Chapter Twenty-Eight

Courtney couldn’t remember the last time she and her mother had laughed so much. They’d had brunch and Courtney might have had one too many mimosas.

Her mother insisted on going shopping for new dresses to wear to the gala. Because she was having so much fun, Courtney had agreed.

“I think that looks lovely on you,” her mother said as she stepped out of the fitting room.

“I like how it feels,” she said running her hands down over the skirt. “Tell me about it.”

“It’s lovely. There are a lot of festive colors. The main color is turquoise with splashes of yellows, oranges, purples, white, and reds.”

“Oh, my. That sounds very loud.”

“But that’s the thing. It’s not. It’s so beautiful and the colors against your skin…” Her words cut off. “Oh, honey. It’s just beautiful.”

Courtney figured that if her mother was emotionally moved by the dress than it must look fantastic. She couldn’t wait for Tyler to see it. She placed her hand on her chest and felt the neckline. She liked that, too.

“It’s settled then. This is the dress.”

“Oh, Courtney, Tyler is going to love it,” her mother said the thrilling buzz that went through her when her mother actually acknowledged him.

Courtney had been very careful to not talk about him too much outside the realm of the gala, but there must have been something that spoke volumes to her mother.

Her mother searched for a dress for herself, though her mother didn’t seem as easy to please.

“I’m worried I won’t look right,” she said after the fourth dress.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, this is a big thing. I mean I’ve seen it in the news for years. There are some very elite names there.”

“Yes, that’s how the organization makes their money.”

“I know. I just want to look right.”

Courtney reached out her hand to touch her mother. “You will look just fine. Trust me. The people you are going to meet are very welcoming and accepting. Never could you look wrong to them.”

“If they are anything like Tyler, I’m sure they will be very nice.”

Courtney smiled. “You like him? Really?”

“Oh, of course I do, honey. I think he’s a very nice young man.”

“What if I told you I could see spending my life with him?”

The room was quiet. Courtney had hit a nerve. “Well, that is a very long way away. Perhaps we could talk about that some other time. I’ll try on that blue dress. I did kind of like it best,” her mother said leaving her alone.”

It wasn’t so far away, she wanted to tell her. There was a stink of emotion taking over. What had she really expected? She needed to be grateful enough that her mother liked him, perhaps when she met the whole family, she’d understand how amazing they all really were.

Courtney tried not to let the single little thing her mother said upset her, but it was hard. That was until she walked through the front door of her house and smelled the aroma of grilled steaks and baked potatoes.

Of course her mother had insisted on walking her inside. She wondered how this might go.

“Who is here?” she asked the moment they walked in the door.

“Who do you think, Mother.”

“You’re home,” Tyler called from the kitchen and a moment later she felt him in the same room. “Oh, hello, Mrs. Field.”

“Tyler.”

“It’s very nice to see you see you.” He moved in, wrapped his arm around Courtney’s waist and kissed her softly on the cheek. “How was your day of shopping?”

“It was wonderful,” her mother said. “I bought Courtney a beautiful dress for the gala, since it’s less formal than in the past.”

Courtney felt the sting of her words, perhaps Tyler didn’t.

“Yes, it’ll be family friendly and I think an enormous success,” he said and Courtney had to admit she loved how he handled things. “Courtney has written some amazing pieces for the media and for our event specific press kits.”

“She always was good at dabbling in writing. Though nothing serious.”

Courtney’s body tensed.

“Oh, I don’t know. I’ve read many of her things and she’s got some amazing talent. When the gala is over, and we have some breathing room, my cousin’s husband Warner said he knew a few people who could look at her work. It’s very promising.” He gave her a squeeze to let her know he was on her side. “I’ve grilled some steaks and potatoes. Would you be able to join us, Mrs. Field?”

Courtney wondered what he was doing. She certainly wasn’t in the mood for her mother any longer, which was sad, because they’d had the very best start to it.

“Oh, Tyler, that’s very generous. I’d best be going.”

“It was certainly nice to see you.” He let go of Courtney and she heard him walk to the door. Literally escorting her mother out.

When the door closed, Courtney sighed as she heard him walk back toward her. “She wears me out.”

“She’s out of sorts. Her son is gone and her daughter is moving on.”

“Did you see how she belittled our event and my writing?”

He smoothed his hands over her hair and kissed her on the forehead. “And did you see how it all doesn’t matter? You’re here. I’m here. I made dinner. Let’s eat.”

The meal, Tyler thought, was fine. He was a good enough cook. But Courtney’s mind was preoccupied—obviously still irritated with her mother.

This was new ground for him. As lost as he’d been over the truth about Darcy and what his mother had been through, he’d never really been irritated at her. Sure, annoyed when he’d gotten in trouble as a kid. Horrified when she’d caught him smoking with Jep out back when they were thirteen. Though that one made him want to laugh. The two of them had no idea what they were doing. But Jep had hijacked the cigarette from his dad and they were going to give it a try. Oh, was she ever mad.

But never had she blatantly discredited him as Mary had done to Courtney in the few minutes she was in her home. If that was how Courtney had grown up—and Fitz too—it was no wonder why Courtney wanted to fight to be independent. Being blind wasn’t such a bad thing in contrast to living at home.