Page 118 of This Wild Heart

She nodded. “Grandpa teached me about interest the other day.”

“Great,” Dad muttered.

“It’s important to keep our promises to people,” I told my dad gravely.

He narrowed his eyes over Willa’s head. “I’m retiring from the advice business effective immediately,” he said.

I patted his arm. “Sure you are, Dad. Sure you are.”

Chapter 31

Parker

“You’re at my house,” I said, struck dumb by the sight of Sheila at my front door.

She smiled. “You said you wanted to talk to me.”

“Yeah, on the phone.” I ushered her in, shaking my head as she set her purse and keys on the table near the door.

“I was at Greer’s,” she explained. “Not that far of a drive. The last time you said you needed to talk to me, you’d gotten married, so I figured this might warrant face-to-face.” She patted my arm as she walked past. “Don’t worry, I’m going home tonight. Just decided it was worth the extra time in the car to see you.”

Great. Now I’d have to look her in the eye when I told her I’d lied my ass off about the entire thing. She’d already moved into the house in search of Leo, exclaiming when she found him in the family room. “I think you’ve gotten bigger, young man.”

I swiped a hand over my face. “You saw him last weekend, Mom.”

She held Leo up on her lap, his legs dangling over her thighs, and she laughed at whatever expression was on his face. “Adaline told me about Anya’s stepmom. Poor thing. How long will she be in Seattle to help?”

“How the hell does news travel so fast in this family?”

She laughed. “Your sisters actually tell me what’s going on in their lives. Imagine that.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t really muster an argument. Given what I was about to say, she might wish I went back to keeping all my shit to myself.

“About that,” I said slowly. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

Sheila looked over at me curiously, turning Leo so he was facing me. He chewed on his fist, spit bubbles coating his fingers. “What is it, honey?”

I chose a seat next to her on the couch and let out a deep breath. Her face stayed even as I told her about Anya, and why we’d decided to get married. The real reason. I spared her any details after that first day, holding my breath while I waited for tears, or disappointment or a lecture.

Instead, she smiled.

My brow furrowed. “What?”

“I love that you think I didn’t know.”

My mouth fell open. “You … what?”

She reached over and patted my hand. “Oh honey, you have never been able to lie all that well, and I’ve lived through enough of your sibling’s bullshit that I am entirely immune by this point in my life.”

“You knew?” Understanding hit like a fist, right on my fucking jaw. “The cake. The kiss. No extra blanket in the room.Mom. You planned all of that?”

“Well, sometimes you kids need a little encouragement to get where you need to go.” She sniffed, her face completely unapologetic. “And don’t you try to peddle some story about how you don’t feel anything for that girl because you do, and I’ll die on that hill.”

“I don’t know whether to be impressed or terrified right now,” I told her, leaning back in the chair to study her with renewed interest.

“Just remember it the next time you want to lie to me. That’s all.”

She gave me an innocent smile. Right. Terrified was the only logical choice.

---