Chapter 19
Mother’s Love
Scarlett
Spencer’s mom has the entire kitchen island covered in every possible item you would need to bake cookies, cakes, or any dessert, honestly.
She ties her apron and hands me one to do the same.
Tying it around my waist, she claps her hands together.
“Alright, honey, let's get whipping up some cookies.”
I watch Anna get the cookbook ready and plug in her KitchenAid mixer. She turns to me with an infectious smile. “What kind of cookies?”
Thinking hard for a good answer, “Chocolate chip?” She smiles and pulls the chocolate chip bag out of the pile.
“Perfect, those are Spencer's favorites! Do you want to mix the wet ingredients or the dry ones?” Emotions rush over me; I don't know, I've never done this before.
“Hmm, I'm not sure…I haven't done this before.” Anna stopped for a moment. As quickly as her pity came, she shifted her focus and smiled.
“Well, honey, you are in for a treat! We will do it together!” She sets up the bowl, and we begin mixing flour, eggs, butter, and something called vanilla, along with a few other ingredients. Then, she steps back from the mixer.
“Go for it.” I step up and turn the mixer switch, but I push it too hard, and flour flies out of the mixing bowl. As quickly as I can, I turn off the mixer and look at her, terrified.
We make eye contact, and I can feel the powder mixture dusted all over my face. Anna laughs, and laughs so hard she begins crossing her legs, making me laugh. “That was one way to do it.”
I step away from the mixer. “I am so incredibly sorry,” I say after catching my breath.
She walks over to the mixture and smiles, placing a soft, delicate hand on my shoulder, “sweetheart, there is not one thing to be sorry for.” With that, she looks at me and flips the mixer too fast again, allowing the powder to shoot up into her face, and turns to look at me.
“See, no big deal, this is supposed to be fun!” Now that we both look like Jack Frost, we finish mixing the cookies.
Once the cookies are in, we start on the brownies.
I'm cracking eggs when the door opens, and in walks David.
He sets his briefcase on the table. Instantly, fear sets in.
If Grant saw the kitchen this messy, someone would get beaten, and given the way my face looks, it would be me.
“Hello, Scarlett,” he says, and starts walking, wrapping his hands gently around Anna's back.
She turns around, and he jumps. “I see you and Scarlett have gotten into a food fight.”
She laughs, dumping the brownie powder into the bowl.
He kisses her cheek. “We didn't get into a food fight, but what a great idea.” She takes the brownie powder and flicks some into his face.
It latches onto his 5 o'clock shadow, turning his grey beard brown.
He laughs and pulls her lovingly into him while he rubs his face all over Anna's, making her laugh, ending in a passionate kiss.
“Let the girls bake, I'll bring you one when it's done.” He sets his hand on her cheek and rubs her forehead.
“Okay, sweetheart, you two have fun.” He smiles warmly and heads to the other room. She watches him walk away, and I watch her.
Anna's eyes burst with compassion. “I love that man.” She smiles at me and finishes whisking the brownie mixture, then puts it in the oven.
We sit on the island while the cookies bake, waiting for them to come out of the oven and for new cookies to go in. “So sweetie, how are you liking school, and being here?”
I nod my head, trying out our first batch. Oh my god, these are amazing. “I love school, and I really like living here.” She smiles, pulling the cookies off the warm pan and placing them on what I now know are cooling racks.
“Good. I'm so glad it's going well. My son often talks about you and your brother.
Tell me, when is your birthday, sweetheart?
Maybe you could come over, and we could make a cake together, that's if you haven’t made any plans.
Don't feel like you have to spend your birthday with an old lady!” The thought of baking with her again warms my heart entirely.
This woman is extraordinary. I don't even know her, and yet I feel loved by her.
“December 30th, and that would be lovely, thank you, for everything. We never did anything like this…” My words fall short because I've never spoken about my mother, but she makes me feel like I can talk about anything; it's as if she has a superpower.
“You are always welcome here, honey. You never have to ask; let yourself in, please. I invite it. It's been a treat having you here; living in a house full of testosterone can be taxing at times. Is your mom in a different state?” The question hits me like a tidal wave.
I stammered, finding the words I wanted to tell her.
She made me want to tell her everything.
Maybe she put truth drugs into the cookies.
Anna looks at me ever so patiently. “She died eight months ago.
" She moves her hand slowly over and places it on my back, and I don't flinch.
I welcome it. I know the question is coming, and there is no easy way to put it.
“There was an accident.” Remembering what Grant had said—that if people ask, we lie.
Only, I didn't want to lie, not to her. This incredible woman who welcomed me into her home and has shown me more love in two hours than my parents have in my entire life.
She continues rubbing my back, waiting to see if I'll say more.
“She killed herself. But please, please don't tell anyone.
No one can know. Please don't even tell my dad I told you.” I had wanted to tell her, but now fear has dragged me under the waves of truth, and what we get when we speak it.
She stands hugging me tightly, and I swear I see a tear slip from her eye.
“I am so sorry, sweet girl. You have my word; I will not tell anyone. Please, come to me if you need anything.” I nod my head, and slowly, I wrap my arms around her and hug her back, so this is what it feels like: a mother's love.
“Heya, guys,” Spencer walks in, breaking our hug, “Two things. One, where are my cookies? And two, why are your faces covered in flour?” I laugh, forgetting my face is covered.
I can't help but gawk at the way he looks in his baseball uniform.
I thought he got me hot and bothered on the roof, the wetness pulling between my legs tells me I have a baseball uniform kink, and I love it.
Anna gets up and serves him a big plate of cookies. “Go get Levi and share, those are for you both.” He kisses her cheek and runs back outside.
Joy fills me as I watch Spencer be so gentle with his mother. “You raised a good son.” The words escape me before I register what I said.
She smiles so incredibly big, “Thank you, sweetheart. He is fond of you as well.” She winks, and Spencer and Levi run in.
Levi gives me a big hug and sits down, shoving the cookie in his mouth. “Thank you for the cookies,” he mumbles. Anna laughs and hollers for David.
David comes in, and I feel my body tense.
Spencer must catch my reaction, and he walks behind me subtly, running his finger on my back, easing my tension.
Then he bends down like he is fixing his baseball shirt, and whispers so only I can hear, “You're safe, baby.” I feel my tension fade away. He walks over and hugs his dad.
“Hey, bud!” His mom smiles at their interactions, and random music starts playing. I look around, and Spencer shakes his head.
“Come on, Dad, I have friends over. Can we not?
Please don't.” I watch his dad smile sheepishly and move towards his mom.
The music plays throughout the house, and David wraps his hands around his wife, pulling her into a warm embrace before swinging her around, dancing with her in the middle of the kitchen.
Spencer shakes his head. Mr. Collins takes the leftover flour off the table and flicks some on Spence, making him laugh as he gets dusted.
Levi looks at me and smiles before his eyes fall.
His sadness radiates, and I won't have it.
Not tonight. I slide off the stool and grab his arm, pulling him in to dance.
Then I pull Spencer in and hold them both, swaying to the music, and we all dance.