Chapter 22
CHAPTER
TWENTY-TWO
Maren
I’m still smiling.
Camden woke me by quietly stripping off my clothes and having his wicked way with me.
Then, after kissing me soundly and promising to come back later today, he slipped out of my house and hurried back over to his so he could get ready for work.
Even after getting ready myself and opening the door for my dad, who is watching Theo for the morning while I work at the salon, I was smiling.
Throughout the morning, doing what I love for my growing list of clients, I was smiling.
And now, after waking Theo from his nap and getting ready to make dinner, I’m still smiling.
Theo’s sitting in his chair, drinking juice and watching Bluey, when there’s a knock on the front door. I instantly think of Linda, Camden’s mom, and wonder if she’s dropping by for another visit. I really hope so.
Unfortunately, when I glance through the peephole, it’s not Linda Miller I see.
It’s my own mother.
I take a deep breath and release the lock before slowly pulling the front door open. “Mom,” I say, unable to hide my shock. “What are you doing here?”
She holds out her arms. “Can’t a mother come see her only daughter?”
“Of course,” I reply, taking a step back. “Come on in.” I can’t help but notice she’s holding bags when she enters. Not shopping bags but travel bags.
“Where’s my grandson?” she asks, stepping inside and dropping her things onto the floor beside the door. “Theo!”
“Gwam!” he hollers, getting up and running straight to his grandma.
“I’ve missed you so much! I can’t believe your mommy took you so far away from me,” she tells my son, setting off the hairs on the back of my neck.
“Mom,” I say.
She looks up and smiles. “What? It’s true. You took my grandson all the way back…here.” Disdain. It’s evident in that one single word.
“We’re loving it here, right, Theo?” I ask, catching my mistake right away. This isn’t for him to defend.
“Yep!”
He runs back over to his chair but sits on the floor and plays with his cars.
“So, what brings you to Cooper Town?” I ask again, knowing there’s a reason. There’s always a reason.
She shrugs and brushes past me to check out my house. “This is cute.”
“Thanks. I love it,” I reply, even though there’s a touch of something in her words I can’t put my finger on.
“Where’s the guest bedroom?” she asks, going to the hallway.
“Uhh, I don’t have a guest room,” I reply, hot on her heels.
She stops, and I almost slam into her back. “You don’t have a guest bedroom? Where will I sleep?”
“Umm,” I start, at a loss for words.
“I mean, when you said you were returning to this godforsaken town, it was to better your situation. This house is barely bigger than your apartment, Maren.”
“Yeah, but we have a yard here and room to move. Theo can play outside and I don’t have to worry about the neighbors or who’s hanging around the building,” I counter, not really wanting to argue with her again over something we’ve already discussed.
She looks in my room and turns around. “I guess I’ll just sleep with you.”
Excuse me?
“You’re staying?” I ask, trying to wrap my head around what’s happening.
“I am,” she declares happily. “What’s for dinner? It smells delicious.” she turns and brushes past me, heading for the kitchen.
Dinner.
Shit.
“Oh, that’s just an Italian chicken pasta recipe I found online,” I state when I join her.
Mom walks to the Crock-Pot to take a peek, opening the lid when you’re not supposed to and not caring that she’s doing it. “This looks interesting. And so much food. Are you feeding an army?”
If she only knew.
Speaking of, I need to message Cam and cancel. No way do I want him to be subjected to my mom tonight. There’s no reason for both of us to have our nights ruined.
However, luck isn’t on my side, because as soon as I start looking for my phone to text Camden, there’s a knock at the back door. Worse, Theo hears it and takes off running.
“Cam!” he hollers, scurrying straight to the door and turning the knob.
“Don’t open the door, remember?” I chastise, hurrying behind him to release the lock.
The moment the lock is released, I step back and help Theo pull the door open. “Cam!”
“Hey, little dude,” Camden states as my son leaps into his waiting arms. “Good to see you again.”
“Gwam!” Theo says, pointing to where my mom stands, a look of shock written all over her face.
“Hillary,” Cam greets, unable to hide his shock.
“Camden. Wow, I didn’t expect to see you here,” Mom states, pasting on a big fake smile.
“Honestly, same,” he replies, his blue eyes clouded with confusion as he looks over at me.
“Mom surprised us with a visit,” I state, hoping it’s enough for now.
“And what a nice surprise it was, I’m sure,” he replies, turning to Theo and tickling his side. “Are you happy Grandma is visiting?”
“Yep!” he insists.
