AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It’s been nice to see this different side of Trent. We’ve grown closer, and I cherish every minute of it. Mac and Trent have also grown closer, the bond they once shared back in place and stronger than ever. Trent may still have a lot of feelings to work through regarding his mother, but with the help of Mac, and hopefully me, he’ll get through them fine.
I’m in the kitchen making a peach cobbler. Mac’s in his office going over paperwork for the station, and Trent’s in the living room playing a video game. I’m pulling the cobbler out of the oven when I hear a door slam from outside. I quickly put the hot pan on a dishtowel on the counter and nervously smooth down the front of my deep purple sundress. I don’t wear dresses often, but felt the need to wear one today. I want to look pretty and proper for Mac’s parents. When I came out of the spare room earlier, Mac just shook his head at me. He knows what I’m doing. He’s tried talking to me about my nerves, but nothing he says helps. Only time will tell if I’m truly accepted by his parents again. And that time is now.
I grab a bottle of water out of the fridge and take a few mouthfuls to wet my dry mouth, before walking out of the kitchen. The front door is open, and I hear Trent yelling, “Grandma and Grandpa!” Trent tries so hard to act older than his age at times, but underneath it all, he’s still a child.
I smile at his excitement at the same time Mac walks out of his office wearing a pair of beat-up jeans with holes in the knees and a dark gray Nirvana shirt. I meet him at the door, and we both step out onto the porch as we watch Trent hug Maryann and then Sam.
They break apart and make their way toward us. I glance down at my white flip-flops, not able to look them in the eyes yet. Mac wraps his arm around me and squeezes my shoulder. I feel him kiss the top of my head. “Stop stressing so much, Pix,” he murmurs against my hair. “Everything is going to be okay.”
I glance up at him and see him smiling at me. It helps a bit.
Mac releases my shoulders and meets his parents at the top ofthe steps. He pulls his mom in for a hug. When he takes a step back, she grabs his face and pulls him down so she can kiss his cheeks.
“Oh, my baby. It’s been too long. I’ve missed you so much.” Her eyes glisten with tears as she looks at her only son.
“Hey, Mom. How are you?” Mac asks her.
“Much better now that we’re here.”
She takes a step away so Sam can shake hands with Mac. Mac grabs his hand, but Sam yanks him forward and gives him a man hug with a thump on the back.
“It’s good to see you, son,” Sam says, when they pull apart.
“Yeah, Dad, you too.”
The whole time Mac and his father greet each other, Maryann has her eyes on me, tears still in their depths. I start fidgeting, shifting from one foot to the other.
“Hey, Mrs. Weston,” I greet her quietly.
I’m taken aback when she launches herself at me and puts her arms around me. As with almost everyone, she’s taller than me by a few inches, so I can easily lay my head on her shoulder, and that’s just what I do.
God! I’ve missed this woman so much.
She takes a step back from me, but keeps her hands on my arms when she gazes at me. “Don’t you dare start that Mrs. Weston crap with me, young lady. You know it’s Maryann and Sam to you. That hasn’t changed.”
My body relaxes at her words. Why I ever doubted this woman is beyond me. I should have known all along that she would welcome me back into her arms. That’s just the type of woman she is.
I smile at her and lean up slightly so I can kiss her soft cheek. “Thank you,” I say in her ear.
Sam steps up next and pulls me in for a tight hug. “It’s about damn time y’all got back together. Welcome back to the family, Mia,” he says, when he pulls back.
I laugh at him, and the tense feelings I’ve been having sinceknowing they were coming melt away. This right here is why I love Mac’s family so much. Although they have every right to have hard feelings for me for damning their son, they don’t.
LATER THAT EVENING, I’m out on the porch sitting on the swing. I told Mac I was coming out to get some fresh air, but the truth is, I wanted to give Mac’s parents some alone time with Mac and Trent. It’s been awhile since they’ve seen them, and I’m sure they have a lot to catch up on.
Earlier, while Trent was outside, Mac informed Maryann and Sam of everything that’s been going on with Tessa and Shady. Maryann, of course, was devastated and couldn’t understand how someone could do that. To say that Sam was pissed was an understatement. They both wanted to know what was being done. Mac explained they were both currently in hiding, but warrants were out for their arrests. Now, it’s just a waiting game. Waiting for them either to show themselves or to make a mistake. I hate waiting.
I hear the screen door open and glance over to see Maryann walking my way. I smile at her as she takes a seat beside me. We both sit in silence for a few minutes.
“Mac told me you were worried we wouldn’t accept you back into our lives,” she says softly, into the darkness.
“Yeah, I had this irrational thought that you and Sam would hate me for not being there for Mac when he needed me. It’s stupid now when I think about it. I should have known you wouldn’t do that. You and Sam are some of the best people I know.”
She reaches over and grabs my hand in hers. “From the very start we understood, Mia. It must have hurt seeing Mac in that position. There’s no way you could have known that he was drugged and not acting of his own free will. Mac tells me he knows you still feel guilt. You need to let that go, Mia. Just like he needs to let go of his guilt as well.”
Is it any wonder I love this woman so much? Besides my mother, she’s the one woman I would always run to if I ever needed advice. She always knew what to say to make me feel better. Just as she is doing right now.
I rest my head on her shoulder and tell her quietly, “I’m sorry I stayed away.”
