Page 82 of Sweet Passions at Bayside
She nodded silently.
He climbed from the truck and called out, “Hi, Mom,” as he walked around to help Emery out.
His mother pushed to her feet and met them halfway up the walkway. “Hi, baby.” She embraced him and then reached for Emery. “Hi, sweetie. How are you two doing?”
“We’re okay,” he said at the same time Emery said, “We’re good.”
“I mean, me and Dean are good, as a couple,” she said nervously. “But we don’t feel good about what happened yesterday. I’m sorry if—”
“We’resorry,” Dean interjected, “if we caused any embarrassment for you last night.”
“Honey, you and Emery couldn’t embarrass me if you stood on your heads naked in the middle of dinner. I have pretty thick skin.” She slid her fingers into the pockets of her white jeans and shrugged. “We should talk about your father, though. From what little I’ve seen, you and Dean are too good together to let a bitter man come between you.”
“We’re not,” Emery said softly. “I mean, it’sthere, and we need to figure out a way to make things better, but”—she reached for Dean’s hand—“he won’t come between us.”
“Emery’s moving in, Mom. We have her stuff in the car.”
A smile formed on his mother’s face and reached all the way up to her eyes. She threw her arms around them. “I’m so happy for you both. I knew the two of you were too strong to let anything bring doubt to the love I saw in your eyes last night.” She put a hand on each of their cheeks and said, “Always follow your hearts. They’ll never lead you astray.”
“That’s what Rose told me,” Emery said, remembering she hadn’t mentioned to Sherry that she was working with Rose. “I just realized last night that the woman I’ve been helping with her back issues at LOCAL is Dean’s grandmother Rose.”
“I know,” his mother said.
“Youknow?” Dean asked.
“Honey, you know your grandmother and I talk every day. I wasn’t sure at first because she called herEmmie, but how many yoga back-care specialists named Emmie are there in the area?” She smiled at Emery and said, “Thank you for all you are doing for Rose. She’s a very special woman, and we are all so thankful that she is finally finding relief.”
“It’s my pleasure. I love working with her. She and her friends are hilarious, and she’s remarkably determined to get out of that wheelchair. I wish all my clients could be so inspired.” Emery squeezed Dean’s hand and said, “I think I’ll go inside and give you guys some time to talk.”
“You don’t have to,” Dean said.
“I know. But I need to figure out how we’re going to fit my clothes in your closet, and I think it’s time I finally unpack.” Emery hugged his mother again and thanked her for coming over. Then she walked inside, like she hadn’t just set his whole world spinning.
His mother wrapped her fingers around his arm and lowered her voice. “Your brother is a bit angry with you.”
Dean inhaled deeply, trying to switch gears. “Which one and why?”
“Doug never gets upset with you. He thinks you walk on water, and at the moment, he’s not aware of what happened last night. I would imagine he’ll give your father an earful, but he’s so busy with his wife and his job, I didn’t think I should bother him with this. But Jett’s another story. He called this morning, and apparently you haven’t told him how serious you and Emery are. I think he feels a bit left out that he’s finding out after us.”
“Yeah, well, he can deal with that. I’ve got bigger things on my mind. Let’s go sit down.” They went out back to the patio and sat at the table. “Would you like something to drink? We’ve got ice water with fresh lemon slices, or iced tea.”
“Fresh lemon slices?” She raised her brows. “Oh yes, you are definitely smitten.”
He chuckled. “That I am. Would you like a drink, Mom?”
“No, honey, but thank you. What I’d like is to talk about you and your father.”
Dean leaned forward, elbows on knees, gathering the courage to finally step over a line he hadn’t ever before. But after what happened last night, he needed answers. “Can I ask you something first?”
“Of course.”
“Why are you still with him?” he blurted out before he could chicken out. “I mean, he’s not the man he used to be, and I can’t imagine you’re happy.”
He expected his mother to take offense, but her smile remained in place. She was quiet for a long moment. So long, he wondered if this was her way of telling him he’d overstepped his bounds.
“I’m sorry, Mom. You don’t have to answer that.”
“It’s okay. I’m just trying to figure out how to put my thoughts into words you’ll understand. I’ve been with your father since we were in high school.”
