Chapter 11 #3
Remi follows Paige’s gaze down to her bare legs and socked feet. Remi’s face warms. “Oh, shit. Definitely not.”
Paige laughs. “Let’s find our pants so we don’t keep your mom waiting any longer.”
They’re both dressed and presentable in under three minutes. Remi interlaces their fingers and gives Paige’s hand a gentle squeeze as she leads them back into the living room.
Paula sits on a barstool, scrolling her phone.
She’s wearing a pink cardigan with white capris and sensible flats.
Her dark brown hair is styled in a layered bob that makes her look too much like a Karen for the sweet and considerate person she actually is inside.
Remi tries to convince her mom to switch up her style, but she’s not budging.
“Mom, I’d like you to meet my …” Remi hesitates, not sure if introducing Paige as her girlfriend means they’re still pretending or making things official now that they both admitted to having feelings for one another.
“I’m Paige, and it’s so nice to finally meet you.” Paige extends her hand as she smiles warmly at Remi’s mom.
“Oh, honey, it’s so wonderful to meet you.” Paula clasps Paige’s hand with both of hers. “You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for Remi to finally—”
“Okay, Mom,” Remi interrupts. “Why don’t I grab the crock pot for you. You have bingo tonight, right? I’m sure you have to head over there now.”
“Oh, they won’t notice if I’m a little late.” Paula grins at Paige. “I have to ask you all the questions Remi won’t answer.”
Remi grits her teeth, but Paige squeezes her elbow. “Have you eaten, Mrs. Johnson?” Paige asks. “We ordered way too much food and would love for you to join us.”
Paula’s eyebrows lift, impressed. “See, Remi, now that’s manners.” She pushes to her feet. “I’d love to stay. Let me grab some plates.”
“No, ma’am, have a seat. I’ll grab them,” Paige says while opening the cabinet where Remi keeps her dishware.
Her mom catches her eye and nods her approval. Remi’s cheeks warm, and she takes the plates from Paige, helping her move everything over to the small dining room table.
Remi will never not be impressed by how smooth Paige is in social situations. Remi mentioned it to Paige after the wedding, and she joked, “That’s what a lifetime being raised to work in hospitality will get you.” Paige has Paula laughing before they’ve taken their first bite.
All the awkwardness of the pair being caught half naked behind them, Remi’s mom has moved on to—what she thinks is—subtly grilling Paige with “get to know you” questions. It makes Remi feel a little warm inside at how much of the information she already knows.
“So, Paige, where do you work?” Paula asks.
“Raven Woods Inn. My great-great-grandparents opened it in 1968. They’ve passed it down generation after generation.” Paige sets her fork down, smiling softly to herself. “My sister and I spent our childhood playing in the woods, behind the inn, and trying to steal pastries from the kitchen.”
“Oh, wow. That’s wonderful,” Paula says. “So will your sister and you run the inn together, then?”
Paige lets out a small laugh. “Oh, no. She’s over in Grand Rapids working as a dog groomer, last I heard.”
“Oh?”
“Why there?” Remi asks, getting caught up in the details she hasn’t heard before.
“She followed a boyfriend.” Paige shrugs like maybe it’s not the first time that happened. “They broke up two years ago, but she said she fell in love with the city, and it was the perfect escape from our small town.”
“Small towns can be difficult.” Paula sets her glass of water down. “Where is it you grew up?”
“Oak Grove.”
“Oh, I’ve heard that’s such a lovely place.”
Remi stabs a piece of beef, then broccoli. With how deeply the inn is ingrained into Paige and her passion for one day owning it, Remi would love to visit. But Paige hasn’t offered and Remi hasn’t asked. It feels like maybe it’s too big of a step since Paige still isn’t out to her parents.
When Paula can no longer put off leaving for bingo, Remi offers to walk her mom out.
“So,” Remi prompts, because she knows it’s coming. “What are you thinking?”
Paula’s expression softens. “You found a good one.”
Remi’s heart gives a pleasant twinge at her mom’s approval. It’s not that she needs it per se, but it still feels good.
Despite Paula constantly trying to set Remi up with all the single sapphics she comes into contact with, Paula adored Anna, and there’s a part of Remi that feared her mom wouldn’t think anyone would be able to live up to that relationship.
“I told you I could find my own girlfriend,” Remi teases.
“Yes, yes. ‘Boundaries,’ I know. I’m working on it.” She playfully rolls her eyes.
“I appreciate that,” Remi says, and holds open her arms to give her mom a hug. “You don’t need to worry anymore.”
Paula lets out a small disapproving sound. “Sweetheart, I’m your mother. The most important thing to me and your father is your happiness and well-being. So, I will worry about you until the day I die—and probably still will even then.”
Remi squeezes her tighter. “Thank you, Mom.”
Paula kisses the side of her daughter’s head. “I love you, sweetheart.”
“I love you too.”