Rhys and I are…we’re not…we haven’t quite figured out…”
Mom’s eyes widened. “Oh, shoot. I guess I assumed the wrong thing, huh?” A pause, as she sorted through the situation. “Well, Rhys, you’re staying for the wedding, yes? You drove all the way here, so you may as well stay. It’s going to be a big old party, and we’d love to have you.”
He stammered. “I…I…” He glanced at me. “I mean…”
I was still holding his hand. “He’s staying for the wedding. As for who’s staying where, we’ll have to figure that out.”
“You’re both welcome to stay here, but if you’re not staying together, then Rhys can hang with Myles and the guys. The week leading up the wedding itself has sort of turned into this weird, crazy bonanza bachelor-bachelorette…thing. The guys hang out by themselves all day, the girls with the girls, and then at night we all get together and just…” she sighed. “Well, you’ll see for yourself. Point is, Rhys, if you’re comfortable getting acquainted with a bunch of loud, vulgar, rough, wild, Alaskan men, then I guarantee you’ll have a great time, and they’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”
“Ma’am,” he drawled, “I grew up in no-name holler in the backwoods of Kentucky. Loud, vulgar, rough, and wild sounds like home to me.”
She laughed. “You’ll do just fine, in that case.”
I looked around. “Where is everyone else?”
“Well, I’m just here for a quick change of clothes. I had a client meeting this morning and then I showed a house we just finished remodeling, and now I’m getting changed and I’m gonna go find the crew.”
I laughed. “The crew?”
She shook her head. “Torie, my love, you have no idea what you’re about to be introduced to. We use a lot of words to describe ourselves—crew, tribe, clan, those are the most common. But, in the end, they all mean the same thing—family.” She squeezed my arm, giddy and excited. “And now you’re here! Holy hell, I’m so happy.”
I blinked in shock. “Mom…you just…swore.”
She cackled. “Oh my, wait until you meet my Lucas. He’s changed me, and for the better, but if you’re not used to the new me, he can be a bit of a shock to the system.”
That was an odd statement that I had no way of understanding, so I didn’t bother trying.
I stepped back and looked Mom over—she’d put on weight, and it suited her, filling out her hips and bust, the way a little extra would on me. She was…lighter, brighter, happier. A spark of joy burned in her eyes, and I realized that for years leading up to Dad’s death, and in the months after, that spark had faded and died. It was back now, and brighter than ever.
“You look amazing, Mom,” I said.
She curtsied, which looked funny as she was wearing a power pantsuit. “Thank you, my dear. It’s amazing what healthy eating, an active lifestyle, someone to love you, and a whole hell of a lot of great sex can do for a person.”
You could have knocked me over with a feather. “MOM!”
She just cackled. “I told you, baby girl, I’m not the Momma you knew when I left New Haven.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you refer to sex and yourself in the same sentence in my life,” I said, still reeling.
She patted me on the shoulder. “You’ll get used to it. Now, you two just set your bags here while I get changed. There’s a shower in the guest room, if you want to rinse off real quick.
“God, honestly, a shower sounds incredible,” I said. “I haven’t had one since Connecticut.”
And, considering some of the things that had gone on since then, I felt a little…crusty.
Rhys nodded. “I wouldn’t mind one myself, if there’s time.”
Mom eyed us. “Well, there’s certainly no rush.” She chewed on her lip a moment, her eyes going between Rhys and me. “Do I, uh, need to turn on music?”
I realized what she was getting at, and boggled yet again. “Mom! Oh my god, no. We’re taking separate showers. It’s not like that.” I sighed. “I mean, it is, but it’s not. You know what? It’s fucking complicated, okay? But no, we’re not…no.”
She shrugged, and didn’t even address my F-bomb. “You’re adults. But regardless, take your time. I’ll get changed and then I have a few emails to take care of before I go play hooky for the day.” She led the way down the hall and gestured into the guest room. “There’s shampoo, conditioner,