“You have a beautiful home, Theresa.”
“Thank you, Billie. We bought this place when I was expecting Eli’s sister, Kelly, and it’s been home ever since. It’s small, but I love it.” She paused. “Excuse me for a moment. I just need to plate up lunch.”
“Do you need any help?” Billie asked.
“I’ve got it. You have a seat and relax,” she replied and disappeared into the kitchen.
Billie rounded on Eli. “Next time, give me some warning!”
“Would you have said yes if I told you where we were going?”
“Well, I… I don’t know.” Billie was still in shock that he’d met Eli’s mother. Meeting the parents. Holy shit, that was serious stuff.
“Relax, sweetheart. You needed a safe place to decompress. No pressure, no expectations. Even if you and I end up just friends.” He pointed to the kitchen. “I’m going to help my mom. Don’t run off on me.”
“Where would I go?” Billie shook his head and took a seat at the dining table, Luis sitting on the opposite side. Eli and Theresa returned with several steaming platters.
“Would anyone like some wine or iced tea?”
Everyone asked for tea and settled in.
“Pot roast with root veggies and gravy, meatless lasagna, and homemade bread. Enjoy.”
“This smells amazing, Theresa. You bake your own bread?” Billie asked as Eli served the food.
“Every week. It’s sort of like my therapy. I get to knead out all my frustrations. Do you like to cook?”
“A bit. My mom taught me the basics, but I often resort to takeout when I get overloaded with work.”
“I know what you mean. I usually make a big family meal on Sunday and have leftovers during the week when I’m busy. You know, Eli is a fabulous cook, too. A great baker.”
“Mom…” Eli blushed, and Billie smiled, stifling a chuckle. Her attempt to sell him on the virtues of her son was charming. And how was he supposed to stay mad at Eli for not warning him about this lunch when he looked so flustered? He took a bite of the pot roast and it melted in his mouth. Oh my God, it was so tasty.
“Eli has told me all about your work. It sounds exciting,” Theresa said as she sipped her tea. “Did you design the jacket you’re wearing?”
“I did and I love my work. It gives me great satisfaction to see my vision come to life on stage or watching someone’s confidence get a boost from my clothes. I also work with an interesting array of clients, so it’s never boring. What about you?”
“I’m a nurse. I’ve been working in a long-term care home for the past ten years, and Manhattan General before that. It’s not the easiest job, but it’s very rewarding. I love caring for people in the community, so it’s more like a calling. It’s something that I instilled in my children. And as you can tell, I’m very proud of my sweet pea.” She looked at Eli and he patted her hand.
“Sweet pea? Is there a story behind the nickname?” Billie asked and met Eli’s intense stare with a raised eyebrow.Payback time, honey.
“I was a week away from my due date with Eli when I was standing in the front lawn, watering the sweet peas. They’re one of my favorite flowers, and they bloom in June. Anyway, I had cut some of them to display in the house when suddenly my water broke, and I went into labor. And my precious baby boy was born a short twenty hours later.”
“Twenty hours of labor?” Luis’s stunned expression was hilarious. “I think I’d rather take on an assailant in a dark alley.”
“It wasn’t that bad. He was my second baby, so I was prepared. It also helped that I had family around. What about you, Billie? Do you have any family nearby?”
“My father lives in Florida. He moved down there after my mom passed away five years ago. I’m an only child, but I have a lot of cousins here in the city—Eli’s probably mentioned Oliver?” He paused, and Theresa nodded. “He and his brothers are like my brothers. We often celebrate holidays together.”
“That’s nice. It’s comforting to have family—whether by blood or by choice—nearby to support each other.”
Billie nodded in reply. He had to admit that he needed this. He relaxed fully for the first time in weeks. They ate and chatted, and everything was good.
Until Eli’s phone pinged and a message from Mason about another threatening e-mail shattered his tentative peace.
Chapter Ten
Eli