Page 61 of Speechless
“Oh no, not today of all days. It’s been so perfect.”
“What?” I looked behind me and saw her mama sharing a table with three other gray-haired ladies. “You’re upset your mama’s here? Or you just don’t want her to see you with me?”
She squared her shoulders, sitting up a little straighter as she raised her hand to wave. “No, it’s fine. We’re a couple now, and my mama is just going to have to deal with that.”
I loved that Codie was willing to go to bat for us, but I had no intention of letting her do it alone.
“Here she comes,” she said, between clenched teeth. “Prepare for battle.”
I stood, offering my hand and a warm smile. “Ms. Harlow, nice to see you again.”
She grunted, glaring at my hand before fixing her daughter with a death stare. “What do you think you’re doing?”
I slid back into the bench seat, preparing to convince this woman that I wouldn’t hurt her daughter again. I just wished this conversation didn’t have to take place in the middle of a crowded restaurant where a dozen people had already asked me for autographs and selfies.
“I think,” Codie said, gesturing to the half-eaten pizza in the middle of the table. “That I’m having dinner with my boyfriend.”
I pinched my lips together to keep from smiling as her mama’s mouth dropped open before she snapped it shut again.
“Your boyfriend? Girl, have you lost your mind? Have you forgot what this man did to you?” she demanded, stabbing a finger in my direction. “The way he dumped you and—”
“Keep your voice down,” Codie said, casting a quick glance around the restaurant. “This is not the time or place to have this discussion.”
“You think I care about making a scene?”
I stood, stepping in front of her. “May I please have a word with you outside?”
“Mav, don’t—” Codie whispered.
“It’s okay,” I said, smiling at Codie. “Your mama has every right to air her grievances and I want to hear them.”
“At least let me come with you?” Codie asked, pleading with her eyes.
I shook my head, knowing we had to have it out once and for all if I had even the slightest hope this woman would one day accept me as her son-in-law. “Finish eating. We’ll be back in a bit.”
Ms. Harlow glared at me before stalking out of the restaurant.
I passed the table where she’d been sitting with friends and smiled. “Ladies.”
“Mind if we talk in my truck? I’d rather not see our conversation posted online within the hour.”
She crossed her arms, tapping her white sneaker against the pavement before she said, “Fine.”
I led the way to my black pick-up and held the door open for her, offering my hand to help her up, which she flatly refused while grumbling about how capable she was.
I should be nervous as hell. Ms. Harlow had scared the shit out of me in high school, but back then I had nothing to offer her daughter. When she told me I wasn’t good enough for Codie and would never amount to anything, I believed her. Now I knew that wasn’t true. I’d beat the odds and made a name for myself. And people like Codie’s mama and my dad could never look down on me again.
I slid into the passenger’s seat and closed the door before I turned to face her. “Go ahead, say whatever you need to say to me.”
“You nearly destroyed my daughter.” She practically spit the words out as her eyes filled with tears. “I thought I was going to lose her!”
I drew a deep breath and nodded, trying to put myself in her position. I deserved her wrath and had every intention of letting her unleash on me, to get it out of her system.
“I’m sorry—”
“Don’t tell me you’re sorry! Sorry doesn’t cut it, Mister!”
“What can I say then? What can I do to prove to you that I’m worthy of your daughter now?”
