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“Oh. Who’s Sydney?”
Sydney pinches her lips together. “Hi, Ms. Shaw. It’s Sky, but you can call me Sydney.”
“Like Sky Owens?” she squeals.
“Ma,” I say, shaking my head.
“Sorry, I’m just so excited to meet you. Even if it is on the phone.” She tries to contain her excitement, but it’s useless.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Ms. Shaw.”
“Oh, please call me Susie.”
“We have some news,” I interrupt, hoping to move this conversation along. “Sydney and I are getting married.” When it sounds like the phone drops and then silence, Sydney and I stare at each other. “Ma, where did you go?”
“I’m here. I think the phone line crossed with someone else’s. You know when that happens? Like when me and Julie were talking once and then for a few seconds, a man’s voice comes on the line. It’s the weirdest thing. But it only lasts for a couple seconds. Funny thing, you were just getting ready to tell me something, and the line switched with someone telling their mom they were getting married.” She lets out a humorless laugh. Sydney grimaces and buries her face into my shoulder. This is not how I imagined my mom reacting.
“Ma—”
“Max, can you please take me off speaker?”
Fuck.
Sydney pushes up with tears in her eyes, and it shocks my heart. “Ma, I’ll call you back.” I hang up the phone without waiting for her response.
“Hey, look at me.” Her eyes flash to mine and I wipe away her tears with my thumbs. “She’s surprised, that’s it. She will love you.”
“What if she doesn’t,” she cries. “I mean, my own mom didn’t. What if yours hates me too?” Her insecurities are wreaking havoc in her eyes.
I blow out a ragged breath knowing deep in my heart, my mom will love her. They are so alike and she’s hounded me for years to get married. I shake my head. “Tink, she won’t. Let me call her back and talk to her. You’ll see.” She nods and tries to push off me, but I hold her thighs down. “You are not going anywhere.” I’m determined to fix this. The two women I love more than anything will be on the same side whether or not they like it.
Sydney chews on her lip as I hit my mom’s number. I keep it off speaker, just in case my mom’s a wild cannon again.
“Is she pregnant?” I drop my head at her first words. See, wild cannon just exploded.
“No. She’s not. Why are you being so rude?”
“Son,” her voice levels. It’s the same voice she would use when I fucked up. “What am I supposed to think? You’ve known her for what, two months? Is she after your money?”
My eyes widen, surprised by how mean she’s being. I rub my jaw as Sydney stares at me. “First, we’ve known each other for over two years. Second, that was uncalled for. You don’t even know her.” My voice hardens as I become defensive. Sydney’s head drops.
Silence hangs between me and my mom until she sighs. “I’m sorry, Max. You’re right. You caught me off guard. I don’t want you to get hurt. You should bring her here so we can meet.”
If she thought I caught her off guard before, wait till she hears the rest. “Actually… we’re getting married next weekend. In Dallas. I planned on sending the plane to pick you and Brad up. Rex will be there too.”
She gasps. “Why the rush?”
“Because I want her by my side permanently as soon as possible,” I grind out, not liking that I have to justify my actions. Even if it’s to my mom. I pull in a deep inhale, grabbing Sydney’s hand and bring it to my lips. “Because I’ve loved her for over two years and I finally was able to make her mine.”
She sniffs in the phone. “Max, I’ve never heard you talk like that before.” I roll my eyes as my mom’s voice morphs into sweetness. “I still would like to meet her before you get married.”
“Ma, we’re at the ranch and only here for four more days.”
“Okay. Send the plane in three days and we’ll come there and visit for a day before we all go to Dallas.”
I mouth to Sydney, “She wants to come here to meet you.” She nods in agreement. It’s probably the best plan. I’d hate to ruin our wedding weekend fighting with my mom.
“You win,” I say into the phone. “We’ll see you in three days.”
