I held out my hand. “I’m glad to meet you. I’ve heard a lot of wonderful things from Austin.”
“Well, I’m glad my son finally got his head out of his ass. He’s been pining over you for quite some time,” Rose replied.
Oh, this gray-haired woman was feisty.
I liked it. “I’m glad we ran into each other again.” I blushed and looked down. After we’d broken up a year ago, I never thought I would have him back in my life. It was time for a subject change.
Gene must have sensed it, too, or he had impeccable timing. He extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, Scarlette.”
“You, too. Would you like some breakfast? I have eggs and sausage. Maybe some biscuits.”
Austin came around and wrapped his arm around my waist. “Mom, Dad. Let me help Scarlette get breakfast together while you get settled in my place.”
“Rose, honey, let’s get settled. I know I could use a shower.” Gene walked toward the door, but Rose didn’t take her eyes off us. “Rose! Come on. She’s not going to disappear. You’re going to freak her out if you don’t stop hovering.”
That broke the ice, and I laughed as Rose slumped her shoulders. “I’m sorry. I know I’m being creepy. It’s just I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Rose!”
She threw her hands in the air. “Okay! Okay! I’m coming. Hold onto your drawers. But if she does disappear, I’m holding you responsible.”
I loved the banter between his parents. It made me feel more at ease and less on display.
The door closed, and I grinned. “Oh my, I think I just fell in love with your mom.”
Austin gave me a kiss, and I could sense his relief as the stiffness in his shoulders eased ever so slightly. “She’s a mess but excited to meet you. Let’s cook breakfast. Knowing Mom, she’ll be away for about five minutes and not be able to stand it.”
We had the biscuits in the oven and the eggs were ready for the skillet when the door opened about ten minutes later. “You need any help?”
Austin and I glanced at each other with secret smiles. He hadn’t been far off from his predictions.
“I think we’ve got it,” I said.
Austin turned the sizzling sausage over in the pan. “Where’s Dad?”
“Oh, he was taking too long. I think he’s still in the shower. Old fart’s doing it on purpose. He’s in there singing and carrying on while running up your water bill.”
Sweet Gene. I could only imagine Rose hanging onto the bathroom door, trying to rush him to come back over. I added one last dash of pepper to the eggs. “What would you like to do today?” I asked Rose.
Austin looked my way with a smile. It was important to him for me to get along with his family. And I wanted a family. I loved my parents and cherished every memory of when they were alive, but they were the only family I’d had and they were gone.
Rose thought for a second. “I would love to look around town. Oh, and stop by a furniture store in town. I want to see about having a custom piece done and shipped home. Though Gene doesn’t really want to do the shopping part. So maybe we can just look around town.”
The other skillet was warm, so I poured in the eggs, saying, “Why don’t we all go into town. Then you and I can go to the furniture store when we get back.”
Rose responded, “I would love that. I’ll drive and treat you to lunch afterward.”
“Sounds like a date.”
Rose gave me a side hug. “I can’t wait.”
Life was perfect.
2
Austin
It was getting late, and Mom and Scarlette hadn’t returned from furniture shopping.