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A beat goes by, and we both sit there in the dark.

“Tell me about your life in New Mexico,” she says hesitantly.

And I do. We talk for over an hour, and I fill her in on what I’ve been up to for the last decade. She continues to cry in between, and it’s really hard for me not to do the same. When we run out of things to say, we just smile at each other.

After a moment, I decide to extend another olive branch. “Would you like to start over and meet my girlfriend again?”

Chapter 33

Robin

Hayden comes back with his mom, and I can instantly tell that a heavy weight has been lifted off his shoulders. He looks … grounded.

“Robin,” he says, and in typical Hayden fashion, he’s already pulled me into his arms. “I want you to officially meet my mom. And Mom, this is my girlfriend.”

“I’m Maria. It’s nice to meet you again,” his mom says softly, and she looks almost shy. I bet she wonders how I feel about her after our first meeting.

“You too,” I say kindly.

She looks exhausted, and I can tell by her bloodshot eyes that she’s been crying. I wonder what they talked about, but something positive must’ve happened for Hayden to bring her over.

“You did all this, right?” His mom gestures around at the party. “It looks amazing.”

“Thank you. But I didn’t do it alone. It was a joint effort.” I tilt my head up at my boyfriend and smile.

We make a little small talk, and she asks me where I’m from and how I found myself in Cottondale. It’s polite but slightly awkward, and I think whatever made her cry tonight is weighing on her heavily. But she’s making an effort, and so am I.

Soon Kora and my mom join us, and Hayden introduces his mom to them.

“We thought you could use a buffer.” Kora smiles at Maria. “You’ll need someone to talk to once your son inevitably starts making out with his girlfriend and forgets other people exist.”

“Hey,” I protest, glaring at her.

Maria’s curious gaze darts between me and Hayden. It suddenly hits me that his mom has never seen him in a relationship either. I wonder how it feels to not have seen your kid in so long, and then you basically have to get to know them again.

“I would never do that,” Hayden deadpans.

“Mm-hmm.” Kora raises her eyebrow at him.

Everyone chuckles, and I throw Kora a grateful glance. She swooped in and immediately changed the energy from awkward to lighthearted.

My mom immediately peppers his mom with a bunch of questions, and Maria’s shoulders relax. With the other three engrossed in a deep conversation, Hayden dips his head down toward me.

“Is it just me,” he whispers into my ear, “or was today really weird?”

“What could you possibly mean?” I say sarcastically, tilting my head up to look at him.

“First, I carried my living aunt in a casket. Then for some reason, both of our mothers showed up unannounced. Oh, and I just learned my mom didn’t know about Mira.”

My eyes widen, and he nods. I don’t ask any questions about it now––I know it’s not the time or place––but it explains why his mother looks so defeated.

“Just a regular day in good old Cottondale,” I joke.

“Mm-hmm. I can’t believe the casket part was the least strange thing out of everything I just mentioned.”

“This funeral really dragged up some old ghosts.”

“Why has this day been thirty hours long already?” He presses his nose into my temple. “I can’t wait to go home and go to bed with you.”