He nodded his head toward the kitchen, the two of them going there. His mother opened the oven and checked her roast, then turned on the water for the potatoes she had cut up.
“Alana’s family was asking a bunch of questions about us. It embarrassed her.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“No. She was joking. Guess her mother told everyone about me.”
“Interesting. You have said little about her dating history to me. You mentioned she’s only been on the island for a year, was in Boston prior, and is in her early thirties. Does she have any experience with long-term relationships?”
He wasn’t sure how much to share, then realized there was no reason to have it be a secret either.
“She was with someone for seven years. They were engaged for a year, but they never set a wedding date. He cheated on her and when she found out, ended things immediately.”
“Good for her not giving him a second chance. Even after all that time.”
“She’s like me. It’s unforgivable and inexcusable. They worked for the same holding company but not the same business. She wanted to get away after that. She’s part of the Bond family.”
He realized now he’d never told his mother that much.
“Oh. Interesting. So she’s related to your bosses?”
“Yes. Same branch but not first cousins. She spent the day with her first cousins and aunt and uncle. Her cousins own Atlantic Rise.”
“So there are a lot of eyes on her on the island?”
“I don’t think so. She said her immediate family doesn’t own any businesses. Her father is the Vice President of Finance for Bond Enterprises, owned by Mitchell Bond. She worked for one of his companies prior. Her ex did for another business and they met on some retreat.”
“Is the ex still employed after cheating on her if her family owns so much?”
It was the humor in his mother’s eyes. “Yes. Only because she stopped them from doing anything about it.”
“Hmmm, does she still have feelings for him?”
“Absolutely not. She said it had more to do with not wanting people to talk about her getting vengeance. She’s not that way.”
At least he hoped that was the case. He had no reason not to believe her.
“What way is she then? Someone to run if the going gets tough?”
He frowned. “I’ve never known you to be this cynical before. Why all the questions in that direction?”
“I just want to make sure that who you end up with can deal with what you’ve got going on in your life. It’s not a normal situation.”
“It’s not unheard of either,” he argued. “Lots of men have primary custody of their child.”
“They do.” His mother was moving around the kitchen and pulling out the makings for a salad now. “And Rene is hands off mostly, other than dropping in unexpectedly.”
“Alana is aware of all of that.”
His mother turned and put her hands on the counter behind her back. “You’ve never brought another woman around Becca before. This is early and you’re defensive already.”
He snorted. “Are you concerned about my judgment?”
“No. Don’t think that. I’m pointing out things you might not have noticed.”
“It’s hard not to notice something I’m living,” he said. “What’s this really about?”
“I don’t want you to get all these ideas in your head to rush something because Alana gets along with Becca and vice versa. You’ve got the whole American Dream ideal in your mind that you didn’t get as a child and I’m sorry for that. But it clouds your rationale. I knew things with Rene wouldn’t work, but you put so much of your heart and soul into it.”
