind of you. "
She pulled back, holding tight to my shoulders. "Good gracious. Is that a touch of the South I'm hearing from you?"
I laughed because she asked with the most Steel Magnolias accent I'd ever heard, and everyone mimicked my accent when they met me. What was left of it.
"Oh my god," Linden murmured. "Mom. Stop. You're being ridiculous."
"Quiet, Linden," she replied, smoothing a hand over the arms of my shirt. Which was her son's. Which she knew. "I'm having a chat with Jasper-Anne."
"Jasper will do, thank you."
"Jasper," she drawled. "So lovely."
He shot me a look that seemed to say are you good? and I nodded. I wanted to scoff and say of course I'm good. I could handle far stickier situations than a pop-in from Mom.
He dipped his chin, arched his brows up. Are you sure?
I gave him a nod, a quick smirk. Oh yeah. I got this.
"I'm going to grab that box from the car," he said, pointing to Diana. "Behave yourself."
She blinked. "Whatever could you be implying?"
"That I know your tricks. Behave," he repeated.
The door closed and I was alone with Linden's mother. Wet hair, bare feet, borrowed shirt. Obviously not my ideal look for any introductory situation but I wasn't in the business of getting my ideals anymore.
"I am just so happy to meet you," Diana said, gripping both of my hands and leading me into the kitchen. "Where are you from, sweetheart?"
"Originally, Georgia," I said, allowing her to steer me into a seat. "Then Washington, D.C., and now I'm here."
She gave me a subtle up-and-down glance as she smiled but it was clear she wanted to know what I did, why I was here, and how wonderful her son was to me. "This quaint town must be quite the change of pace for you."
I was prepared to joke about the culture shock but instead answered, "I'm enjoying it."
"As you should." She patted my arm with so much maternal reassurance, I felt tears prickling behind my eyes.
"Now, before my son returns and tells me to keep quiet, I just want to apologize for walking in on you.
If you're anything like me, you don't meet company until after your hair is set for the day.
" She touched gel manicured fingers to her dark, silver-streaked bob.
"Not because you aren't perfect just like this—because you are just gorgeous—but that's how I'd feel.
I'd also want plenty of warning before meeting my significant other's family"—oh, wow, she was going there—"and I should've called ahead.
I am learning this, slowly but surely, as my children keep growing up and leading their own lives.
I'm sorry for popping in unannounced. I just came from my daughter's house and, because of her aversions to certain foods during this pregnancy, she didn't want to see a jar of preserves.
Since my canning closet is full and the food banks won't take home-canned goods, I thought I'd stop here—"
"Jesus, Mom. Don't put her to sleep with the hand-me-down history of your jams, jellies, and preserves."
"Don't forget the marmalades!" She gave me a conspiratorial grin. "I went to town on the Meyer lemon marmalade this year. I hope you love it."
Since that sounded phenomenal and I did enjoy anything intended for spreading over bread, I said, "I'm sure I will. I love toast."
"She really does," Linden added as he set the box on the countertop.
"Then I've come to the right place. Oh, Jasper, you have to join us for Sunday supper this weekend. We haven't managed to get everyone together since July because Rob and Magnolia were visiting his family and then Zelda was off on her fieldwork adventures and Ash had all those audits in Arizona—"
"Mom. For real. Jas doesn't need a rundown of everyone's schedules.
" He turned toward us, his arms crossed over his chest. Without the benefit of his plaid shirt, he was all bulging biceps and thick forearms. "Have you thought about selling this stuff?
Even if Jasper eats toast three times a day, every day—"
"I've been known to do that."
Diana hit me with another one of her sly winks.
"—we will still have enough spreadable fruit for several years."
"Where would I sell it?" she asked, tossing her hands up like it was a real mystery.
"And I don't have the time for that. I just like making my preserves and giving them to the people I love.
I'm not interested in any kind of entrepreneurial adventure.
Please. I have grandbabies on the way." She shook her head at him like he should've known better than to start with her.
"I'm sure you'll manage. Give your clients a jar or two when you visit. They'll enjoy that. A personal touch."
He stared at her. "Not gonna happen."
"Anyway," Diana started, patting my hand again, "I am looking forward to Jasper joining us on Sunday."
For a split second, Linden looked completely stricken. He recovered before Diana glanced up at him but I saw his jaw hang open and his eyes pop, and I knew exactly what he was thinking.
"I will have to check my schedule," I said. "Now that I think of it, I might have a commitment that day."
He cut a sidelong glance in my direction. "Jasper is really busy."
Diana shifted in her seat, made a pointed glance at the wall clock which clearly stated it was eleven thirty in the morning and I was hanging out in her son's kitchen, and offered a pleasant grin. "I hope you can make it. I understand if you can't, given the short notice."
I figured that would be the end of it. I figured Diana would find something else to talk about and Linden would let her because this wasn't the conversation he wanted to have with her today, mainly because there wasn't a conversation to be had.
I wasn't his girlfriend. I was the girl next door who showered here every day, occasionally slept over, and engaged in some very un-kitchenlike behavior in this room when the mood was right.
I didn't figure Linden would drop his hands to my shoulders and say, "We'll see what happens, Mom."
Diana rolled her eyes toward the ceiling, whispering, "He tells me we'll see.
We'll see!" She pressed her hands to her chest again.
"I'd love to have both of you around my table on Sunday.
It's just supper. Only a few hours from your busy days.
You have to eat, right? You can't spend all day on the go.
" She shrugged, and wow, this lady was slick.
She knew a maneuver. "Linden, I know your sister is hoping to get some time to speak with you and Ash together.
While you do that, Jasper can help me make sense of the menu for Magnolia's shower.
" She smiled at me. "I can just tell you have the best taste. You'd really be doing me a favor too."
"I know a few senators who'd do well to get you on their payroll," I said under my breath.
Linden kneaded my shoulders, his thumbs digging into the back of my neck. "Do you think you could swing it, Jas? What do you think?"
I peeked up at him as best I could while he massaged me. Did he want me to say yes? That couldn't be the case. He didn't want to bring me home to the family. When I caught his eye, he gave me a quick, jerky nod.
Okay. I was rolling with this.
I smiled at Diana again, who was busy beaming at her son. "Thank you for the invitation. It's very generous. It would be my pleasure to join you."
"Oh, my word. I cannot hardly contain my excitement," she cried.
"That's enough out of you, Scarlett O'Hara," he quipped.
"Tell me what I can bring," I said.
"No, Peach, you don't have to do anything. I'll grab a few bottles of wine."
"That's right," Diana said, gripping my hand again. Very handsy, this one. "When you come to my Sunday supper, you're coming home. All I need is your smiling face, sweetheart."
There was no way in hell I could live with that but I said, "Thank you."
"And you'll have to come to the party too," she continued. "It's going to be such a fabulous time."
From behind me, I heard Linden's ragged exhale. Then, "Mom."
"What?" She worked hard at looking very innocent as she stared at him.
"You know what," he replied.
"I haven't a clue." She turned her attention back to me, saying, "We're having a little get-together—"
"Two hundred people at a country club but sure, call it a little get-together," Linden muttered.