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The knowing look she gave us made me want to melt into the floorboards. Tyson just grinned and got up to hug his mother, who patted his cheek and looked between us with the satisfaction of a woman whose prayers had been answered.

“What are you doing here, Mom?”

“Checking on our neighbor.” She settled on the couch and patted the spot next to her for me. I found myself sandwiched between mother and son, and from Tyson’s smirk, I knew this arrangement was intentional. “I brought a casserole again. It’s in the truck. Tyson, go get it.”

“Mom…”

“Go.”

He went. Delia turned to me the second the door closed, her warm eyes going serious.

“I met your sister at the grocery store,” she said, cutting straight to it. “Pretty girl. Same face as you, but colder around the mouth. She introduced herself and told me how she’d driven all this way because she misses her twin so much and just wants to reconnect.” Delia snorted. “Saw through that act in about ten seconds. I’ve raised four kids. I know manipulation when it walks up to me in designer shoes.”

“I’m sorry she bothered you.”

“She didn’t bother me. She concerned me.” Delia took my hand. “Patrick can run her out of town if you want. Suspicious behavior, disturbing the peace, parking violations, whatever sticks.”

I smiled despite everything. “It’s okay. She’ll get bored and leave eventually. She doesn’t have the attention span for a long siege.”

“If you’re sure.” She studied me with maternal intensity that made my chest hurt. My own mother had never looked at me with that much open concern. “Though from what I saw, she’s not the type to give up easily. She’s got that hungry look.” She squeezed my hand. “But it seems my son is handling things well.”

Another knowing look. I could feel my ears burning.

“You should come to dinner this weekend,” she continued. “Wes would love to meet you properly. He’s been hearing about you from Noa for weeks. She told him you’re a princess who fights dinosaurs. He’s intrigued.”

“Apparently you’re very skilled with a sword. Which is news to Wes, who’s been asking questions.”

I laughed, and Delia’s face softened in a way that made my chest ache. It had been a long time since anyone had looked at me like I was something worth welcoming into their home.

Tyson reappeared with the empty casserole dish, catching the end of the conversation. His eyes found mine, hopeful in a way he was trying very hard to hide and failing completely.

“I’d like that,” I said.

I’d like it too. Very, very much.

His shoulders dropped half an inch. Relief, barely contained.

“Saturday at six,” Delia said, already moving toward the door like she’d accomplished her mission for the day. “Don’t bring anything. Tyson will try to bring dessert because he thinks it’s polite. Ignore him.”

“Mom.”

“Ignore him,” she repeated to me, eyes sparkling.

We walked her out together. Her car was parked at the curb behind Tyson’s truck, and the late afternoon sun turned everything gold and soft and almost believable as a life. Delia squeezed my hand once before she climbed in, and then she was gone, waving out the window like we’d known each other for years instead of months.

Tyson turned to me the moment her taillights disappeared around the bend. “I should apologize for her. Or warn you. Or both.”

“She’s wonderful.”

“She’s nosy.”

I chuckled. “Both things can be true.”

He huffed a laugh and leaned in, one hand settling at my waist like it belonged there. I tilted my face up, expecting a kiss, when something in the reflection of his truck window caught my eye.

A Mercedes pulling into my driveway.

Sophie. Again.