“Okay,” she said, taking a deep breath in. “We’ll do the whole shebang. But let me take a shower and put some makeup on first, okay?”
Twenty minutes later, Maddie walked into the kitchen. Her mom was at the table, leaning over the crossword. She glanced up on hearing Maddie, putting her pen down on the newspaper.
“Good morning.”
“Hi, Mom. I… um… we got back late so Gray stayed over.” The last few words came out in a hurry, tumbling over each other.
“Hello, Gray,” her mom said, her expression ominously neutral. “How are you?”
“I’m good, thank you, Mrs. Clark. How are you?”
“I’m very well. Apart from my daughters fighting like cats.” She gave him a wry smile. “I’m hoping you’ll help Maddie smooth things over. Now would you like some coffee? There’s some in the pot.”
“Actually, Mom, we’re heading over to Gray’s for breakfast,” Maddie told her. “But I can make you something to eat first.”
“I’m quite capable of making my own toast,” she said pointedly. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
“Okay, then.” It still felt weird. Standing in this kitchen next to Gray Hartson. Maddie could feel the warmth of him behind her. “I guess we’ll see you later.”
“That you will.” Her mom picked up her pen and tapped it against her lips. Just as Maddie turned to leave, her eyes meeting Gray’s, her mom spoke again. “Oh, Gray, can I have a word with you. In private?”
“Really, Mom?” Maddie let out a sigh.
“It’s okay.” Gray winked at her. “Sure. What’s up, Mrs. Clark?”
“You should probably call me Jenny,” she heard her mom say as Maddie walked into the hallway and reluctantly closed
the door.
She should feel relieved. They’d made the first step, after all.
But she couldn’t help but feel they still had a hundred flights more to scale.
* * *
“You okay?” Gray asked as they arrived at his place. Maddie drove them over in her car. She had a couple of hours before her shift at the diner, but she felt better having her car here. An escape route of sorts.
Just in case she needed it.
“What did my mom have to say?” she asked him as they climbed out. He looked so at ease as he slid his arm around her and pulled her against him. As they walked up the path to his father’s house, he looked down at her.
“She reminded me that underneath all those wisecracks you have a soft heart.”
“I hope you told her I have no heart.” She shook her head. It was just like her mom to say something like that.
“I told her your soft heart is one of the reasons I like you.” He grinned. “Along with your wisecracks.” He steered her around to the back of the house.
“Where are we going?”
“You’re family. We go in through the back door.”
Breakfast was in full flow in the Hartson house. Through the sparkling glass window Maddie could see Becca holding a slice of toast and gesticulating wildly with it. Aunt Gina was saying something to her with an exasperated smile on her face. And Gray’s father was watching them silently, his eyes soft as the two women carried out talking.
“You ready?” Gray asked her.
“What if I say no?” She grinned at him.
“I’d remind you that I had to do it first. And I even agreed to talk to your mom in private.”