Page 68 of Spencer and the Younger Girl
She looked lost in her own thoughts as she stirred something in a metal bowl.
“Um, hi.” Hadley wasn’t sure what to do. If there wasn’t any work for her, she should get in her car and drive home, but something stopped her.
It was this place. A warm kitchen with the smells of homemade food. Lots of people around.
She was drawn to it and couldn’t bring herself to leave yet.
Mrs. Lee looked up, her face softening. “Good, I need a taster.”
“A taster?”
“Yes, yes. Come around the counter.” She opened a pot and stirred the contents before dipping in a tasting spoon.
Hadley’s mouth watered at the combination aroma of tomatoes and garlic. “I thought Mr. Lee said you made soup for lunch.”
“I did. The meatballs are dinner.” She held out the spoon. “Go on.”
Hadley took it and had to hold in a moan as she bit into the meatball.
“Good?”
“So good.”
She nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. “Wonderful. Now that I’ve bribed you with a meatball, you can tell me about my son.”
“Your son?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, Hadley. You’ve spent more time with Spencer since his return than I have. How is he?”
How was Spencer? That was the million-dollar question. “I think he’s sad.” It was the first thing that popped into her mind. “I don’t know why, but…” She shrugged.
“Spencer was always a sensitive boy. He never thought we approved of him, that we were always disappointed. He compares himself to Damien, but they’re both so different.” She sighed. “We don’t know why he left three years ago or why he has come back now.”
“You’re scared.” It made so much sense now. “That’s why you’re keeping your distance. You’re worried he’s going to hurt you again.”
She stopped stirring and met Hadley’s gaze. “Unless you lose a child, you can’t really understand. He isn’t going to stay here. I know it in my heart. I’m preparing for the inevitable.”
“But, Mrs. Lee… whether he goes or stays, isn’t he still your son? My mother is distant because she is selfish and cold. That’s not you. I don’t know you well, but you don’t seem like the kind of person who’d protect herself over her son.”
She knew it wasn’t her place to speak to her employer this way, but Spencer deserved a second chance. Everyone did.
Mrs. Lee’s eyes glassed over as she stirred the meatballs, her hand shaking.
The sound of someone walking away from the kitchen had her lifting her gaze to see Spencer’s retreating back. Had he heard everything his mom said? Everything she said?
Jumping from her stool, she ran from the room without another word. Spencer turned the corner into the mud room, and she tried to catch up.
“Spencer.”
He froze with his hand on the doorknob. “I shouldn’t have come to the house.”
“She’s hurting, but she loves you.”
He didn’t turn. “You don’t know that.”
“I do.”
“How?”
