All In (Keep Breathing Book 2), стр. 58
Who the hell is this woman?
"Maybe we will," I mumble.
“Alright, I have enough strawberries and blueberries to make a cake as long as Matty doesn’t eat them all before we get home.” Holly giggles and nudges her head to Matty’s blue and red covered face.
"Liam, are you going to tell me who this handsome little boy is?" My mom gushes over Matty, grabbing at his feet. Matty wraps his arms around Holly's shoulder tighter but is examining my mom with great interest.
"This is my son." I put my arm around Holly's waist. "Our son, Matty."
My mother smiles, looking between us. "Your father and brother told me about the development, but I wasn't sure what to believe, but now…" She grins brightly and I think she might actually be happy for me. "He's handsome. Looks just like you," she says proudly. "Are you going to introduce me to your lovely lady?"
"Mom, this is Holly Jenkins. Holly, my mom, Sylvia Morgan."
"It's nice to meet you, ma'am."
“It’s nice to meet you too, darling.” They shake hands. “Why don’t we get some coffee or lunch if you're hungry? I would like to get to know more about my grandson and his mother.” She looks at Holly. “If you can spare the time of course. I’m sure you three are busy.”
“I don’t mind getting some coffee, if you don’t, Liam?” Holly gives me a small smile.
“I suppose it will be alright.”
“Oh great.” She grabs my arms and kisses my cheek. “I’ve missed you.” I soften slightly at her words and glassy eyes, but I can’t return the sentiment. She knows it and she gives me a small nod of her acknowledgment to the fact. “The Coco Bean is just around the corner. I can meet you there.”
“Sounds perfect. We will be right behind you,” I tell her, and she squeezes my arm before heading off without another word.
Holly adjusts Matty on her hip and glances at me. “You okay?”
“I don’t know what my mom’s angle is, but stay aware.”
“I think she’s being legit, Liam. She looked like she wanted to cry a second ago.”
“My mother is sweet, but like my dad, we have our issues and she sides with my father. She’s more than likely going to dig for information.”
“Do you not want to go? I’m sure you can fake a work thing?”
“No, we’ll go. I just wanted you to be prepared.”
We find a little café outside the market and my mother appears so far to be genuine in her interaction with Holly and Matty. She’s asking Holly about her life and work and wants to know everything about Matty. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen my mother so interested in something that doesn’t revolve around her. She’s pulled out her phone and has started snapping away, wanting pictures of her grandson for her mantle to show him off.
Matty steals a sip of Holly’s iced coffee and immediately his little face twists in disgust. “Yucky.” He shoves the cup away, almost tipping it over.
“That’s what you get for stealing my drink, little man.” Holly chastises him and hands him his cup of apple juice, which he greedily drinks down.
“He makes the same little faces you did when you were little, Liam. It was one of the many ways I could tell you and Landon apart, was your sour, yuck face.”
“Mama, cookie?” Matty asks, pointing to the counter, where they have a large display of baked goods.
“I guess. They do look good. Do any of you want anything else?” Holly offers, lifting Matty into her arms.
“I’m good, darling. Thank you.”
“I’m fine,” I tell her and she squeezes my shoulder. She bends down and kisses my cheek, whispering in my ear if I’ll be okay alone. I tell her I’ll be fine and she walks off.
My mother scoots her chair over and touches my cheek. “Look at you. You’re happy. I didn’t know if I was ever going to see this again.”
"I am. Honestly, I never thought I would be able to settle down with one girl, but she's it. Then there's Matty.” I pick up his Sonic doll off his booster seat and toss it between my hands. Matty gives me a reason why. To all those times I almost didn’t make it, where I wanted life to end, I get why I made it now. For him. For her. Watching his little eyes light up, over such simple things, his innocence, and knowing he’s the perfect mixture of Holly and me, he makes me want to do better for him.
"He's a wonderful little boy. So much like you and your brother at that age." She smiles. "And Holly she seems…" Her words hang in the air and she looks back behind me where Holly is standing at the counter. I knew this was too good to be true because here comes her opinion.
"If you're going to give me the same crap Dad did."
"Heavens no.” She swats me in the arm. “I was going to say before you rudely cut me off, is that she's wonderful. I got caught up for a moment watching her swing your son around. I miss those days I got to share with you. I feel sometimes I didn’t do enough with you boys. My heart is happy for you, son.” She takes my hand and squeezes it. “Your dad came to me. He was conflicted, worried someone was going to hurt you again. I’m glad he was wrong. I’m sorry now we