Page 30 of She's Mine

“You should call her, you know,” Alyssa said, as though she’d read my thoughts.

I smiled at the fact she’d read my mood so easily. “You know, I think I will.” I stood and reached for the laptop.

Alyssa stood too and headed to the door. “I’ll give you some privacy.”

“No, please, stay. I’d like to introduce you to her.” Heat blazed across Alyssa’s cheeks, and for a moment, she was unable to meet my gaze. Hastily, I added, “That’s if you want to, of course.”

The hesitation on Alyssa’s face morphed into a smile, and she said, “I’d love to.”

She joined me on the couch as I booted up my laptop, and then opened the video calling software.

I wasn’t sure if my mom would be home or not. If she wasn’t feeling too terrible, she might have convinced Denise to take her out to the mall or something.

I was pleased when after just a few rings, Mom’s face appeared on the video screen.

“Hey, David, I thought you were working?” Mom said, smiling at the camera.

“I am, but we’ve got some downtime, and Alyssa suggested I call you.” I reached out, my arm looping around Alyssa’s shoulder, and pulled her into view. “Alyssa, come say hi. Mom, this is Alyssa.”

“Hey Mrs. Gordon,” Alyssa said, giving my mom a shy wave.

“Hello Alyssa, and please, call me Patty,” Mom said, grinning at Alyssa. “So, what have you two been up to?”

“Yesterday we took a hike through the woodlands and stopped for lunch by the brook. Then last night, we watched The Wizard of Oz. This morning, we’ve been looking through some of the books I’ve got here,” I told my mom.

“Are you as much of a book worm as my son here?” Mom asked.

Alyssa laughed. “I won’t say I’m a total bookworm, no, but there’s some classics I loved reading as a child that David’s read too.”

Mom beamed at us. “I know you can’t tell me much, but you’re both doing alright, aren’t you?”

“We are,” I confirmed, knowing Mom always worried when I had work assignments like this one. “Lawrence and Mavis are looking after us well.”

“I expected nothing less. Please give them my love. It’s been such a long time since I had a chance to see them.”

“Mavis always speaks of you fondly,” Alyssa assured my mom. “Maybe when things arecalmer,she could come for a visit.”

“I’d like that,” Mom agreed, her eyes twinkling. “And you’ll have to come too. I’d like to meet you in person. Now that you and my son are--”

“We’re not!” Alyssa and I blurted at the same time, but Mom shook her head.

“There’s no use lying to me, I can see you’re smitten with each other. I’m not sure what the rules are in your job, David, but I’m sure once Jeffrey sees how happy you both are, he will approve. You look like you make a very good couple.”

“We’re taking things slowly,” I explained, knowing if I didn’t, Mom was likely to start planning our wedding already.

“I understand. Still, it’s nice to see you so happy. And Alyssa, you seem like a lovely young woman. I look forward to meeting you in person.”

Alyssa grinned back at my mom. “I look forward to meeting you too, Patty.”

I chatted to Mom for a little longer, before ending the call, and closing the lid on my laptop.

As I slipped it back onto the coffee table, Alyssa said, “Your mom seems like a sweetheart.”

“She is,” I agreed, pulling Alyssa closer to me. “Thank you for being okay with her figuring out we’re … well, whatever this is. And don’t worry, she won’t tell Jeffrey.”

Alyssa let out a breath. “That’s a relief. I think my dad would show up here, despite the threat of the Bloodline, if he found out we’re together.”

I winced. “Do you really think he’ll reactthatbadly?”

---