Better With You (Better Love 2)

Before.

My second impression of her is that she is intelligent. Her eyes are sharp and sparkling, so much like Riggs’s, and I can tell she’s missing nothing. Not the kitchen mess on my clothing. Not my rapid pulse fluttering in my throat. And not the way my breath catches when I stand too close to her son. She sees it all.

When Riggs walks closer and sits in a chair at her bedside, I see that a safety rail has been installed. The harsh, clinical appearance is in direct contrast to the soft elegance of the bed. There’s a breathing machine on the bedside table with a nasal mask resting on a hook next to it.

“Maman,” Riggs says, taking hold of his mother’s hand, “this is my friend Bailey.”

Her deep brown eyes haven’t left my face, but her soft smile grows when she greets me. “Bonjour, Bailey. Alex has told me about you.” Her words are slurred slightly, but her French accent is still beautiful, and I don’t miss that she called Riggs, Alex. Hm.

She glances at her son, love and playfulness in her eyes. “Bien qu’il ne m’ait pas dit que tu étais belle.”

Riggs’s cheeks color pinkish, and he flicks his eyes toward me.

“Mom, you’re making her nervous.” His mom laughs lightly in response, and I fidget awkwardly.

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Stanton.” I step up next to the bed and stand by Riggs’s side.

“Please, call me Odette. Riggs said you are a wonderful baker.”

“Um, I don’t know about that.” I snort. “I’m still learning. He’s much better than me.”

“Don’t listen to her, Maman,” Riggs cuts in. “She’s brilliant. She has sharp instincts and she’s creative just like you.” I feel his eyes on me, but I don’t look at him.

“Oh, I love to hear that. You should bake something for me sometime.” Her eyes crinkle with her smile, and I pretend not to see Riggs rub his thumb over the back of her hand. It’s so intimate, so loving, and my eyes sting at the sight. Their bond, the love in this room, it’s something I’ve only ever experienced with one person, and he was taken from me. My heart breaks to know Odette will be taken from Riggs, too.

“Sure,” I say with a smile, and I look at Riggs to find his eyes locked on my face. “We can do that, can’t we, Butch.” His eyes flare and a smile twitches on his lips at the nickname.

Odette laughs and glances at her son. “Butch? And where is that from?”

“Yeah. You know Butch Cassidy?” I arch a brow mischievously, and Riggs narrows his eyes.

“Nope. Cover your ears, Mom. Elle raconte des histoires. She’s fibbing.”

“No, no, no,” I laugh. “You can’t sweet talk your way out of this one, Riggs.” I widen my eyes at Odette playfully, then lower my voice to a mock-whisper. “When I first met your son, he was not being an upstanding citizen.”

“Alex,” she gasps with a smile. “You were being a naughty boy?”

I nod. “Very naughty.”

“Sundance is just angry because my hands are faster than hers,” Riggs jokes, and I scoff.

“Sundance?” Odette questions, and when she studies me, I feel naked.

“Oh, yeah,” I stutter out. “You know, The Sundance Kid? He’s Butch Cassidy’s—”

“Son partenaire de crime,” Odette says. “His partner in crime.” She looks back at Riggs, and I can’t help but notice how he averts his eyes. “That is a very cute story,” Odette says, breaking the silence.

“All lies, Mom.” Riggs laughs awkwardly.

Odette laughs a little, too, and then she sighs.

“We’ll get going and let you rest.” Riggs’s voice is soft, and my heart squeezes when he lifts Odette’s hand and places it on his cheek. “We’ll come back and see you in a few days.”

“Je t’aime, mon étoile,” she whispers.

“Do you need help?” he asks as he sets her hand down, then gestures to the breathing machine.

“No. Just send Beth back in,” Odette says with a sad smile. He leans over and kisses her on both cheeks.

“Je t’aime. See you soon.”

“Nice to meet you, Odette,” I say as I step toward the door.

“Pleasure meeting you, Bailey.” One last smile, then Riggs places his hand on the small of my back and leads me out.

“She’s wonderful,” I say to him.

“She is.”

“Was that an oxygen machine?”