Chapter Eleven #3
“Um ... yeah. Sorry. I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday,” she said in a quiet, even tone.
“Happy? What a joke. I’m hungover, I’m broke because my boyfriend cleaned out my bank account, and the bastard took most of my food when he left yesterday. I got home from work at the ass crack of dawn to find nothing to eat or drink. Some birthday.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, so am I. Heard Cole’s back in town. Told you he was a loser. That’s all you ever date. I warned you not to believe his lies. Told you he’d fuck you over, but you never learn. Like mother, like daughter.”
A muscle in Britt’s jaw flexed as she ground her teeth together. “Yeah, you were right,” she said after a moment. “But I’m doing okay. I found a job with a wonderful family. They live on the coast, and it’s so beautiful here.”
“And cold as shit. I don’t understand why anyone would live up there in the frozen tundra.”
“It’s not actually that cold. Spring was lovely. And summer’s been great so far—”
“Is there a reason you called? I’m not sending you any damn money. I just told you that I’m broke, and I also told you when you left with that dirtbag not to come crawling back to me when he fucked you over.”
“No. Just to wish you a happy birthday, Mom,” Britt reminded her softly. Her gaze was locked on the table in front of her. “You share a birthday with the woman I’m working for. It’s quite a coincidence.”
“Well, I hope you aren’t being a pain in her ass like you were for me,” her mom bit out.
Chad was done. It was torture sitting there and listening to one of the nicest, hardest-working women he’d ever met being disparaged by her own mother ... especially when he’d brought this on Britt himself.
Acting without thought, he did what he should’ve done earlier. He took the phone out of Britt’s hand and brought it up to his own ear.
“Ms. Starkweather? My name is Chad Young, and I want you to know that the way you’re speaking to your daughter is despicable.
She called to wish you a happy birthday, nothing more and nothing less.
And you’ve done nothing but berate and denigrate her.
Britt has been a godsend here. She works hard and has become a part of our family. ”
“I don’t know what the fuck denigrate means, but I don’t like your tone,” her mom bitched.
Chad huffed out an impatient breath. “And I don’t like your tone. Do you even care that your daughter was living out of her car when I met her? That she was starving? Putting herself in danger because she didn’t have a safe place to sleep?”
“No.”
One word. That’s all she had to say about her own flesh and blood.
Chad wasn’t going to prolong this call for another second.
He took the phone from his ear and clicked the off button. He really missed the days when his parents had an old-fashioned rotary phone that could be slammed down. Hitting a button didn’t give him the same satisfaction as hanging up forcefully.
Silence hung in the air like the fog that sometimes rolled in from the ocean.
“Yeah, so—”
Britt didn’t get anything else out of her mouth before Evelyn abruptly scooted back her chair and stood. She began to collect the empty plates and silverware, muttering under her breath as she did so.
“Stupid, ungrateful bitch . Talking about our Britt that way! If I was told one of my boys was homeless and living in his car, I would’ve asked a hell of a lot more questions.
Would’ve been on a damn plane to wherever they were to help them myself!
She doesn’t have the right to have the title of mother. What a bitch!”
Chad was afraid Britt might be offended by his mother’s rant, even though it wasn’t directed at her.
She was talking to herself, really. Venting about that awful woman as she cleaned up from breakfast. They all heard her, of course, because the rest of them remained at the table, still sitting in shock over that damn phone call.
When Britt stood, so did Chad. He couldn’t let her run out of the room, embarrassed over what just happened. Her mother was the one who should be embarrassed. Though he couldn’t blame Britt for being upset.
But she surprised him. Instead of leaving, she walked up to his mom, took the stack of plates out of her hands, put them back on the table, then wrapped her arms around her and held on tight as she whispered “Thank you.”
Evelyn hugged her back, squeezing extra hard in that mom way that she had.
Then she pulled back and took Britt’s face in her hands, tilting her head down so she could look into her eyes.
“Don’t you listen to a word that woman said.
