Andrew seemed to think on it. “Are you an American, Mommy?”
“Yes. We all are.”
He gave a short nod and then scooped up a piece of meat from his stew.
The rest of the dinner went about the same. Mr. Moore grilling me, Mrs. Moore chastising him for it, Serena rolling her eyes, and Andrew asking random questions. It was odd and at the same wonderful. They seemed to have annoyances with each other like I had with my family, and yet there was a warmth between them, that of course didn’t extend to me, but clearly they were a close family.
I wanted to spend the rest of the evening with them, but concerned I was overstaying my welcome, I got up to take my leave once dessert was finished.
“When can we go on the airplane?” Andrew asked, as I pushed my chair into the table.
“Let me talk to your mom about that, okay?”
“Don’t forget.” Andrew waved his spoon.
“I won’t. Thank you for dinner, Mrs. Moore. It was wonderful. Nice to meet you, Mr. Moore.” I reached over and shook his hand.
“It was our pleasure,” Mrs. Moore said. Yep, her expression suggested she’d already accepted me as a son-in-law.
“I’ll walk you out,” Serena said, pushing her chair in too. The door wasn’t that far from where we were eating, but I guess it was enough to give us some privacy, although not enough so I could kiss her like I wanted to.
“I’d apologize, except I tried to warn you,” Serena said as I opened the door.
I leaned against the door jamb. “I had a great time.”
“You lie. My father was like the Spanish inquisition.”
I shrugged. “He’s not the first to question my intentions.”
She quirked a brow. “I guess lots of fathers have had a run at you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Your insecurities are showing.” I leaned forward, not caring if her parents could see. I kissed her cheek.
“You do plan to take Andrew to see your plane sometime, don’t you? I hate to hold you to that, but you can’t promise a kid something and not deliver.”
I jerked back, once again annoyed at the type of person she apparently thought I was. “You still think I’m an asshole? That I’d use a fake promise to your son to get into your pants?”
“No. I didn’t mean it like that I just—”
“Yes. I plan to take him for a ride in the plane. If you’re nice, maybe you can come too.”
She looked down. “I know I’m a bitch to you.”
“I keep waiting for you to stop.” I grinned at her to let her know I wasn’t mad. Annoyed, yes, but I was wearing her down, so that was something.
She gave me a wan smile. “I’m not sure why you keep bothering.”
“I like being around your kid.”
I expected her to smile at that. Instead she flinched first, and then she smiled, but it didn’t look genuine. To be honest, sometimes I wondered why I stuck around. If only I could figure out what was going on with her that made her so unreachable sometimes.
19
Serena
I felt like I usually did these days as I watched Devin walk away; guilty. I should be happy that he liked Andrew and that Andrew seemed taken with him. I should feel good that he was willing to endure my father’s scrutiny. But everything in my life boiled down to the fact that I was lying about Andrew and until that came out, I’d never be free of the guilt.
“Serena.” My father’s stern voice called me from where he sat in his chair in the living room. My mom and Andrew had disappeared into the kitchen.