And then her phone rang. She picked up, thinking it was her mother. “We’re right at the curb. Jeez, let us get out before we can get to the front door.”

But it wasn’t Di, as Tuesday figured out as the screeching began and she realized it was Tina again.

“If you don’t stop yelling, I’m going to hang up.”

Tina didn’t hear, or didn’t care because she kept yelling about Tuesday changing her name.

“Hanging up now. I’ll tell my mom you said hello.”

Tuesday not only hung up, but she finally did what Natalie had urged her to and blocked the number.

She tried to get out but he made a sound and she slumped back into the seat.

“You want to tell me what the hell that was about?”

She actually didn’t. But he asked her to share. She wanted him to, so if that was the case, she figured she needed to, as well.

“That was my former mother-in-law. She’s upset I’m changing my name back to Easton.”

He paused and she realized he wasn’t that comfortable with it, either.

Hmm.

“I should probably explain some of this backstory. Eric wasn’t close with his family, though he wanted to be. A lot.”

She filled in the details about the original name change and why she was going back, trying to edit carefully around the parts where it was clear he’d had some part in her decision-making because she didn’t want him to feel bad or guilty or even uncomfortable.

It was her life and she made the choice for lots of reasons and that was that.

“You blocked them, though? Just now? I don’t like this woman acting this way to you. Who the hell does she think she is?”

“Yes, I blocked her number. She’ll find another way to get in touch when she next decides to.” She shrugged.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

She sighed, turning to face him. “Lots of reasons. One is, she’s awful and who wants that in their life? I didn’t want to bring that to you. Second? You seem a little nervous about me, about being in a relationship with me, so I kept it to myself. Because it’s my choice, Ezra.”

“I’m not nervous about you, Tuesday.”

“Bullshit. You’re scared of me and of this intensity between us. It’s okay. I’m trying to give you the space to deal with it. But that doesn’t include pretending it’s not there.”

He was quiet for some time, taking it in.

“We need to go inside. My parents know we’re here. Please don’t tell them about this mess with the Heywoods. Oh god, or the feed store debacle.”

“This isn’t over. I want to talk about it more. Why can’t I tell them? You haven’t told them, either? Not about the feed store or your in-laws?”

Tuesday laughed. “Ezra Hurley, you’re such a fibber. You do not want to talk about this more. But we will. Just not right now. And my mother and Tina are not friends. If I told them about this, it would only make them both upset and they can’t do a thing to help. Same with the feed store. This is not a new experience for any of us. It would only upset them and they can’t do a thing about that situation, either.”

He kissed her hard. “Fine. But you should tell them yourself at some point. If these people hurt you again, I’m going to show them just how displeased I am. You get me?”

“Yeah.”

* * *

HE RAN AROUND to open her door and her father, who’d been watching from their bedroom window on the second floor, would have put that in the plus column.

Ezra would be fine. He’d charm her mother and her mother would charm him. Her family would like him. Natalie would be there shortly to buffer anytime things got annoying. And at the end of the night she’d escape, jump Ezra a few times in a hotel room. It was good incentive to get this in motion.

Tuesday opened the storm door and knocked while she pushed into the house. “Hey, all, I’m home!”

Her mother came in with a big smile. She wore an apron Tuesday and April had made for a Mother’s Day present what seemed like a million years ago. At her ears were the delicate tree-of-life dangles she’d given her mother for Christmas the year before.

Her hair had been pulled into twists and the similarity between them was sort of scary for just a second.

And then it was just...wonderful. This was what her family was underneath all the stuff that made her crazy.

“Baby girl! Come over here and hug me.”

Tuesday did as she was told, smiling behind her mom’s back to her brother Shawn, who stood in the hall.

“Well, come on in here and meet the boy.” Tuesday waved a hand at Ezra, who grinned and looked ridiculously handsome.

“Ezra Hurley, this is my mother, Diana Easton.”

Ezra took her hand in both of his. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Easton. Thanks for inviting me tonight.”

Di looked to her daughter. “You’re right. This is the single finest beard I’ve ever beheld.”

“Don’t be jealous, now, that you don’t have a mother who blurts things like that.” Greg Jr. came in. He hugged Tuesday and held out a hand for Ezra to shake.

Ezra chuckled. “Ezra Hurley, nice to meet you. I do actually have a mother who is a lot like yours.”

“Ezra, this is my brother Greg, but everyone calls him GJ.” Shawn came in. “And this is another brother, Shawn.”

There was handshaking and looking over and they went through to the kitchen where her mother put the flowers they’d brought in water.