We were headingout to the SUV. Monique was talking to Beau up ahead of me. I lagged back a bit to give them some time to say goodbye. It had felt like I’d had her attention more than Beau did, and I was feeling a bit guilty for hogging her.
Beau hugged his mother in a sweet embrace as she kissed his cheek. He nodded at her, then gazed over to me and smiled. Monique walked up to me, ready to give me another hug. “Thank you for the visit. It meant a lot to me that you came here with Beau. It says a lot about who you are.” Her hand moved my hair away from face. “My son lives a large life, my dear. But never forget—you will, too. Loving a man and supporting his dreams does not mean you must give up on yours. Quite the contrary. He has to support what you love as well.”
The caring look in her eyes, combined with her kind words, made my eyes start to water. Blinking my eyes quickly as I sniffed. “Thank you, Monique. For everything.”
“Anytime. You take care of my son, but promise me you’ll make him do the laundry?” she said with a small crack in her voice.
“I’ll try,” I said, giving her one last hug.
I walked to the SUV, my heart feeling full, but heavy.
I’d had a really great time here. It was difficult to leave.
When I got into the SUV, I took a deep breath before I put my belt on. “You okay?” Beau asked, turning my head toward him with his fingers.
“You are far too good looking. Has anyone ever told you that?” I said, taking in his handsome, dark eyes, chiseled chin, and all-around gorgeous face. His hair laid carelessly yet with subtle style.
“Nobody that mattered,” he said, then leaned over to kiss me. His lips were always welcome, but right now I needed to feel them.
Suddenly, a knock on my window made me jump. “You have got to be fucking kidding me,” Beau said as he leaned back in his chair.
I turned to see Monique, waving at my window. Rolling it down for her, I noticed a familiar looking blue box in her hand. “You forgot these,” Monique said, knowing full well I hadn’t. In fact, I’d left the earrings on her dresser with a note of thanks for allowing me to borrow them this weekend.
“Monique, I can’t—”
“They’re yours. I gave them to you,” she said, firmly placing them in my hand and closing my fingers over the velvet box. Quick as a wink, she hurried back toward the house.
When I looked at Beau, he had a wide, stupid grin on his face.
Then he drove us to the airport.