You’re beautiful, sweet, kind, and I can’t imagine you not being here at Lobster Cove.
You’re the daughter I never had, and I love you. ”
The mean words her own mother had spewed hadn’t made Britt cry, but the compliments and tender mom-words from Evelyn did .
“I’m sorry I insisted you call her. I didn’t even give you a chance to explain why it wouldn’t be a good idea. I just ran roughshod over your protests. Don’t let me do that again,” Evelyn admonished. “I tend to get a little pushy when I think I have a good idea.”
Britt gave her a watery chuckle. “Yeah, I’ve noticed.”
The two women shared a long tender look.
“I have no idea how you turned out so kind after being raised by ... her .”
“I was left to raise myself most of the time,” Britt said with a shrug.
“And that doesn’t really make me feel any better. For the record, you are welcome in my home and on Lobster Cove always. I don’t care if it’s ten years from now or fifty.”
“Um ... as much as I want you to live to be one hundred and twenty, I’m not sure you’ll be here in fifty years.”
“Even when I’m gone, you’ll still be welcome here.” Then Evelyn turned to her sons and added sternly, “Right?”
“Yes, ma’am,”
“Of course.”
“Not a problem for me.”
“Damn straight.”
All four brothers answered at the same time. Evelyn turned back to Britt. “My point is, you never have to be homeless again. Forget that bitch. You belong to us now.”
Britt smiled and hugged Evelyn again.
Chad hovered close to the duo, not sure exactly what to do. He wanted to pull Britt into his own arms and reassure her the way his mom had. He still wasn’t sure he wanted anyone to know about the change in their relationship just yet ... although that call had him rethinking everything.
“I’m thinking now’s a good time to go check out the property. See what damage has been done and get to work fixing it. I don’t know about you guys, but I wouldn’t mind breaking some branches and shit right about now,” Lincoln muttered.
“Language,” Evelyn scolded.
Linc rolled his eyes. “Mom, you just said bitch several times.”
“ Bitch isn’t a bad word. Shit is.”
“There, you just swore yourself,” Lincoln said with a smirk.
Their mom rolled her eyes this time and turned back to Britt. “I don’t know how I survived raising these four monsters.”
“We were angels,” Knox countered.
Evelyn snorted.
The tension in the air had lifted somewhat, which was a relief.
“You boys go and do your thing. Britt and I will take care of stuff in here.”
“I should go and see if anything needs to be recleaned in the cabin,” Britt suggested.
“They can check that out and let you know,” Evelyn said.
“I also told Walt and Barry I’d get with them and go over the inventory list. I have some questions for them.”
“You can do that later. For now, I want to sit with you and enjoy making it another trip around the sun,” Evelyn said firmly. “I don’t know how many more birthdays I’ll have.”
Chad knew from experience that when she got that tone in her voice, it was better to just do what she asked. And since she was laying the bullshit on pretty thick, he had no doubt it would work on Britt.
He was right.
“Okay. I’ll do the dishes and put away the extra food, and you go sit on the deck. Take the blanket from the back of the couch because it’s probably still a little chilly out there this morning.”
“You’re a good girl,” Evelyn said softly. Then she pulled Britt’s head down so she could kiss her forehead before she turned and headed for the couch.
Chad waited for his brothers to reach the front door before he moved in closer to Britt. “You okay? That was intense.”
“I didn’t even realize you could all hear her until you took the phone from me,” she said, not answering his question.
“For the record, I agree with my mom. You’re amazing. And kind. And smart. And your mom’s an idiot.”
Britt gave him a small smile. “Yeah.”
“I’m so sorry, Britt. And next time, like Mom said, don’t let anyone—especially me—talk you into doing something you don’t want to do. Okay?”
She nodded.
“I mean it. I should never have brought up your mom, and that whole scene happened because I opened my big mouth. And ... my mom means well, but she’s also lived here in Rockville her entire life. She’s surrounded by loving family and good friends and has kind of lived in a bubble.”
“It’s not a bad way to live,” Britt said, defending his mom and her way of life.
