Page 46 of Paper Roses

“Well, that’s lovely for Ingrid, but as I haven’t suddenly become LinkedIn, it’s a bit too much information for me. Anyway, Sally and I had a chat over the croissants, and you’ll never guess what she told me.”

“That you don’t need to butter them because they’re actually made of butter.”

I bite my lip to hide a smile, and Jed looks at me, his eyes sparkling.

His mum huffs. “There is nothing that can’t be improved with butter, including croissants. I got this lovely jam at thechurch summer fair and—” She pauses. “Oh, very clever, but you’re not distracting me this time. So, we were talking about the company and how well you’re doing with it, and then she gave me someveryinteresting information.”

“Oh shit,” Jed mutters.

“That’s a fair summary of the situation. She told me that her daughter was at your wedding a few weeks ago. Is that true?”

“Ma,” Jed starts.

She draws herself up. “Oh my god, it is true. You’remarried.”

Jed smiles nervously at me, and I take the hand he offers me. His fingers clutch tight around mine, and I smile reassuringly at him.

“Yes, Ma,” he says. “This is my husband, Arthur.”

“It’s very nice to meet you,” I say softly. She eyes me dubiously, a ghost of hurt still on her face.

Shit. This is all my fault. I think fast. “Jed didn’t tell you because of me,” I say and feel him freeze next to me. “I’m afraid I don’t have any family left.” Her face softens slightly. “And he didn’t want me to feel overwhelmed by lots of people. We actually were going to have a private ceremony, but Ingrid spotted the banns, and she and some other coworkers turned up to support us as a surprise.”

“Nosy,” she says distractedly. “Just like her mother. I’ve known her to eat three desserts at a restaurant just to hear the outcome of a couple’s row at the next table.”

I bite my lip to hold a smile in, and then she clicks her fingers as realisation dawns in her face. “Arthur? Is it Artie?”

“It is.”

“You work for Jed.” She examines my face with green eyes entirely like her son’s—concentrated and intense. Then suddenly she relaxes. “Well,nowI understand.”

“You do? Because I certainly don’t,” Jed says, echoing my own thoughts.

She nods. “Of course. Now I know it’s him, it all makes sense.”

“It does?”

She narrows her eyes at her son. “Is there something wrong with you?”

“No,” he says slowly, as if contemplating the possibility.

“Well, you talk about him all the time. Adam and I knew there was something going on. You’ve been together a while, haven’t you?”

Jed hesitates, and I’m no help, because I’m struggling with the concept that he’s actually spoken with his mum about me.

“What is time?” Jed finally says in an enigmatic masterstroke.

She rolls her eyes, and then I gasp as she steps forward and hugs me. She smells of Sunflowers by Elizabeth Arden, and the solidness of her hug makes my throat tight. When she steps back, she cups my face. “Such a beautiful boy, Jed.”

“Ma, he’s not a puppy at the pound. Don’t scare him away.”

She ignores him and kisses my cheek. “Welcome to the family, Artie.”

All my guilt is overwhelmed by the lovely feeling of having a mother approve of me. “Thank you,” I murmur. “That’s very kind of you.”

She smiles and then turns and slaps her son’s arm.

“Ow! What thehell, Ma?”

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