Page 143 of Forever Wild
“Mom?” The shock at seeing her makes the emotions I was holding back spill to the surface and tears pool in my eyes. “What are you doing here?”
She smells like the same perfume she’s worn my whole life. There’s a comfort in her embrace, even if we haven’t always seen eye to eye.
“Tyler invited me,” she says simply. I glance over at my brother hovering not far away. More like he forced her. I know how far “asking” usually gets with her. But tonight, I can’t find it in me to care. I’m just glad she’s here.
“Food’s ready,” Piper says loud enough for everyone to hear.
Jack and I walk into the dining room. There’s no buffet tonight. Tables are pushed together, extending out of the dining room into the living room. They’re covered in white tablecloths, and colorful floral arrangements sit in the middle of each one.
“Piper. It’s gorgeous.”
“I can’t take the credit.” She tips her head to Bridget.
“You did this?”
“It turns out, a tiny bit of your design skills have worn off on me. Is it okay?”
“It’s more than okay.”
Jack’s hand comes to rest at my back and I lean into him as I admire the care and effort that went into tonight. We eat and laugh, and it fills my heart with so much love that I think I might burst with it.
As the night wears on, people start to trickle out.
I haven’t had much of a chance to talk to my mom tonight so Ilean onto my elbows and smile at her across the table. “On a scale of one to ten, how shocked were you when I told you I was going to be an agent?”
We’ve only talked once since that day, but I swear she’s barely said two words about my job. Everyone was surprised, so it’s not really fair to single her out, but she’s my mom and I’m dying to know what she thinks. I guess a part of me still wants her approval.
“I was surprised.” She arches a brow. “It’s good you’re trying new things and I’m sure Heather would be happy to have you back if you change your mind.”
Jack tenses next to me, and I swear I can feel him about to say something, but I place a hand on his thigh.
“Mom—” Ty says with a look of warning.
She looks around innocently like she doesn’t know why anyone is upset with her.
I take a breath. It isn’t the glowing endorsement I wanted, but it doesn’t sting like I expected. “Maybe, but I don’t think it will come to that. I’m really enjoying being an agent and I’m good at it.”
She smiles in a way that doesn’t seem like she believes me. I open my mouth to try to convince her, but you know what? I don’t need to. I believe in myself.
I glance over at Jack, who still looks pissed at my mom. I place a hand on his cheek and kiss him.
“I love you,” I say quietly.
His features soften. “I love you too. You’re a great agent already. And you’re just going to get better.”
“I know.”
The party continues to die off until it’s just me and Jack, my mom, Tyler and Piper and little Charlotte sitting in my lap.
She wants to be on me, but it’s Jack that she’s looking at wide-eyed. She pulls at the material of his T-shirt until he gives her his hand, then she brings it up to his mouth.
“Are you going to bite me next?” he asks her with a teasing tone.
“Don’t worry,” Tyler says. “I put the hockey stick in my room.”
“You could have just tossed it,” Jack says. “I’ll get her another when she’s old enough to use it properly.”
“I could have, but I wasn’t convinced I wouldn’t need her to use it again,” he says pointedly.
