Page 65 of Love Is Brewing

“If that isn’t what your concern is, then what is it?” her mother asked.

“I don’t like so many people knowing my business,” she said. “It’s annoying. I mean it’s a small grocery store and I have an employee’s spouse stopping me because they saw us at dinner one night. That’s how the Chief knows me too. Stopping to talk to Elias one night when we were out.”

“That’s not a bad thing and you know it,” her mother said.

“No,” she said. “I get that. He didn’t bring up Elias’s name, but commented on enjoying the growth. You know, like the underlying statement was that Elias played a big part in it.”

“I like the way you answered it though,” her mother said.

“I didn’t want to be a bitch,” she said.

“Never,” her mother said. “That isn’t like you.”

“I’ve heard myself described that way before,” she said.

“During work, sure. It happens. I’ve been told it a few times myself. I don’t care all that much and you shouldn’t either.”

“I know. I do find it nice all the things Elias has done for the area. He’s all about giving back. At first, I thought it was because he knew he was so big for the area and doesn’t want to piss people off.”

“That can and will happen anywhere,” her mother said. “I’m willing to bet there is more to it. Most likely his upbringing.”

“Yes,” she said. “He gives back. He cares. I’ve seen that in the short time we’ve been together.”

“When do I get to meet him?” her mother asked. “I haven’t wanted to ask before. I figured it was too early to come for a visit.”

She laughed. “I’m not sure,” she said. “He’s got to go to Charlotte soon. If it’s the end of a week or something, maybe I’ll see if I can do it with him and we can stay overnight. I don’t know if I can work it into my schedule.”

“If it doesn’t, then your father and I can take a trip to see you. It is hard, but I’m sure we can figure it out. Do you have plans with him this weekend?”

“Not much,” she said. “There isn’t a lot to do around here. I don’t like to go out to dinner all the time.”

“Because that is even more people to see you?” her mother asked, laughing. “This is funny considering going out to dinner was a pastime of yours when you lived here.”

“Pretty much,” she said. “I wouldn’t mind seeing his brewery. It’d be interesting, but I doubt he wants me there and I can’t take too much of the smell.”

“Did you tell him that?” her mother asked.

She heard the humor in her mother’s voice.

“I did. He had to check to see if he still had a pulse. As if it was a personal insult to him.”

“Ben would be the same way,” her mother said. “Remember how hard he worked to find a beer that Eve would drink because she didn’t like beer?”

Her future sister-in-law told the story as if Ben was going to have a heart attack when he grabbed his chest over that comment.

“I remember,” she said.

“It might be nice to see a part of his world,” her mother said. “I’m sure it’s a massive part of his life.”

“It is,” she said. She knew it from Ben.

But she’d like to think she was becoming part of Elias’s world too in the short time they’ve been together.

“Do you think you’ll bring him to Ben’s wedding?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “It’s kind of tricky.”

“How is that?” her mother asked. “You ask if he can come or not.”

---