“You wouldn’t have to work or live with me,” Mama began and then took a sip of her tea, “if you found yourself a nice man and remarried. You’re a woman who comes from a proud family with strong roots in Nashville. You deserve a man of equal stature.”
The cannon had been fired. I knew a Tuesday dinner was too weird for Mama’s schedule.
I ran a hand through my chestnut brown hair. “Mama, we’ve been over this.” I sighed. “We went over it almost every day after that first six months of my divorce. I don’t think that dating a man is something I need right now. It’s too much trouble.”
“Oh, you hush now.” Her brow furrowed for a moment, revealing the wrinkles mostly concealed by Mama’s makeup efforts. “You most certainly do need a man. All women need a man. Juniper needs a positive male role model in her life and not that bum Lionel.”
“Let me guess, Mama. You already have someone particular in mind?”
She held up a hand. “Now, just hear me out, Emily.”
“Oh, those are some scary words.” I took a gulp of my tea as if it could protect me from what Mama was about to say.
“You know I work with Amelia Hawkins in a lot of my charitable endeavors, right?”
I nodded slowly and then groaned as a realization hit me. “This is about her son again?”
“Now don’t be like that. Logan is a good man,” Mama said. “Hard-working, good relationship with his parents, and he’s a man already ready to support you, Emily.”
I chuckled. “You mean he’s rich.”
“Most women consider that a good thing. He’s also quite handsome if I do say so myself.”
I wouldn’t know. I’d never seen a picture of him. That made me suspicious.
“I suspect you care more about his money and his family history than what he looks like.”
Mama sighed. “Well, if you have a rich man and a poor man, and both are good, wouldn’t you want to marry the rich man? And you don’t have the poor man right now. Handsome or otherwise.”
I laughed despite the situation. “You’ve been trying to throw Logan at me for weeks now. And Mama, I tried being with a man obsessed with money already. That didn’t go well. So why would Logan be any different?”
“Not everyone’s Lionel, Emily.” She clucked her tongue. “Logan’s older, for one thing, but not too much older, thirty-nine. He’s already had plenty of time to sow his wild oats, and Amelia has made it clear he’s a good catch.”
I stared at Mama. “Of course, she would say that, Mama. She’s his mother.”
“Don’t get lippy.” Mama shook her finger at me. “I’ve met him a few times myself, too. He’s a nice man. Like I said, handsome, has money. Very respectful to his mother.” She fanned herself. “So polite. It’s hard to find a good man who’s polite anymore. When I first met your father, God rest his soul, I was struck by how polite he was. Everyone’s so rude nowadays. I blame that internet.”
My face heated, and my heart sped up a bit. I didn’t like being angry at Mama, but I also didn’t like her trying this sort of thing over and over and over again.
“Is that all this Tuesday dinner is about? Trying to sell Logan Hawkins to me?”
“No, dear,” she said. “I just thought it’d be nice to spend some time together. Now, if it so happens that we can discuss Logan at the same time, I don’t think it’s a problem.”
“Enough, Mama,” I said, careful not to raise my voice.
She might be annoying, but she did care, and she was my mother after all. I understood where she was coming from. She just needed to understand where I was coming from.
“If we can’t find something else to talk about other than Logan Hawkins,” I said, “then I’ll just grab Juniper, and we’ll go pick up a burger or something.”
Mama pursed her lips together and frowned as if she was disappointed with me. I fought the urge to apologize. She was the one who needed to mind her own business.
A smile appeared on her face, though it was forced. “All right, Emily. Let’s go check on Bella and that casserole then.”
I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. At least the torture was over for the moment.
Chapter Two
LOGAN