Want Me (Mess with Me 4)

“Mom, how did you know Pop was the one? Did you ever have doubts?”

Her eyebrows raise slightly. “Of course. Everyone has doubts sometimes. Your father’s passion for his work was part of why I loved him. But it’s hard to compete with, also.”

It makes me feel a little better. Clearly she found a way to work through whatever fears she had since they’ve been married so long.

“How did you deal with that? I mean, did you ever think about giving up? Maybe finding someone else?”

The timer on the oven goes off and she wraps her hand with a dishtowel before reaching in to pull out a pan of hot rolls. After that she carefully slathers the tops with butter.

“This may surprise you but yes, I did.”

I sit at the counter, resting my chin on my fist. As many stories as she’s told me over the years, I’ve never heard anything about another boyfriend.

“What happened? Did you guys break up?”

She shakes her head. “There was another gentleman interested in taking me out but I eventually turned him down. It wasn’t the first time I’d had another man show interest but it got your father’s attention because this man was a friend of ours. He was educated and very handsome. All the girls thought so.”

“Pop knew about this other man?”

“Of course. I told him. We have never kept secrets. If you can’t be honest and talk to each other then you shouldn’t be together anyway.”

“Wow. So, Pop got jealous, huh?”

“I think he was jealous for a little while. Then he realized that he was the one I loved. He was the one who held my heart. I will admit that having a little competition helped him move things along faster.” She glances over her shoulder and winks.

“What would you have done if Pop didn’t want to get married?” I pick at the edge of my nail, not wanting to see her face when I ask the question.

“That is a difficult question. Things were different then. People got married. It was what everyone did. I can’t pretend to understand how young people do things these days.” She comes to stand next to me at the counter and puts a soft hand against my cheek.

“But any man who doesn’t know how lucky he is to have you isn’t worthy. You are a gem, my sweet girl.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

Somehow she seems to understand that I need a little space, so she bustles around the kitchen getting the rest of the food together. I should help but instead I sit at the counter thinking about the unanswered text on my phone. My mom’s story didn’t give me any real answers. Just because my father got jealous and realized he couldn’t live without my mother doesn’t mean I can expect that outcome. But the one thing that sticks out is the communication.

Law and I have done a lot of talking at each other instead of talking with each other. Maybe if we can set our differences aside, we can come up with something we both can live with. My parents definitely will be a little disappointed if I never get married but after today, I honestly think my mother would understand.

Pop held her heart.

Law holds mine.

My heart clearly only has one space and Law is squarely in the center of it. Is it fair for me to go on a date with Seth or any other guy when I’m thinking about someone else? Aren’t you supposed to close one chapter before starting another?

I need to talk to Law.

“Mom, I can’t stay for dinner. I’m sorry.”

I put my phone in my handbag. It’s Thursday night so Law is probably still at the office. He usually stays late on Thursdays and Fridays to wrap everything up so he won’t need to work weekends. Hopefully, no one else will be around and we can talk privately.

“Go find him, Anya. That man loves you. I’m sure together you can figure things out. Make him hear you because every minute you have together counts. Every single minute.”

Tears sting my eyes as she pulls me into a gentle hug. The fact that she understands without me having to tell her makes it easier somehow.

“Let me just say goodbye to Pop before I go.”

She brushes away a stray tear from my cheek with her thumb. “Please let me know how you are later tonight. No matter how old you get, I still worry about my baby.”

“I will. I promise.”