Page 99 of Dreams
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While Josh was showering, Taylor wandered through the house, ending up in the dining room, where pastries and trays of fruit were set along the table.
Her stomach rumbled at just the thought of food. Looking behind her, hoping to hear Josh on the stairs, she decided it’d be okay if she grabbed something.
As soon as she stepped further into the room, she realized she wasn’t alone. Sitting at one end of the table was a middle-aged woman with a pencil-straight posture and pressed clothing. Taylor looked down at her jeans- dark this time - and yellow t-shirt, feeling like it was somehow inadequate for breakfast.
The woman cleared her throat, and Taylor realized she was staring. “Sorry,” she said, averting her eyes.
“You might as well eat.” The woman waved a hand at the food. “You were eying it like a half-starved puppy.”
Taylor slowly grabbed a plate, loaded it up, and sat down.
“Whose are you?” the woman asked suddenly.
Taylor choked on her croissant. “Excuse me?”
“Which one of my sons brought you into my house?”
Taylor chewed her food, swallowing it roughly, hoping this woman who was obviously Josh’s mom would blame her full mouth for her lack of words. She poured a glass of orange juice and drank half of it right away to try to clear her throat.
“Taylor?” Ethan appeared in the doorway.
She’d never been more thankful for an interruption.
“Hey, Ethan,” she croaked out, standing up to greet him.
He surprised her by hugging her. When he finally backed away, she saw he didn’t appear to have slept. Large bags had taken up residence under his eyes, and his hair was a little wild. This was a far cry from the man who she’d met in Columbus.
“Don’t mind Mom,” he said as Mrs. Walker scowled at him. “She’s more bark than bite.” He turned to his mother. “This is Taylor, Josh’s girlfriend.” To Taylor, he said, “You are his girlfriend, for real this time?”
“Yeah.”
“Great!” He clapped his hands together. “Where’s my brother?”
“Here,” Josh said, joining them. “Tay, if you’d waited, you wouldn’t have had to come into the lion’s den alone.” He smiled at his mom affectionately before walking over and kissing the top of her head.
“Well,” she said, standing and flattening out her skirt. “This lion has things to do.”
“We’re leaving in a few, Mom.”
Disappointment flashed across her face, but then her mask was back. She reached out to hug her son. “Be good and call your mother more often.”
“Yes, Mom.” He chuckled.
“Don’t forget that your meds are in the kitchen.”
His laughter stopped, and he nodded before she was gone.
“You okay?” Josh asked his brother. “You look like shit.”
“Rough night.” He shrugged. “The whole ‘Michaela getting married’ thing would have been so much easier to deal with if I could have booze.”
Josh looked at him skeptically, and he put his hands in front of his chest.
“Still sober,” he said. “You have no idea what I went through to even be able to say that. One night isn’t worth ruining it all.”
“Good.” Josh put a hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “Call me if you need help remembering that.”
