Grady and Claire caught the confused stare as Haley watched her mother attempting to fit in. Scanning the restaurant, Patricia almost, almost relaxed when she found them. Knowing Patricia wouldn’t be rude in public, Haley rose from her chair and waved Patricia to the inside seat.
“Hello, Mother,” she greeted as she sat down.
A moment later, their server appeared. “Drinks tonight?”
Patricia looked up at the bar and almost lost her composed expression. “If your bartender can manage, I’ll have a Vieux Carré.”
The server smiled. “I’m sure he can handle it.”
Grady and Claire each ordered a beer. Haley asked for the bartender to recommend something on tap with bite.
Patricia began her elevated conversation when they were alone again. Haley ignored her family for a moment, watching the server deliver their orders to Finn. As she reported Patricia’s snooty drink, and likely a snarky comment to accompany it, he rolled his eyes.
He glanced to Haley; she scrunched her forehead in apologetic wince over the disaster that was her mother. When the server got to Haley’s order, Finn flashed her a wink and a heated grin that shot straight down her panties.
Before anyone noticed, hopefully, she straightened out her smile and tried to pay attention. Grady was clearly repeating a conversation he’d had more than a few times. “We’re really, really not having a big wedding. If we have to go out of town to avoid offending anyone, we will.”
Shoulders back, Patricia plowed on, “I have so few life moments to show off my children, and even fewer that you have been cooperative for. Give me this one special day. I will pay for the entire ceremony and reception, if I can create the guest list.”
“I’m sure your friends will love the backyard barbeque we’ve been planning.”
A look of horror radiated straight through Patricia’s spine until Haley feared she might induce a compression fracture. “You wouldn’t.”
Haley intercepted, resting her hand on their mother’s arm. “If you’ll recall, I had five hundred guests at my wedding, my gown cost more than my car, and I spent the next decade of my life being belittled and cheated on. A small, backyard barbeque, something welcoming and cozy and casual, sounds like the perfect way for Grady and Claire to share their special day with friends, if that’s what they would like to do.”
Patting Haley’s hand, Patricia shook her head delicately. “My poor dear. I know you struggled. It may be too late, but we should have had this talk back then. The best way to keep your husband in line, and his penis out of other women, is to be sure he knows you are smarter, faster, and hotter in the bedroom than any other woman he might run into.”
Grateful she’d taken the outside seat in case she decided to bolt, Haley swallowed and closed her eyes before she said something truly nasty.
Grady jumped in before she could. “Patricia, I’m sure Haley is all of those things, but—”
Patricia waved her hand in the air to shush him. Haley took a drowning gulp of water. Not that she was thirsty, but it was either that or dump it over her mother’s head.
Patricia began anew, “As a twice-divorced, thrice-married and once-happy woman, I understand the need to find an adequate partner. But it is also important to maintain a reputation for being able to keep your man’s attention, so other women don’t come sniffing around.”
No. Not this conversation again. The number of sex tips Patricia had provided on the drive up from San Francisco still haunted Haley. Nate certainly hadn’t made her feel adequate in the sack. They were both bored within six months of marriage. She should have listened to the nagging voice in her head that it wasn’t supposed to be that way.
Yet, one mention of panties to Finn, and he claimed an untamable erection. No, Haley knew it wasn’therfault. And she was loving every minute of imagining all the good stuff she’d been missing out on.
Right as Patricia continued her detailed instructions on how to keep one’s husband faithful, saying the words, “The woman should never expect an orgasm, but she can guide him along. And she must always be willing to take his penis—” Finn appeared, clearing his throat as he arrived.
Patricia glanced up at his untimely interruption.
His jaw clenched, flickering rapidly. “Dr. Mallory, your Vieux Carré. I don’t get many requests for that one, but I’m sure you’ll let me know if I didn’t get it right.” He slid the drink in front of her unceremoniously, refusing to take her bait.
Patricia’s lips awkwardly contorted in what might be a smile.
He delivered the rest of the table’s beers, asking Haley to let him know if the brew had enough bite to satisfy her.
Grady nodded to Finn. “We’re thinking of seeing if anyone wants to go out to Ahab’s tomorrow night. You in?”
Flipping the tray in his hand, Finn shrugged. “Love to, but uh, I’ve got some things to do up north.”
“No worries. Next time,” Grady offered. “Haley?”
Chewing her cheek, she tried to come up with an excuse. “I’ve got a deadline coming up. Next time?”
“Sounds good. Actually, while we’re on the subject, Claire’s birthday is coming up in a few weeks. I’ll send you the info?”
