“Oh! I’m Jeanie Spencer, doll. Sorry. Longtime friend. Well, the two of you are just adorable together. And what a great thing for the kids.” Her smile turns sort of awkward, glancing between us, as if she finally sees the boss-employee conundrum. A final look of good-luck-with-it, and then she’s off.
“They’re not going to understand,” Liam murmurs.
“Nope. But that’s okay. We just need a united front. And I’ve decided I’d rather be honest than ashamed. Sorry it took me so long to figure out. Esther will be disappointed.”
He laughs. “Yes, she will.” He takes my hand and squares upnext to me. “A united front, huh? I like it. A united front is the answer for everything. Parenting moody teenagers. In-law problems. Getting rid of time-share salesmen.”
I bump his hip. “You’re getting ahead of yourself again.”
“Does that scare you?”
“Not particularly.”
If contentment can be communicated wordlessly, that’s the feeling running through our joined hands.
I do sense a few more knowing gazes turned our way with each subsequent introduction, but then we’re saved with the call to be seated for dinner. The anticipation kills any conversation that’s not about food, and it’s totally understandable. Everything tastes like perfection. I’m taking notes for Marisol. Her salad dressing is still better, though.
Jack finally checks his phone during the soup course and immediately looks like he might be ill. With a frantic look around, he finds us and glares. We shrug back and give him a double thumbs-up for luck.
Chapter 39 – I’m Here If You Want Me
Rosalie
Mrs. Campbell texted me late last night, and I’ve been reading over the message again and again. I haven’t shown it to Liam yet. Unlike Kam, he doesn’t lean over to read my texts automatically, which is saying something, because I’m snuggled up next to him on his couch. All it would take is a glance.
Liam’s mom: I look forward to getting to know you better since it’s obvious my son has fallen in love with you. I’m realizing there’s nothing to dread this time. Lunch soon?
She’s not the type of person you keep waiting, so I had answered immediately.
Rosalie: I’d like that.
Since we haven’t set a date or time, I don’t know if this lunch will happen, but it’s nice all the same.
Liam’s phone pings with a text, and he pulls his phone out, frowning at the message and absently rubbing my arm that’s draped across his chest.
After coming over to his house to make breakfast together, we’re recovering from the cleanup. I’m starting to appreciate the virtues of frozen waffles and Liam’s arms holding me tight. You wouldn’t think the two are linked, but by going with frozen waffles in the morning, I might get more time being held.
“What is it?” I ask. I’m sensing that whatever message he just got on his phone means we’re out of time for today. The sudden tension in his body is the kind you have before you jump up to solve a problem.
And just like I suspected, Liam sits up and turns toward me, his phone turning back and forth in his hand. “Would you mind if we went and got the kids? Daniel has a sudden work trip.”
“And Esther wants to go with?”
He nods, looking almost ashamed.
“Talk to me.”
“Where do I start?” He puts his phone down and looks at me, being more present than anyone I’ve ever known. I will never tease him about team meetings again. I’ve taken for granted how much he cares about sharing things with me.
“Let’s start with why you think I’d mind if the kids were here.” I say it gently, because this is not a criticism. Everything is topsy-turvy. My job has invaded my life, and my life has invaded my job. It’s natural for him to wonder how I feel about that.
“We won’t have today together. I’m kind of a package deal.”
He’s talking about the kids, as if it might bother me that we don’t have the luxury of continuous alone time. As if that’s a surprise. I choose to hang out with his kids. For a living. He couldn’t have chosen better. Which makes me laugh, because Liam still fears that he’s not what I’m looking for.
Not that I can blame him. He’s been abandoned before, butthat’s not going to happen ever again.
“Unlike Esther, I’m not getting on an airplane. I’m here if you want me. I happen to like the package you came with.” I start to laugh at my unfortunate choice of words, and Liam joins me.