“That’s just it, Mama,” Harlow said. “He probably isn’t a threat anymore. Ace paid off Billows and warned him to stay away from me.”
“And he agreed?” her mother asked.
“According to Ace, yes,” she said. “Ryker doesn’t though, and I’m not convinced.”
“Do you want to marry him?” her mother asked. That was a question that she had asked herself a few times now, and her answer was always the same—she did.
“Yes,” she admitted.
“Did you tell him that?” her mom asked.
“No,” she said, sitting her coffee cup on the kitchen table. “I told him that I needed time to think about it. I didn’t want to rush things and telling him yes felt like I would be. I’ve made so many mistakes, Mama,” she whispered.
“And you made so many good decisions, Harlow. Even your mistakes led to something good. Like, Craig was a huge mistake, but you got Iris from it, and look how awesome she is. Our lives wouldn’t be the same without that little girl in them,” her mother said.
She was right. Every one of her bad decisions had led Harlow to where she was now. Honestly, she wouldn’t change much about her current life. Sure, not having a loan shark wanting to collect her as payment would be nice, but even that mess led to Ryker staying with her and ending up in her bed. And now, after even a short time, she couldn’t imagine her life without him. He was quickly becoming a part of not only her life but Iris’ too.
“I guess you’re right,” Harlow admitted.
“Of course I am,” her mother sassed. “I’m your Mama and I’m always right.” Harlow rolled her eyes and her mother laughed. “You’ll tell your daughter the same thing when she’s old enough to have these talks with you.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” Harlow said. “Again.”
“When are you going to put that man out of his misery and tell him that you’ll marry him?” her mother asked.
“Soon,” Harlow said.
“Good, because men like Ryker won’t wait around forever. He’s a good man, honey.”
She stood and nodded, “Thanks, Mama. I feel better hearing that my decision was the right one. See, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree after all.”
Her mother got up and grabbed their empty mugs. “Guess it didn’t,” she agreed. “I’ll be over later today to watch Iris.”
“Thanks, Mama,” Harlow said, kissing her mother’s cheek. Her mom walked her to the front door, holding it open for her and watching her walk back across the yard to her house. It was something that her mother always did as if she worried that Harlow wouldn’t get home safely otherwise. She waved back over her shoulder and her mother yelled for her to, “End his misery,” causing her to giggle.
She walked into her house, finding both Ryker and Iris in the kitchen eating brunch without her. “Sorry,” he said, shooting her his adorable sheepish grin. “Iris said she was hungry.” She looked over to the booster seat her daughter sat in, and she smiled up at Harlow as if agreeing with Ryker.
“How was your time getting to know each other?” she asked.
“Good,” he said. “She’s fascinated with the potty and don’t even get her started on that toilet paper. She wasted almost two rolls by pulling it all free from the little brown paper tube.”
“Yeah—it’s one of her favorite things to do. I should have warned you.”
“It all worked out,” he said. “I taught her how to wrap people like mummies with it and well, we had a good time. Had to throw the toilet paper away though, sorry.”
“No problem,” she said, grabbing a plate and helping herself to pancakes. “These look great,” she said. “I had no idea that you were such a good cook.”
He shrugged, “I can make a few things,” he said. “You know, just to get by.”
“Well, I appreciate you doing all this,” she said. “Thanks.”
“Not a problem,” he said. “You have a good catch-up with your mom?”
“I did,” she admitted.
“Anything good that you want to share?” he asked. He was fishing for her to tell him that she’d marry him, but he had promised not to push her for a decision. That didn’t mean that he wouldn’t find subtle ways to try to get an answer out of her.
“Not really,” she lied. She wanted to wait until they were alone to give him her answer. Telling him that she’d marry him with her toddler sitting in the corner of the room, shoving pancakes in her mouth, wasn’t her idea of romantic.
“All right then,” he said. “Eat up,” he ordered. “I’ve promised that we would take Iris for a walk after we’re finished.”
“That sounds perfect,” she said. “I think we can all use a little bit of fresh air and exercise.”
“Agreed,” Ryker said. Her mother was right, she’d need to give him an answer sooner or later because men like Ryker were hard to come by and losing him wasn’t an option. Not when she just found him.