Page 85 of Guarding My Love

“Not really,” his mother said. “It was more Foster’s way to get Rowan to leave him alone. Rowan could be a pain in the butt as a kid. We all knew it. Thankfully he outgrew it.”

“We think he did,” he said. “We don’t see him enough.”

“I’m surprised you weren’t the one that wanted to move away from the rest of us,” his mother said. “But I’m glad you stayed close to some of your siblings. He’s the one I worried about the most, Charlotte.”

“Why is that?” she asked. “He seems pretty grounded to me as long as you give him space when he starts to pace or his eye twitches.”

He was stunned that she knew those tells of his. “And that is why everyone said what they did about you, Charlotte. You see those things with my son that many didn’t. Or can’t see. As long as you don’t let him stay away too long, you two will be fine.”

“I don’t need dating advice, Mom,” he said. Talk about embarrassing.

“Everyone needs advice,” his mother said. “And we know I love to give it.”

“We are going now,” he said. He hung up on her before she could say bye.

Charlotte was laughing. “That was rude.”

“She’s used to it from me. She’s probably laughing on the other end. I’m sure she expected it.”

“I just find your family dynamics so different but refreshing.”

“We aren’t what people think. That’s a good thing,” he said.

“I think it is.”

“I told you how my mother tricked West into taking a vacation that led him to meet Abby. Well, she started a fight with Laken and Jamie too.”

Charlotte’s jaw dropped. “Why would she do that?”

“Because she wanted to put doubts in Laken’s head to get her to come clean about a past relationship to Jamie. After my sister got all worked up over nothing, she realized she’d been played and gave my mother hell. That was how my mother first met Jamie too.”

“How did Jamie react to it?”

“He took it in stride. Like you, he doesn’t have that great of a relationship with his parents.”

Maybe they were all destined to find someone who needed a family like the one he had.

Which was funny because as a kid, he couldn’t wait to get away from his.

“Everyone seems comfortable enough around the other. I appreciated your siblings making me feel welcome last night.”

“They are good about those things if they want to let you in. I know you needed me to give you something months ago. I hope I have.”

“You have, Foster. More than you realize.”

29

SO MUCH HAD BEEN GOING RIGHT

“Are you sure you’re okay coming with me?” Charlotte asked the following week.

She’d already made plans to visit Amanda for the long July Fourth holiday. She hadn’t mentioned Foster coming with her, but after their family dinner last week and the comment about maybe him meeting her family, he brought it up.

She didn’t have a problem with it, but getting a hotel last minute hadn’t been possible.

She was staying with Amanda and bringing Marco with her. It was hard enough to find a hotel on the island this time of year, then to find one that allowed dogs was almost impossible.

“Yes,” he said.

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