Susan Mallery - Almost Perfect

“Hey, Mom,” he greeted, bending down and kissing her cheek. “You going to get your head shaved next?”

“If that’s what I want,” she declared, stepping back so he could enter. “I’m working out more and short hair is easier. Today was my yoga class. I seem to be missing the bendy gene. I swear, the positions some of the women get in defy me. I push, but I can’t help thinking that at some point, I’ll simply snap a bone. I’m at that age, you know. Shrinking and brittle.”

“Hardly.”

Denise was in her early fifties and could easily pass for ten years younger. Despite the years she’d been alone, she’d never dated. Intellectually he knew it would be nice for her to find someone. But speaking as the oldest son and the one responsible for her, it wasn’t anything he wanted to deal with. Beating up some old guy for making moves on his mother wasn’t Ethan’s idea of a good time.

“Sweet of you to say so.” She studied him for a second, her dark eyes seeing more than most people’s. “What’s wrong?”

“Maybe I came by just to see you.”

“This time of the morning, midweek? I don’t think so. Besides, I can tell. What is it?”

She moved to the kitchen as she spoke and he followed automatically. Everything big was discussed in the kitchen. All revelations, celebrations, announcements.

She poured them each a cup of coffee, then picked up hers and leaned against the counter.

Her gaze was watchful, her expression neutral. She would wait as long as it took. As a teenager, he hated her patience. It had made him squirm and writhe until he eventually confessed to whatever it was he’d done wrong. Today he was grateful she didn’t try to distract him with small talk.

“I have a son. His name is Tyler and he’s eleven.”

His mother nearly dropped the mug of coffee. She quickly put it on the counter. Color drained from her face. She inhaled a deep breath, then another.

“Liz Sutton is back in town,” he continued. “I noticed her during the race yesterday. I went to see her and she told me.” He shoved both hands into his jeans. “I haven’t seen him, yet. I will later tonight.”

“Liz Sutton? You slept with Liz Sutton?”

“It was a long time ago, Mom.”

“I thought I knew about all your girlfriends. When was this?”

Before he could answer, she frowned. “If he’s eleven, you were in college. When we let you live in that apartment over the garage during the summer when you were home. You had sex above the garage?”

“Mom, that isn’t relevant.”

“I think it is. Very relevant. You promised you wouldn’t. You said no girls. You lied and you got one pregnant.”

“Mom.”

She drew in a breath. “Fine. You’re right. Liz got pregnant and…” Her eyes widened. “I have a grandson. Oh, Ethan. How did this happen?”

“We just talked about the sex thing.”

“No. I mean you having a child all this time. Eleven? You said he was eleven? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t know.”

She gasped. “She kept it from you? I can’t believe it. How horrible. We have to do something. Are you sure it’s even yours?”

Her reaction was a little scattered, but that was to be expected. It wasn’t as if he was thinking straight, either.

“I’m not trying to be mean, but are you sure? Eleven years is a long time for her to keep this to herself. And why now? What does she want?”

That was a lot of questions. He went with the easiest one first. “The kid is mine. She wasn’t seeing anyone else.”

“Everyone knew what her mother was and the things I heard about her. More than heard. She would get drunk, stand in the parking lot of the bar and scream.” His mother shook her head. “It was horrible. I always felt so badly for Liz. I used to wonder if I should say something or try to help. I have daughters. I know what it’s like. But then she got pregnant.”

“Mom, you didn’t know she was pregnant.”

“You’re right.” She returned to the table. “I don’t even know what to think.”

“You and me both.”

“Do you think she wants money?”

“No.”

“How do you know?”

“She’s a successful mystery author. You’ve read her, remember? She’s written five books and they’ve all done well.”

“I guess you’re right.” Denise made a small sound of defeat and collapsed into a chair by the worn table. “You have a son.”

“That’s what she said.” He settled across from his mom. “I can’t get my mind around it all.”

“All this time and she didn’t say a word?” Denise demanded, her strength obviously returning. “What a total bitch. How dare she keep your son, my grandson, from us. From the family. Who does she think she is?”

His mother was nothing if not loyal, he thought, amused by her easily engaged emotions. Then the humor faded as he remembered she was right. Liz had stolen the one thing that couldn’t be recovered: time.

Denise sprang to her feet and paced the length of the kitchen. “Did she even try to get in touch with you? Why now? What’s different?”

“She’s back because of her brother’s kids.” She’d said more, but he hadn’t been paying attention to much beyond how she’d looked in the moonlight. That was the hell of it-he’d been happy to see her. Had wanted to tell her that she’d grown even more beautiful. He’d apologized for how he’d acted. And she’d let him.

“She didn’t come here to tell you about the boy? About Tyler?”

He shook his head. “It’s complicated. She says she tried to tell me when she first found out, but when she came back, I was with someone else.” He wasn’t going to tell his mother he’d been in bed with Pia O’Brian. They’d dated all of two days and honestly, he couldn’t remember ever sleeping with her.

“That’s it?”

“No. She says she came to town five years ago and spoke with Rayanne. She says she told Rayanne about Tyler and that she wanted to talk to me.”

His mother stared at him intently. “And?”

“She claims she got a letter from me, telling her that I didn’t want anything to do with her or Tyler. That she was to stay out of town.”

Denise folded her arms across her chest. “That’s just so typical,” she grumbled. “Make up a stupid story and then expect everyone to accept it without a shred of proof.”

He would agree, except for one thing. “She says she still has the letter. She’s going to have it delivered by tomorrow morning.”

“Do you believe her?

“I don’t know.”

Tears filled his mother’s eyes. She sank back into the chair. “All this time a little boy has been out there, a member of our family, and we never knew. He’s been lost. Desperate. Alone.”

Ethan didn’t think Liz would appreciate Denise’s assessment of the situation, but his mother had always had a way with words.

“He needs us,” she said, touching his arm. “We have to be there for him. Finding out he has a father is going to be huge.”

“I know.” He squeezed her hand.

She drew in a breath. “We need a plan. We have to stay calm. You’re meeting them tonight?”

“At six.”

“Good. You should be friendly with Liz. Don’t push her right now. The last thing we want is her running away. I know you’re angry and God knows she deserves it. There’s no excuse for what she’s done. None. It wasn’t as if you would have turned her away. You married Rayanne when she got pregnant, and it’s not like she was a catch.”

“Mom,” he began warningly.

She held up her hands. “I know. I’m sorry. You were doing what you’d been taught-taking responsibility and upholding the family name.” Then she frowned. “Ethan, this is two girls you’ve gotten pregnant. I thought your father had the ‘safe sex’ conversation with you. Did he leave something out?”