“So, Camden…what brings you here?” Mom asks, and I know she won’t let this ride. She’s shocked to find him here, not that I blame her, since I haven’t told her about rekindling my relationship with him. Or whatever this is. We haven’t had the conversation, but it feels like a relationship to me.
He glances to me, as if seeking direction on how much he’s supposed to tell. “Uhh, I live next door,” he tells my mom.
“Really? What a coincidence,” she replies, scanning from him to me and then back to Camden.
“It was quite the shock when we both realized I was his new neighbor,” I add.
“You didn’t know? How odd,” Mom says with a chuckle.
“This was the house Dad found for me. He didn’t mention the neighbors, other than it was a great, family-friendly neighborhood,” I reply.
She snorts and shakes her head. “Very typical of your father to not give you the full picture of something as major as this.”
My mouth drops open.
“Come on, Theo. Let’s go play with your cars,” Camden says, taking my son from the kitchen and into the living room. I don’t even say anything about him still wearing his boots and coat. He’ll take them off when he gets in there, I’m sure.
“Mom, please don’t talk bad about Dad in front of Theo. He has nothing to do with your marriage or divorce.”
“I’m not talking bad about your father,” she argues. “Besides, even if I was, he’s too young to understand.”
“But I understand,” I counter. I want her to know I’m also a neutral party in their relationship, and while I was completely impressionable while younger, I’m not that person anymore.
“I’m not going to listen to you bad-mouth or belittle him anymore.
He doesn’t do that about you, and you aren’t going to do that about him. ”
She looks annoyed but doesn’t argue.
“Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes,” I say, realizing if she brought a bag, she’s really here to stay.
“Great,” she replies with a beaming smile. “I’ll run and freshen up in the bathroom,” she adds, exiting the kitchen to retrieve her bags.
She carries her bags to my bedroom and then goes across the hall to the bathroom. The moment the door latches, I turn my attention to Camden.
“Hey, little dude, I’m gonna run in the kitchen and talk to your mommy for a minute, okay?”
“Okay!” he says, before returning his attention to his car as he drives it across the floor.
“You okay?” he whispers after crossing the threshold to the kitchen.
“What is she doing here?” I ask softly, rubbing my hand over my temple. “I don’t want that to come across bad, but…she just dropped by. And is planning to stay.”
He walks straight to where I stand and pulls me into his arms. Instantly, I feel myself calming down, my heart starting to slow as I’m wrapped in his familiarity and strength. “So I take it this wasn’t a planned visit.”
“No.”
He holds me for a few long moments. “I can go. I don’t want to create more problems by being here.”
I look up at him and realize I have a choice to make.
If I want to see where this will go with Camden, I can’t push him away.
He’s a part of my life, and I don’t want him to have to leave just because my mom makes things a little uncomfortable.
Of course, if that’s what he chooses to do, I’ll understand completely.
I’d never fault him for stepping back or creating boundaries where my mom is concerned.
“I’m leaving the decision up to you. I’d completely understand if you wanted to skip dinner tonight.”
“I don’t want to run away from your mom, Maren,” he says, placing a kiss against my forehead and rubbing his hands up and down my arms.
Forehead kisses are my favorite.
Before I can reply, the bathroom door opens, and even though I don’t want to, I step back. “I’m going to get the noodles done. We’ll eat in less than thirty,” I tell him just as my mom enters the kitchen.
“So, Hillary, how have you been?” Camden asks, a friendly sense of determination written on his face.
“Oh, you know. Same ol’, same ol’. Working for a very generous man. He’s an insurance agent, and I provide customer service for his thriving business,” she tells. “He’s such a great boss, he allowed me to take Monday off with pay so I could come visit my daughter and grandson.”
“That’s very kind of him,” Camden replies.
“What do you do now?” she asks.
“I still work at Randy’s shop,” he states casually.
“Really?” Mom’s surprise is evident once more. “Oh.”
“I love it,” he insists gently. “I’ve always enjoyed fixing things that are broken, and someone has to fix all the vehicles in town, right?”
“Right,” she says with a chuckle.
I listen to them catch up while I prepare the penne noodles and garlic breadsticks.
They communicate pleasantly, but I still catch hints of my mom’s annoyance.
When I strain the noodles, Camden jumps in to help, moving the lid on the Crock-Pot for me and then grabbing the spoon to mix it all together.
While I retrieve the garlic bread from the oven, he sprinkles the remaining shredded Parmesan cheese over the top of the mixture.
“Theo, dinner’s ready,” Camden says from the doorway, calling my son into the kitchen.
He comes quickly, carrying his cup. “I here.”