Page 105 of Nodus Tollens
“Yes, sorry. Your son rarely calls me by my name.” I chuckled and lightly patted his stomach. “You can call me Wren.”
Her smile deepened as she watched us with fascination. Her eyes floated back and forth between Hayes and me.
“Wren, what a beautiful name for a beautiful girl.” She then held her arms out for me, and I froze. Did she… did she want me to hug her?
“It’s so wonderful to finally meet you. Now come here and give me a hug, please.” She motioned me in with laughter, and I slowly dropped Hayes’ hand and wrapped my arms around his mother. She was around my height, a smidge taller than me, but she hugged like it was her sport. She held me tightly and then eventually pulled back.
“You can call me Shelia or Mom. Whatever you’re comfortable with is fine with me.”
“It’s nice to meet you too, Shelia. You have a beautiful home.” I glanced over her shoulder at the house, trailing my eyes over the structure before finding a man sitting on the porch, watching us.
That must be his dad.
“Oh, sweetie, thank you.” She pulled me in for another short hug and then dropped her arms. “It’s…home.” She smiled sadly just as Mal came around the car and threw his arm over her shoulder.
She jumped at least a foot off the ground when he touched her. A frantic yelp flew out of her mouth, but then, when she realized it was Mal, she threw her arms around his middle.
“Malachi Villareal, you gave me a goddamn heart attack.”
“Sorry, mom.” He chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her and placed a kiss on the top of her head.
“You know I can’t stay mad at you.” She pulled away and looked up at him with glistening eyes. “God, what have you been eating at that school? You look even bigger than the last time you were home.”
Chuckling, he gave her a smile that I’d never seen before. It was obvious he cared deeply for Hayes’ mom as everything in him softened. His eyes, shoulders, and the way he carried himself lightened as if he were an entirely different person.
“Maybe if your son starts eating like me, he can be my size one day.” Mal threw a cocky smile at Hayes, and from behind me, Hayes flipped him off.
“Please tell me you two had the decency to act like gentlemen and not tease one another when you were in the car with Wren…” She groaned with a disapproving look directed at Mal, then Hayes.
“It’s okay, Shelia.” I offered. “I didn’t mind the entertainment.”
Glancing at me, she sighed and gave me the slight upward tilt of her mouth. “They never know when to quit.”
“Mal doesn’t know when to quit.” Hayes mumbled, causing Mal to glare in his direction.
“The fuck I don’t.” Mal argued. “You don’t know when to quit.”
“Boys!” Shelia sighed as she rolled her eyes. “Why don’t we go inside, show Wren around and get you settled in.” She placed her palm against Mal’s back and urged him to walk. “I made you boys your favorite dinner.”
Feeling the warmth of Hayes’s fingers clasp around mine, I let him pull me into his side as I watched Mal and Shelia interact like mother and son. It made my heart swelter in warmth.
“You good?” He whispered against the shell of my ear, sending a cluster of tingles down my body.
My stare was still on Shelia and Mal as they walked toward the house, and then, with a smile, I peered up at Hayes.
“Yes. I’m fine. Your mom, Hayes…” I began to say as he gripped both my hands in his and started to pull me toward the house, all while walking backward. “She’s wonderful. I can see where you get your charm from.”
Grinning mischievously, I became transfixed with the sight of him beaming at me. Eyes covered in his sunglasses, I desperately wanted to strip them from his face and gaze into the mossy green irises I loved dearly.
“Charming, huh?” He teased with the lift of his blonde brow.
“You know you are.”
Laughing, he dragged me over to the porch steps, where my stare landed on the older-looking gentleman from earlier. He watched us with an unreadable expression. To some, it might come off as uncomfortable and rude, but by the paleness in his face, I realized it had nothing to do with us and more to do with his battle with cancer. His frail body slowly rose from the rocking chair. His movements were strained and rocky as he struggled to stand, but with a deep exhale, he pushed himself up and straightened his back.
God, he looked so much like Hayes.
Despite the dark hair and beard, his facial structure and eyes were nearly identical to his sons.
