Page 48 of Claiming Lily

“Yup.” Everyone, Dad included, tries their hardest to appreciate the effort that goes into Mom’s cooking more so than focusing on the taste. I follow Michelle to the kitchen. Mom’s graying brunette hair is piled on top of her head, one of those creepy looking claw clips holding it in place. The apron she’s wearing says let’s eat our feelings and is covered in flour.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Hudson!” She beams at me. “Perfect timing! The fried chicken is almost ready.”

I eye the pieces of finished chicken on the counter, most of the breading more black than brown. “Sounds delicious.”

Michelle pats my arm in approval. “Why don’t you let me finish up? Hudson brought you a gift.”

“Oh, it won’t take that long.”

“Hon.” Michelle grabs the tongs from her while chicken that’s close to being overcooked sizzles in the cast iron. “Go talk to your son.”

“Okay, but don’t forget the gravy.”

“I won’t,” Michelle says, glancing at me and winking. With her taking over, we might have a half salvaged meal, though I’ll still eat some of the chicken Mom made.

She puts in so much effort it almost feels cruel not to try it.

“Let’s go to the table.” Mom leads me out of the kitchen, which is walled off to the dining room. She refuses to let me come in and open the space up, saying seeing the kitchen all the time would only stress her out more.

We sit at her well-loved table and she pours us both a glass of sweet tea from the pitcher she already had sitting out. I hand over the present.

“Happy early birthday.”

She beams at me. “Thanks, Hud.” Tearing the paper off, she gasps and clutches the brand new binoculars to her chest. “You remembered!”

“Of course I did.” She lost her last fancy pair of binoculars and with how serious she takes her bird watching hobby, I knew this would be the perfect present.

“Aw, sweetheart, thank you! I can’t wait to use them.” She pets the box affectionately then side eyes me. “You know that I know about Lily, don’t you?”

My cheeks warm. “I thought you might.” The women in Big Ridge are always days ahead of the men when it comes to gossip. “But that’s not why I brought you the gift.”

“Oh, I know,” she says with a smile. “She’s pretty.”

“Gorgeous,” I correct.

Mom nods in agreement. “Did you tell your dad? You know you should before it gets around to him.”

“Yeah, I told him today.”

“Good. When can I meet her?”

“Soon,” I tell her, rubbing my palm with my thumb. “I’m kind of worried about overwhelming her too early on, you know?”

“I understand. It’s early, but the right person won’t scare that easily.” Her focus slips to the doorway that leads to the kitchen where Michelle is working.

True. I can’t imagine Lily freaking out after meeting parents, but I don’t want to rush her. She deserves to have time to enjoy our newfound relationship without adding in a layer of complication and pressure.

“Who’s ready to eat?” Michelle calls.

“Come on,” Mom says, standing.

I join her, and she tugs me into a hug, which I accept with a chuckle.

“Thank you for my present.”

“You’re welcome. Thanks for the advice.”