“Let’s forget about Grace and get back to the working things out.”
“There’s not much to say. Nothing I want to share with you, other than that we’re together.”
Eden Simon crossed her arms across her chest and arched an eyebrow. “Five years ago, she broke your heart. Or have you forgotten that?”
Okay. His annoyance had ramped up way past ten. He needed to shut this shit down now. “Doesn’t matter.”
“How can it not matter?” Her arms flew into the air. “Jack, she didn’t just break your heart, she broke mine, too. I wanted to wipe her off this planet for hurting you. For her to just walk away from you with no explanation is unforgivable.”
Jack’s heart melted, and he stepped forward. His mother loved all of her kids with every cell in her body. She would go to the mat for him. She would take on anyone if she thought they’d wronged him. Pretty damn impressive considering she was five feet nothing.
“Mom,” he said gently, his hands on her shoulders. “I love her.”
“Jack, she’s no good for you.”
“You’re wrong about that.”
“I’m your mother, Jack. I’m not wrong about anything.” That was a line she’d been using since he was five. It made him smile.
“You’re wrong about this.”
“Am I? Prove it to me. Tell me why I’m wrong.”
Jack shook his head. “Really? We’re doing this now?”
His mother nodded. “Really. I just flew all the way from Florida to hear this story, and I’m damn well going to hear it. Tell me why I have to accept this woman into our family again when she couldn’t get it right the first time around.”
Jack stepped back. He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed.
“I love her.”
“You already said that.”
“Shouldn’t that be enough?”
“No, Jack. Those are just words. I need more, or I’m not on board. And trust me, you want me on board.”
“More.”
She nodded. “More.”
Jack was used to using words to express himself. He did it every single day in the work place. He was used to giving speeches and had made speaking at democratic fundraisers an art form. He was good. He was damn good. So why was he finding it so goddamn hard articulating what was in his heart?
He took a moment to look inward. To remember the terror he’d felt the day before when Donovan had been missing. He thought about Belize, and he thought back to that first night he’d seen her in Nashville.
It was all there. Words jumbled up into images and thoughts and feelings. He had to make her understand, because his mother was right. He did need her on board. Anything else would be unacceptable.
“She’s the first thing I think about when I wake up. The last thing on my mind before I sleep.” Christ, this was gonna be corny. Thank God none of his brothers were there to hear it.
“When I think of ten years from now, it’s Donnie that I see at my side. It was never Jessica or Monique or any of the woman I’ve been with. It’s always been Donnie. There’s no one else.” He shrugged. “I’m all in with her. Always have been. She challenges me like no one else. She excites me. She drives me crazy. She completes me. I’ve never met anyone like her. Hell, she knows what I’m thinking before I do. She owns every part of me and yeah, that’s some kind of power for someone to have, but isn’t that what love is all about? Being strong enough to let someone have that kind of power?”
“With power comes responsibility,” his mother said softly. “And you’re right. It is a big deal to be responsible for someone’s heart. So my question, I guess, is do you believe she’s going to be responsible with yours?”
After everything he’d been through with Donovan, some folks might think he was nuts. But Jack didn’t have to think about that one. He went with his gut.
“Yes. I do.”
The coffee machine beeped signaling a fresh pot. His mother was silent for a few moments and then with a sigh, reached for two mugs.