“Why don’t you go talk to him?” Kelsey’s mom, Lori, asked softly. “Dinner’s finished and he’s been sneaking glances at you too.”
Kelsey felt the stab of betrayal deep down. Her mom knew exactly what Hudson had done to her. In fact her mom was the only one besides a couple of college roommates who she struggled to keep in touch with, and her friend Jason, who knew that Hudson was Mo’s father and had deserted her when she needed him most. She’d had to quit school and move home. Luckily she’d been hired by home health care and loved working with Granny Klein, but she didn’t make near the money she could’ve as an RN and it stunk to still live with your mother at twenty-four.
Her mom shrugged but her dark eyes looked repentant. “It might give you some closure. I could take Mo home and get him into bed.”
This had gone much too far. Kelsey set her napkin on her plate, swooped Mo off his chair, and said, “It was lovely to meet you both and eat dinner with you. I’ve got to get this little cutie home to bed.”
“No!” Mo groaned. “No bed!”
Kelsey kept her smile on. “Yes, bed.”
Annalea sprung from her chair and gave Mo a hug then turned to Kelsey. Tugging her close she said, “I’m right sorry if I embarrassed you.”
“You’re fine,” Kelsey lied. “It’s just a lot of history that I am not ready to face.” She probably shouldn’t have said that.
“I understand. I pray you’ll figure it out because that boy …” Annalea actually pointed at Hudson who was at the head table with his family.
Of course he glanced their way at that moment and that irresistible, beautiful grin grew on his handsome face. He even had the audacity to lift his eyebrows and give her the signature Hudson Delta smoldering look that he used to claim he only did for her. Yeah right. Women the world over swooned at that look as Hudson kissed and loved every one of them.
“See I was right,” Annalea crowed, thankfully quietly. “He is head over heels for you, darlin’.”
“Doesn’t matter.” He wasn’t but she wasn’t about to argue about Hudson’s lack of commitment to her and their son with this strong-willed woman. “That ship has slammed into the iceberg that is Hudson Delta’s heart, and sunk,” Kelsey said. “I hope I see you again sometime.” She did mean it as Annalea was delightful, sassy, and yet kind. Kelsey only hoped the next meeting wouldn’t be with Hudson in the same state.
“You too.” Annalea thankfully backed down, surprising for the amount of Southern sass she had in her.
“Bye,” Kelsey said to Tom and then spun and threaded her way through the wedding crowd. Some other people were standing and mingling, making their way to the dance floor where the beautiful couple were headed for the first dance as husband and wife. Kelsey would’ve liked to watch that, but she needed distance from Hudson to somehow tamp down all the desires for him that arose from being in the same location. Too many memories. Too many unfulfilled dreams. She had to leave. Now.
She smiled and said goodnight and let Mo claim the attention as she steadily progressed through the crowd. Everyone was happy to see her, and even more happy to see Mo. He got lots of notice and she had to pause for some hugs. Her son was grinning and laughing and seeming to forget she was taking him home to bed.
They made it out of the crowd and into the parking area where at least a hundred cars were parked. Hopefully their car wasn’t pinned in. Could she even find her compact car in the midst of all these huge trucks and SUVs?
“Kels … wait.”
Kelsey pushed out a breath, but stopped and spun around.
Her mom hurried up to her. “Why don’t you let me take Mo home and you stay for the dancing? It’d be fun for you to act like a young person once in a while.”
“Let’s dance, Mama,” Mo crowed.
Shaking her head, Kelsey started walking toward the car again. She hoped the right direction. Her mom fell into step with them. “Thanks, Mom, that’s nice of you, but I’m tired.”
“Me not tired,” Mo piped up.
She smiled at him and kissed his soft cheek. “You’re never tired.”
“Nope. Cause I’m a tough guy!”
“So true.”
“And I like to dance!”
Kelsey’s throat felt thick and she could only smile at him. Like father like son. She and Mo danced a lot. They could dance at home, tomorrow. When Hudson was gone from the state and her heart wasn’t so tender and her emotions so close to the surface.
Kelsey spotted her old Honda Accord. It used to be red but the orange rust spots were taking over. They should’ve driven her mom’s nicer Cherokee, but Kelsey hadn’t wanted to move the car seat.
She hurried to the car and her mom swung the door open for her and then went and sat in the passenger seat, not trying to force her to stay, which she appreciated. Kelsey sat Mo in his car seat and lifted her purse onto the console between the seats. She could hear the music from the dancing floating to them. Soft but enough to make her wish she could go dance and be carefree and fun.
“Love you Mama,” Mo said in his darling little voice.