Better Than Before (RightMatch.com Trilogy) (21 page)

Alex left and Annie felt energized by even the slightest change in his attitude, by his asking to spend time with her. So she got up and tiptoed to the girls, who were chasing each other around the grass. From behind, she managed to grab the hose from Cora. They all squealed in delight as Annie targeted and drenched each of them. She even let them get the hose back and spray her.

When they tired of that, she set up the slide again, and she sat back down in the chair, the sun warm on her face as she lifted it to the sky. Again, someone called out from behind. “Hello.”

A woman she didn’t know was at the fence. Annie stood and approached her. Up close, she seemed familiar.

“I don’t want to intrude. But I heard the squeals back here so I came around.” She glanced at the girls, who were once again on the Slip ’n Slide and still shouting. “My granddaughters have one of those.”

“I’m sorry; do I know you?”

“No. But I know you. Well, I know
of
you, at least. I’m Ellison Matheson.”

Annie couldn’t place the woman. “I’m sorry, who…?”

“I’m Spence’s mother.”

Incredulous, Annie just stared at her. “I didn’t recognize the name.”

“My third husband. Cole’s father.”

“Would you like to come in?”

“Yes, dear, I would. Thank you.”

As Spence’s mother entered the yard, Annie grabbed a terrycloth cover-up from the chair and shrugged into it. “Can I get you some lemonade, Mrs. Matheson?”

“No thank you, dear. I came for a little girl-talk.”

She and Spence’s mother settled at one of the umbrella tables. The woman was tall and slim, her blond hair was shades lighter than Spence’s, but he’d inherited her navy blue eyes. Still surprised by the visit, Annie waited for Mrs. Matheson to begin the conversation.

“I’m aware of what’s happened between you and Spence, Annie. I didn’t know about the bet or that he’d lied to you for weeks until a short while ago.”

“He told me that.”

“But he’s talked to me about you on several occasions since then. He cares about you very much.”

Annie wasn’t sure why it surprised her that Spence had confided in his mother. Maybe because he’d said he was closed off and didn’t open up easily.

“Do
you
care about him?”

“I…” She was about to duck the question, then she changed her mind. What the hell. This was his mother. And Annie did need to take more than baby steps in the relationship. “Yes, Mrs. Matheson, I care about him. Very much. But I’m also afraid of getting hurt again.”

“He was also hurt by what he did to you.”

“Afterward, because we split up?”

“Oh, that, too. The boys said they’d never seen him so upset. But I meant
while
he was deceiving you, he suffered.”

Annie hadn’t thought about the ordeal from that angle. Actually, she’d refused to consider if his lies had cost him personally. His mother’s insights made her feel selfish now. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“No, it’s right that he felt bad. Because he was very wrong to make that bet, to lie to you. I know I’m biased, but indulge me in this. He’s a good man, Annie. That’s why it hurt him to deceive you.”

“Not enough to call it off, though.”

“Ah, but he did do that. I’m not surprised it took him as long as it did, either. He had a difficult childhood, and his father’s influence hardened him.”

Annie remembered Spence’s comment about Bradley Wickham insisting he take boxing, prohibiting any show of emotion, teaching him to be tough. And she thought of how different Alex might be if he’d been raised as Spence had. “I have a son. I’d hate for that to happen to him.”

There was deep sorrow on Mrs. Matheson’s face. “I’ll regret it till the day I die, but there was no stopping Bradley back then.”

“Does Spence see him now?”

“No, never. But back to my point. Spence has softened since he met you. In subtle ways and obvious ones. I believe it’s even affecting his business, which is almost implausible to me.”

“AllGreen. He told me about that.”

“He finds it satisfying to work with the company instead of dismantling it. You’ve brought out that side of him.”

“How do you know?”

“From what he’s said.” The woman smiled a bit sadly. “He’ll have a fit when he finds out I came here.”

“Did you come to tell me what a good man he is?”

“Partly. And to invite you to our family barbeque tomorrow.”

Annie was surprised at the invitation. “I’m not sure I should do that. He didn’t ask me himself when he told me about it.”

“He thought our family would overwhelm you. But he’d want you there.”

