Page 120 of Conception
My shoulders shake with laughter at his censorship. He’s come a long way and done just as he promised. He’s reined it in for Branson, but he still unleashes in the bedroom for me.
We’re barely through the double wooden doors when a woman greets us, focusing nearly all her attention on Branson. Knox introduces Jaclyn, whom he’s affectionately spoken of many times before. It’s the only reason I so willingly allow her to take Branson when she insists on freshening him up from our journey.
I’ve barely caught my breath as Knox takes my hand and leads me through the foyer and into a spacious kitchen, where he pours us each a glass of water.
“Ah, there she is,” he says, and I follow his gaze to the back door, where a woman is just entering, a straw hat on her head and a basket full of wildflowers in the crook of her arm.
I’m not sure what I was expecting when it came to Knox’s mother, but the tall, elegant woman wearing dusty jeans and a flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up isn’t it.
She stands on her tiptoes to give Knox a kiss on the cheek. Then she turns to me with a warm smile. “Amelia, it’s so lovely to finally meet you. And though it pains me to be rude, where’s that grandson of mine? I’ve waited three months to meet him and I don’t want to waste a second more.”
“I understand. And I just want to extend my gratitude that you allowed Knox and me to have time to adjust to becoming parents. It’s been a whirlwind. I know it couldn’t have been easy, with wanting to meet your first grandchild and all.”
“He wouldn’t have had it any other way,” she responds, giving Knox a pointed look.
He rolls his eyes. “Jaclyn took the baby as soon as we got in the door. He needed to be changed after the car ride.”
Oof. Good first impression to my future mother-in-law. Pass the baby off to the housekeeper as soon as you step foot in the door. “She insisted,” I clarify. “Wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
A perceptive grin crosses Mrs. Wellington’s face. “Knowing Jaclyn, I’m sure she did. Ah well, let’s get settled into the library and wait for your father and Clay to get back from their golfing trip. Jaclyn knows where to find us.”
She ushers us into a beautiful library I long to explore, but instead, I take a seat beside Knox on a sofa, gratefully accepting sweet tea when she hands it to me. Mrs. Wellington takes a place across from us and gets right down to it.
“Amelia, I have a question for you. I’d be remiss if I allowed this wedding to proceed if I didn’t make the inquiry.”
“Mom…” Knox’s tone is full of warning.
She shoots a glare at him. “I would be remiss,” she repeats, emphasizing each word.
Knox is about to respond, but I place my hand on his arm.
“It’s fine, Knox. Allow your mother to speak.”
I thought she’d be appreciative. The tight-lipped smile tells me otherwise.
“What, exactly, are your intentions with my son?”
The laugh escapes me before I can hold it in. Really?
“Mom…” Once again, Knox’s warning is unmistakable.
My fingers tighten on his forearm, my nails digging into his flesh. I don’t take my eyes off his mother. “I’d be remiss if I didn’t answer the question.”
It’s fleeting, but there’s a flash of approval in her expression.
“This shouldn’t come as a surprise to you. My intentions are to marry your son. Spend the rest of my life with him. Raise our family together, however big it grows.”
“With my son’s money?” Kate asks, a perfectly manicured eyebrow rising.
I’m not taken aback by her question or her tone. It’s perfectly reasonable for her to ask, considering she’s never met me, knows nothing about me, my family, or my background. I just showed up with her grandson one day. Okay, more like Knox showed up after I’d had her grandson, which could be even more reason for her not to trust me.
Having just become a mother myself, how can I deny one her inquest?
Hell, I imagine I may be the same way when Branson grows up and leaves me. I don’t even want to think about it though. He’s only three months old.
“Mrs. Wellington,” I start, but Knox wrenches his arm out of my grasp, rising from the couch, pointing a finger, and shooting daggers at his mother.
“You are way out of line. You may not know Amelia, but I do. I trust her. More than that, I fucking—” He pauses, turning to me. “Think this calls for the emphasis, babe.”
