Ride: Hearts Wild Series

He wasn't the traditional sort of mama's boy. More often than not, when he called his mother they spent their time talking about her army of blue-hairs or how things were going at the senior center. Ever since he'd become an adult, he'd been careful to keep his personal life exactly that—personal.

Still, all he could think about was Zoe, and he had to know if he'd made the right choice, or more importantly, if he'd be able to find a way for her to forgive him.

"Ma…" He let out a little sigh. "If you had the choice between telling Dad the truth about something he didn't technically need to know or keeping something secret that would actually help someone, what would you do?"

His mother paused. "Ah, you found Quinn."

"I didn't—"

"You didn't have to." She made a little tsking noise. "So, you like this girl?"

"I…" He thought of the way she'd looked in the car, the way she'd grinned at him in the casino that night. "I do, yeah."

"I think you're in a difficult spot. You grew up with me and your father, but Quinn and Zoe never had that."

"How do you—?"

His mother cut him off. "Quinn is much better about calling than you are. But that's beside the point. I think you aren't in a position to understand what those two girls mean to each other or what their dynamic is."

"Okay?"

"All they've ever had was each other, and Zoe was the older one. In a way, she feels the way a mother might feel about her child. And, well, if you disappeared without a trace after something stressful like a wedding…" She made another soft tsking sound. "That poor girl."

"Don't you think Quinn needed her space, though? She's an adult. She should be free to go and do as she pleases."

"That's the rub, isn't it? When you're a parent, you know that you have to let your children make their own mistakes. But when you're not… I'd be willing to bet that Zoe has seen Quinn suffer too many times to let it happen again without doing something about it."

He paused. He'd never really considered that. Of course, he knew that their upbringing had been rougher than most, but he never thought that Zoe's overprotective streak was actually rooted in fear. He'd always just assumed she was a control freak. But then, after being with her, what had she done to prove that? Nothing.

"Ok, I think I understand," he said at last.

"You know, I don't talk much about your grandfather and grandmother, but I will say that after my father left and we were alone with my mother, she jumped into hyperdrive. She felt like she had to do the job of two parents, I'm sure, and that drove her to the edge sometimes. And then, when I was an adult and dating your father, even in spite of everything my mother had done to protect me, I just couldn't imagine how your father could stay with me without leaving like my own father had done. My mother had worked so hard to make me feel like I hadn't been abandoned, but in the end, some things scar deeply. It took me a long time to trust your father."

"So what are you saying, exactly?"

"I'm saying that your father's trust and patience with me was what made me love him even more than I already did. He was like you—his family was stable and supportive, and he had no way of understanding what I'd been through. But he listened. He asked. I'm betting Zoe and Quinn would both benefit from someone who can do the same."

Ian nodded. "I see what you mean."

"So, if you don't understand something, ask. That's all."

"Thanks, Mom," he said, and after a few more pleasantries, they rang off, and he was left alone again with his thoughts.

Trust and patience. They seemed like such obvious, easy things when she put them that way.

But they weren't. They were probably the two hardest things to master in the entire world.

But for Zoe? Well, he was willing to give it a try.

Twelve

The next morning, after Belgian waffles and more family stories, Quinn excused herself to her bedroom while Zoe helped Janice clear the table.

"So, I'm heading out today," Zoe said. "And… well, I wanted to apologize for the way I treated you yesterday. That wasn't fair of me."

Janice shook her head. "It's already forgotten. I know you girls have been through a lot. I'm just grateful now that you're adults, we'll be able to get to know each other better."

"Me, too." Zoe placed the last plate into the sink then dug her phone from her pocket. Carefully, she flipped over to her contacts page.