 “I—”

Spence’s mother squeezed Annie’s hand. “Don’t decide now. Take the night. I won’t tell Spence you might come. He’d be terribly disappointed if he got his hopes up and you didn’t show after all.” Mrs. Matheson stood and gestured to the girls, who were now playing in the sandbox. “Oh, dear, you’re in for a mess there. They’re wet.”

“And will purposely cover themselves in sand. But they’ll rinse off with the hose.”

“You can bring your children to the barbeque.”

“They’re busy tomorrow.” Lauren was coming back early and taking Hope out to lunch with the girls. And Alex had some alone time planned with his dad. “I haven’t let them meet Spence yet.”

“Ah, I see.” The other woman seemed disappointed by that. “I’ll be going. I don’t want to pressure you too much.”

“I’ll consider your offer, Mrs. Matheson.”

“Call me Ellison. Regardless of what you do tomorrow, I think we’ll be seeing each other again.”

The woman walked out of the yard and Annie sat back down, flabbergasted. First, that Spence’s mother would come here, though as a mother herself, she’d slay dragons for her own kids. But she was also surprised by her reaction to Ellison’s invitation to the barbeque tomorrow. The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became that her answer was a resounding yes.

Chapter 11

On Sunday afternoon, Spence arrived at the barbeque late and not in the best of moods. He grabbed a bouquet of his mother’s favorite pink carnations from the backseat. She deserved these. He hadn’t always been an attentive son. For a time, the only parent he’d wanted to please was his father and his mother had suffered the consequences. As an adult, he tried to make up for his past neglect.

He walked up the driveway to the modest colonial, one that a music teacher could afford. Spence had offered his mother and Rick money for a bigger home and other luxuries, but they wouldn’t accept it. He had to surprise them with gifts to spoil them—like the cruise he’d sent them on for an anniversary, jewelry for his mom’s birthday or a grand piano for Rick when he’d retired from teaching.

Taking the brick path to the backyard, Spence found his family gathered around a picnic table.

“Hel-lo,” he called out.

They all quieted at once, even Joey’s kids.

He covered the distance between them. “What’s going on?”

Cole and Joe stepped aside and someone seated on the tabletop slid off. Annie. Dressed in a cute seersucker red-and-white-checked outfit, her hair in a braid, she smiled at him. “Hi, Spence.”

Joy surged through him, along with shock. This was totally unexpected. “I—I…”

“Hey, he’s speechless.”

“Never seen that before.”

He ignored his brothers’ quips.

“Spence?” His mother’s worried tone.

Over the pounding of his heart, he said to Annie, “What are you doing here?”

“Your mother invited me.”

“My—” He looked to Ellison, who was grinning broadly. “You did this?”

“Yes, since you didn’t have the nerve to ask her. Now, don’t get mad and enjoy her company. She just got here and we haven’t had much time to chat.”

“I’m not mad.” He kissed his mom’s cheek and gave her the flowers. To Annie, he said, “I want to talk to you alone a minute.” He drew her away from them, behind a big tree and grasped her upper arms gently. “I’m stunned that you’re here. Are you going to be all right with them?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Why did you come?”

“I told you, your mother invited me.”

He wanted more from her now that she’d given him hope. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

She stepped closer and flattened her hands on his chest. “I wanted to get to know your family.”

“So you’ve decided to keep seeing me?”

“Yes. I’ll
step it up
, like you asked. I want to see more of you, too.”

Overwhelmed by how happy her decision made him, he pulled her tight against his chest and held her next to his heart. She seemed to welcome the embrace and nestled her nose into him. All the bickering and negotiation of the last weeks faded away.

Finally, he was forced to lead her back to the group, who pretended to be socializing. Immediately Joey came over to them. “Listen, Annie. Spence is a loser in the women department. You should ditch him for me.”

Through clenched teeth, Spence said, “Joe, don’t spoil—”

Annie interrupted. “I’m fine.” She winked at Joey. “And I’ll think about your offer.”

Laughing at Spence’s pique, Joe handed him a beer. “Man, you’ve got it bad.”

“You’re not helping, Joe.”

“Chill. I broke the ice.” To Annie, he said, “Didn’t I?”

