Page 55 of Chasing Amanda

“And a very talented one,” Mark added.

Mrs. Johnson dabbed the corners of her lips with her napkin, then folded it on her lap before aiming her gaze at her son. “You know this how? She’s cooked a lot of meals for you?”

“She cooked for me, yeah.”

Amanda was glad Mark didn’t share which meal. Telling her Amanda had made him breakfast would have only confirmed what she already believed.

“I also watched her teach kids to bake biscuits and croissants.”

She faced him, flushing with pleasure. “I forgot you were there.”

“They smelled great.” He directed his words at his mother. “I didn’t taste them, but she sent me boxes of the most delicious homemade candy and fudge.”

The woman’s face turned a very unattractive shade of red.

Mark either didn’t notice or pretended not to as he kissed Amanda’s temple. “She’s always sending me things. Her parents too.” To Amanda, he said, “Did you know they send me something every week? Letters, cards, care packages. The guys hang around my bunk at mail call, just in case one of you sends me food. Your family is the reason I have so many buddies.”

“That and your winning personality.”

“That too.” He spoke to his father, taking on a more serious tone. “I devour your letters. They remind me I’m not alone.”

“The Lord is with you, son, and you’re never far from our thoughts.”

Our?

Amanda thought Hayden was generous to include his wife in that statement.

“Well.” Mrs. Johnson cut a bite of her steak. “None of it would be necessary if you’d just gone to Princeton like I told you to.”

Hayden sent his wife a warning look. “Mark gets to choose his own path.”

“Don’t worry about it, Dad. It’s not like it’s a newsflash. She doesn’t exactly hold her opinions close.”

“You’re both being ridiculous.” The woman dropped her fork with a clatter. “I’m only stating the obvious. You can’t be happy you’ve gone to war. And you”—she glared at her husband—“pushing him to put his life in danger. What kind of father does that?”

“I didn’t push him. I told him to do what he felt called to do. I served. There’s honor serving your country.”

“Oh, please.” Her predator eyes homed in on Amanda. “And you. I bet you love telling people your boyfriend’s a Marine.”

Amanda’s spine stiffened, her heart hammering with outrage. “You don’t know me. You don’t know anything about me.”

“I know your kind.”

“My kind? What kind is that?”

“The kind that tricks a foolish man into thinking he’s in love in three days with false-innocence and lash-flapping. Where’d you learn those skills? Not in community college or chef school, that’s for sure.”

“That’s enough, Mother.” Mark shoved out of the booth and held out his hand to Amanda. “Let’s go.”

She took it, slid to the edge, and let him pull her to her feet.

“Sorry, Dad, but I can’t… I just can’t.”

“I understand, son.” Hayden’s expression wasn’t disappointed but resigned. Apparently, his wife’s behavior didn’t surprise him at all.

What was wrong with her?

When Mark tried to tug Amanda away, she didn’t budge, looking down at the woman who’d looked down on her all day. “Your son is the most amazing, most wonderful, most courageous man I’ve ever known, and you don’t even see it. Am I happy he went to Afghanistan?” Her volume rose, but she didn’t soften it. “Am I happy that he’s going back? Obviously not. But am I proud of him?” She let the question hang there, giving the woman a moment to say something, anything.