All's Fair in Love and Chocolate (Marietta Chocolate Wars #1) - Amy Andrews Page 0,48

a thanks-I-got-that kinda way. “But…what if you changed your job?” It was her turn to talk slowly so Viv got what she was saying. “I know Marietta gave you a hard time when you first arrived and I can only apologize again for—”

Viv interrupted with the wave of a hand brushing the apology away impatiently. She’d moved past her rocky start with Marietta and rushed headlong into the utterly charmed phase of her habitation. “It’s fine.”

“Okay.” Gaylene nodded again. “Anyway…I thought I’d put it out there because I know you said that you yearned to travel as a kid but I’m not sure you’ve ever thought that it’s okay not to at some point. That you could…you know…stop. If you really wanted. And stay somewhere. Stay in Marietta. And, I’m not even saying this for you to be with Reuben and not break his heart but just because I thought maybe you needed to hear that it was okay to want to settle somewhere at some stage.” She shrugged. “Just something for you to consider over the next few months.”

“Right.” Viv blinked again as Gaylene turned her attention back to the turkey dish, which was scrubbed so clean now Viv was pretty sure Gaylene could see her face in it.

To say her brain was blown was an understatement. Not at what Gaylene had said because Viv couldn’t go there but that she’d said it at all.

Viv was trying to summon some kind of outrage or affront at this level of motherly interference because that was far easier than concentrating on the content of the conversation, but there was a part of her that actually felt a little…flattered, that Gaylene cared. Sure…her main reasons for initiating this conversation had been selfish. Had been about Reuben. But she’d been so earnest in her statements about wanting Viv to consider that it was okay to stay it was hard to be miffed.

Even while trying to look out for her son, Gaylene was also trying to look out for her. Which was really rather sweet.

“Umm…everything okay in here?”

Viv had been so caught up in this head-exploding conversation, she hadn’t even heard Reuben approach. Gaylene looked up from the sink, catching Viv’s gaze for a beat or two. It seemed to say ball’s in your court before she looked over her shoulder at her son.

“Hey, honey,” Gaylene said.

“Mom? You’re not telling Viv that story about when I won the under-eight line-dance championships at Grey’s are you?”

Picking up on the humorous tone in his voice and forcing herself to mimic it, Viv quirked an eyebrow at Gaylene and said, “He line dances?”

Gaylene gave a nod, meeting Viv’s eye again, their gazes holding. “He’s the full package,” she said with a sad kind of smile before returning her attention to Reuben. “You’ve arrived just in time to help Viv with the hot chocolates.”

“Did someone say, hot chocolate?” Viv watched as Stephen trooped in behind, Reuben. “I’m starving.”

“Dude, you just ate a twelve-course meal. How could you possibly be hungry?” Reuben shook his head at his cousin then poked him in his pot belly. “And you’re getting a spare tire.”

Unconcerned, Stephen patted his stomach. “I’ll have you know this is a dad bod and women find it irresistible.” Then he pulled up his shirt and pinched the fat around his belly button to make a mouth, which he pointed at Reuben and said, “Feed me. Feed me.”

Viv laughed as Reuben winced. “How did you lose your virginity at all?”

“I took pity on him,” Jess said, also appearing. “Now put that thing away, dufus.” She kissed her husband on the cheek. “Go and help your aunt with the rest of the dishes while we get these drinks poured.”

And, just like that, the awkwardness that had permeated the air prior to Reuben’s entry evaporated and the kitchen was full of noise and laughter and conversation and Viv breathed a little easier.

*

She didn’t say anything to Reuben about the conversation with his mother as they made their way home about four in the afternoon. It had been a lovely day, her belly was full and the two glasses of red wine she’d had before she’d left had set up a nice buzz. She didn’t want to talk about the issues his mother had raised at the kitchen sink. Hell, she didn’t even want to think about them.

Not least because Gaylene was wrong.

Viv didn’t blame her for looking out for Reuben and she had no doubt that, as his mother, she probably