From Annie’s warm acceptance and affirmative response, Spence guessed his brother was right. Maybe this was what she needed, a dose of the family who loved him. Besides, no matter how hard he tried, Spence couldn’t control everything and had to let his relationship with Annie take its natural course. And her coming here to his mother’s home today told him they were making progress.

o0o

From where she sat with Ellison under the tree at a picnic table, Annie had a clear view of Spence on the other side of the yard, talking with Joe, the cop brother.

“Spence was shocked to see you when he got here,” Ellison commented as she tracked Annie’s gaze.

“I probably should have told him I was coming.”

“Surprises can be good. He’s happy about it.” His mother patted her hand. “So how are we doing?”

“You’re doing fine, Ellison. Thanks for inviting me.”

Cole approached them, holding Ellie face out, his arm wrapped around her stomach. The baby was in a pink sundress with white booties on her feet and a ribbon in her hair. “Want to hold your namesake while I grill Annie?”

His mother stood and took Ellie, with an admonishment to be gentle with Spence’s girl.
Spence’s girl?
The moniker felt…good…and didn’t scare her today, here with people who cared about him.

“Do you know how we all got our names?” Cole asked after he took the seat his mother vacated.

“I know how Spence did. His father was a Spencer Tracy buff.”

“Yeah. Joe’s dad was a sports fan, so he’s Joe DiMaggio Moretti. My dad’s a music teacher and—”

“You’re Cole Porter.”

“Uh-huh. The other guys are embarrassed by the names, but I kind of like them.”

“And you named your daughter after your mom.”

“Of course.”

“You’re all devoted to her.”

“Especially Spence. His dad divorced her a few months after he was born.”

Annie recalled the postpartum phase of childbirth—the fatigue, the moodiness and the fear that she couldn’t take care of such a tiny baby. Though Keith didn’t really understand it, he was there and he tried to help her out. “Nice guy.”

“Well, she married Joe’s dad. Had Joe nine months later.”

“You’re a lot younger than they are.”

“Uh-huh. Mom loved Joe’s dad to pieces, nursed him through a long, degrading illness, which Joe and Spence witnessed, by the way. When Joe Sr. died, she mourned him for three years. Then she hooked up with my father.” Cole’s eyes were light blue, almost ethereal, and held a hint of sadness. “It’s one of the reasons I started the website.”

“Ah, the infamous website.”

He squeezed her hand. This family was affectionate, which Annie liked. “I believe people can find true love later in life. She did.”

For a moment, Annie studied the very attractive man next to her. His hair was a little longish, and he had hints of a scruffy beard, but he was what Julia called a hottie. “What about you, Cole?”

“Me? These days, I’m desperate. I’ve sunk so low I check out the women on the site, even though I can’t join myself.”

“Well, don’t lie when you find the right woman. Deception can have devastating results.”

“I know. But my money’s on Spence. For what it’s worth, he was tortured by lying to you after he started to care about you.”

“Your mother said something similar.”

As she and Cole talked, Annie watched Spence take Ellie from his mother and kiss the baby on her nose. Once again, it stirred something inside Annie at how tenderly he handled a child. This was part of his true personality; it couldn’t be faked.

Later, when the party was breaking up, Annie found Spence alone by the tree. “How about a lift home?”

“Excuse me?”

“My mother dropped me off here. I wanted to ride home with you.”

“Wow. I’m not sure if I can handle all this good news.”

Once in the car, Annie felt relaxed and mellow. The day had gone well and all the positive stories Spence’s family had told her about him made her more optimistic about their future together.

 He broke the silence. “I hope they weren’t too hard on you.”

From across the gearshift, she took his hand. “They helped, actually.”

“I thought for sure Cole would blow it. He’s speaks his mind, and what you get are his unprocessed thoughts.”

“He’s a beautiful man. I thought so before when you told me he took his child to raise on his own, but talking to him today, I realized he’s got a real depth of goodness.”

“Now you’re making me jealous.”

She laughed and moved over in the seat. She felt closer to him today and wanted to be near him physically.

After he pulled into her driveway, he shut off the engine. “What time do the kids get back?”

“Usually around seven.”

“Then I’ll get out of here so I don’t meet them accidentally. Tell me before I go how Alex is. Did you sign him up for boxing?”