I froze. “She what?”
“She wants to talk to you. Just… don’t hang up, okay?”
“Hudson?” A woman’s voice came through the line, smooth and polished in a way that still made me feel like a nobody in dirty boots.
Emma Magnuson.
My mouth went dry. “Yes, ma’am.”
“I owe you an apology,” she said straightforward. “A real one. What I did to you years ago was out of line. There’s no excuse for it, so I won’t make one. I hope that in time you can forgive me. I’d love the opportunity to get to know you better. Matty hasn’t stopped talking about yousince he’s been here, and I can tell you both love each other very much, which is all I could ever want for my kids.”
“Uh—thank you,” I stuttered. “I appreciate that.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting Ivy too.” Her voice perked up. “You have no idea what it was like raising two boys, but finally, I’ll have a little girl around to pamper and spoil.”
As long as she didn’t parade Ivy around at cotillions like she did with her boys. And maybe not so much pampering. I didn’t want her to grow up being spoiled. I did, and it’d made me into an entitled brat and ruined my life. Gray and Matty already spoiled her too much.
“Ivy doesn’t have many female influences at the moment.” I could offer an olive branch. “I think she could benefit from knowing you.”
“I swear I won’t let you and Matty down. I hope I can meet her soon.”
For a long moment, I couldn’t breathe. The Emma Magnuson I remembered had looked me up and down like I was dirt under her Louboutin heels. This voice? Gentle. Sincere. Almost maternal.
“Take care of my boy,” she said. Rustling followed of phone exchanging hands.
“I’m back,” Matty said softly.
“You sure that’s your mother?” I asked, half-panicked, half laughing. “Doesn’t sound anything like the woman I met four years ago.”
Matty chuckled. “Yeah. I think everything’s going to work out fine, but let’s take things slow, especially with Ivy.”
Relief loosened my shoulders. He understood my fears where his mother was concerned. “Yeah, that’s best.”
“Listen, I thought I’d stay the night here and head backin the morning. Unless you need me. Are you okay with that?”
I swallowed the immediate truth.I always need you.“I’ll always need you, Matt, but I can do without you for one night if it helps your relationship with your mother. Might even get to stretch out and take up more of the bed for once.”
“Please.” He snorted. “You’re the one plastered all over me every night.”
“That’s not true.”
“It’s very true. You’re clingier than Ivy with her bear.”
“I don’t hear you complaining about it.” I smiled. “I think I should go back to helping. Doesn’t look good that everyone else is working on my house except for me.”
“Get back to it, then,” Matty said warmly. “We’ll talk in the morning. I love you, Hud.”
“I love you too.” I lingered a beat, then hung up, the ache in my chest easing. Maybe things really would work out.
The roof gleamedlike new copper in the late sun, every shingle neat and tight. My chest went hot looking at it. Strong, solid, the kind of thing I could never have managed alone. Around me, men leaned against trucks, plates balanced in their hands as they finished off Dolly Mae’s peach cobbler. The air smelled of tar and shingles, mingling with the scent of coffee and sugar.
I’d just finished thanking Gray for the tenth time when an unfamiliar truck rolled up. Not one of the old Fords or battered Chevys I recognized, but something newer.
A tall man stepped out of the truck, his brown hair loose almost down to his shoulders, a nose piercing, and a fewdays’ stubble shadowing his jaw. His button-down was rolled to the elbows, showing off strong forearms, and he carried himself with the kind of easy confidence that made you look twice. The smile he flashed around was quick, practiced, like the kind of charm that could sell you magic beans.
I shifted, not sure what to make of him.
“That’s the new pastor,” Dolly Mae murmured, low enough for only me to hear.