“I know, but I don’t like that both of you feel bad after what happened, especially when it’s all my fault.”
“I’m used to it.”
“Doesn’t mean I like it any better,” Chad told her.
“I don’t know why my mom’s the way she is,” Britt told him. “Her life has been hard, and being a single parent didn’t make it any easier, but instead of appreciating the things she has, she’s become more and more bitter over the years.” She gave him a small smile.
“Obviously. So why are you smiling?”
“Because it’s nice to know people who have my back. Thank you for sticking up for me with her. I’ve never had anyone—friends or boyfriends—who’ve done that for me.”
“Then they were weak. Didn’t deserve you. No man or woman worth their salt would stand by and let someone they loved, or even liked, get berated like you were. Especially when all you were doing was calling to wish her a happy birthday.”
The look on her face was giving Chad all the same feels he’d had that morning. Except he didn’t like that he was receiving it because he’d stood up for her. Because he’d hung up on her horrible mother.
Leaning forward, he kissed her on the forehead, just as his mom had done ... though he was one hundred percent sure the thoughts in his head were the complete opposite of his mom’s. He wanted this woman. Wanted to spoil her. Pleasure her. Show her what having someone at her back really meant.
He had a feeling if the men she’d dated never had the balls to stand up for her, they probably never had the patience or sexual prowess to make sure she was satisfied in bed either. If she gave him the chance, he’d show her how a true partner took care of his woman—in bed and out.
“What’s that look for?” Britt asked as she stared up at him.
“How comfortable are you with letting my family know what’s up with us?” he asked, instead of answering her too-observant question.
“What’s up with us?”
“Yeah. That we’re dating. We’re a thing. Boyfriend, girlfriend.”
“We are?”
Chad frowned. “Aren’t we? I thought we discussed it this morning. I asked if we were on the same page, and you said, and I quote, ‘If that page is seeing where this leads, then yes.’ Have you changed your mind? Do you not want to date?”
“I haven’t, and I do. I just ...”
“Just what? You can talk to me about anything,” Chad told her, feeling anxious.
“I don’t want anyone to think I’m a gold digger.”
Chad chuckled. “They won’t.”
“Otis did. Does. ”
Chad frowned at that. He’d known she and Otis hadn’t gotten off on the right foot and that the man thought she was after whatever money she could get out of Lobster Cove .
.. but he’d hoped once Otis got to know Britt, he’d see how his first impression was way off the mark.
“He’s wrong. And my brothers won’t think that.
Not for a second. And neither will my mom.
If you don’t want them to know, I can attempt to keep my hands to myself, but I have to warn you, Peach .
.. I have a feeling they’ll figure it out pretty damn fast anyway. ”
“Okay.”
“Okay, what?”
“I don’t mind if they know we’re seeing each other.”
Chad beamed. “So that means I can hold your hand and kiss you and call you Peach in front of everyone?”
She gave him a shy smile and nodded.
“Good.” He leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips. Then he went in for a longer, more intimate one. By the time they pulled apart, they were both breathing hard ... and his damn erection was back.
“I need to get this food put away,” she told him.
“And I need to join my brothers in reconning the property.”
“You’ll be in for lunch, though?”
“Probably. I’ll text you if we aren’t.”
“Okay.”
“This is going to work,” Chad told her firmly.
“I hope so.”
“I know so,” he retorted. He kissed her once more, hard and fast, then backed away before he lost his head and took her in his arms and brought her right back to his room. He hated that the storm had scared her so badly, but he couldn’t be upset that it had led them to this point.
He gave her a chin lift, then turned and walked toward the door.
He had a sappy smile on his face, but he didn’t care.
Not in the least. Coming home to Lobster Cove had turned out better than he’d hoped.
Than he could’ve ever dreamed. He was reconnecting with his brothers once again, rediscovering the joys of living on the coast of Maine, and spending time with his mom, and somehow he’d lucked out and met a woman he could seriously see himself being with for years to come.
Nothing could ruin his good mood today.