Page 54 of Payback
Chapter Thirteen
Loran walked into his mother’s hospital room and breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t look weak or frail, as he’d feared. She looked strong and healthy, though a bit tired.
“Hey, beautiful,”
Her green eyes sparkled and her hands covered her mouth. “What are you doing here? I told you I was going to be fine.”
He pulled up a chair beside her bed and took her hand. “I wanted to make sure. Besides, I was planning to come home during the off-season to see you anyhow.” He brushed a kiss across her cheek, inhaling the familiar floral scent she’d been wearing since he was a little boy.
“You look good.” She patted his hand. “Being in love agrees with you.”
He couldn’t wipe the smile off his face when he thought about Bella. “She’s something special alright. I can’t wait for you to meet her, Mom.”
“She couldn’t come with you?”
“She’s slammed at work. But she told me to give you her love.” That was the last thing she’d said to him before he stepped out the door and it made Loran fall even harder, if that was possible.
“Isn’t that sweet? Tell me more about her.” She squeezed his hand. “I know she’s your teammate’s sister and an architect, and that you live in the same city now, but other than that you’ve been pretty tight-lipped.”
“I guess I don’t want to jinx it.” He broke eye-contact because he was sure his mother would be able to read the fear in his eyes. “She’s the one, Mom. No doubt in my mind about that.”
Her gasp was barely audible when she squeezed his shoulder. “Really? You think you’re going to marry her?”
“I want to.” If he didn’t think she’d have a panic attack in the middle of his proposal he wouldn’t wait.
“Then what are you waiting for? You’re not getting any younger, you know. In fact, neither am I. And I want grandbabies to spoil. What else am I going to do with my retirement?”
It pained him to think his mother would be living so far away and wouldn’t be able to see his kids grow up. She’d been an incredible mother and he knew she’d make the same kind of impact on his kids that she’d made on him, given the chance.
“Speaking of your retirement, you still planning that for March?”
She nodded. “I’ve already told them. They tried to talk me into staying, but I explained it was time for me to start pursuing some interests outside of work. I’ve been blessed to do what I do, but I’m ready for a new chapter in my life.”
“You think that new chapter might include new scenery?”
She shrugged. “Who knows? I’ve always wanted to travel. And that tiny house thing has always intrigued me. You know I don’t need much space, so if I sold the house I’d have enough money to travel.”
It pissed Loran off that his mother still considered money. He’d paid off his childhood home with his first big-league contract, bought his mother a car every other year for her birthday. He knew she didn’t like it, but he didn’t give her a choice. There was no point making big bucks if he couldn’t spoil the woman who’d sacrificed everything to help make his dream come true.
“Sell the house, pocket all the money. I can buy a piece of land down the road from where I’m building. There are a few for sale. You pick the size of house you want to build. I’m sure Bella would love to help you with the design and I can get my contractor to build it for you.”
Her jaw dropped. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am.” He looked her in the eye. “Mom, I know you have friends here, but you could make friends anywhere you go. It would be amazing to have you just down the road. Especially if things turn out the way I hope they will with Bella.”
“You mean if you two get married and make beautiful babies?”
He chuckled at her enthusiasm. There was no doubt she wanted that for him, and she hadn’t even met Bella yet. Maybe his mother could just see how happy she’d made him.
“Yeah. I know you. You’d want to be a hands-on nana, right?”
“You know I would,” she said, smacking his arm lightly. “Maybe I could even babysit sometimes.” Her eyes filled with tears. “Oh, that would be so wonderful. I’ve waited so long to see you happy and settled with someone special.”
“I am happy.” He hesitated, not wanting to burst her bubble. “But it may take awhile for me to be settled. Bella’s never been big on commitment.”
“Sounds like someone else I know,” she muttered.
“Yeah, we’re too much alike in that regard, I’m afraid. So, it’s taking her a bit longer to come around. She’ll get there. I have no doubt about that. I just don’t want to pressure her.”
