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“I loved it,” Mom said. “I’m so excited it’s being made into a movie! Jonas, you didn’t tell us you were dating someone famous.”
I shrugged. “I like to keep her humble.”
Mara rolled her eyes at me, taking the pen and book and signing it on her lap. “Here you go!”
Mom held it to her chest. “My new favorite copy.” She walked it to the living room and set it atop the mantle, covering our latest family photo.
Tess said, “I see how I rank.”
“Hush,” Mom said, laughing. “Tell us, where do you get ideas for your books?”
Mara smirked. “Be careful what you say. Everything is fodder for fiction.” She laughed, and it was contagious, making everyone around the table crack a smile of their own.
“If you want stories,” Mom said, pointing a fork at me, “I have plenty about Jonas in his young and wild days.”
“That’s hardly necessary,” I grunted. The last thing I needed was to relive my stupid teenage years. “No need to write about the young and dumb.”
Mara laughed. “I have plenty of material of my own to go off of in that category.”
We ate the rest of the meal, and then Mom got out her classic chocolate pudding dessert. It had a graham cracker layer on the bottom, chocolate pudding, a layer of crunched walnuts, then whipped cream and chocolate shavings on top. Before the fire, we used to go to a lot of potlucks, and everyone always requested the dessert from Mom. It was her specialty.
“You’re going to love this,” I promised Mara, giving her a slice.
She took a bite and moaned.
And damn if my dick didn’t listen.
“Can you just come home with me, Riah?” Mara asked. “You’re so amazing in the kitchen!”
“Riah?” Mom said.
“Is it okay that I gave you a nickname?” Mara asked.
Mom smiled, glancing side to side as if mulling over the moniker. “Riah. I like it.”
“Good,” Mara replied. “Because people might get Mar and Mara confused.”
They bantered back and forth until it was time to wash the dishes, and Mara insisted she help. She and Mom stood at the sink, washing and drying as if they’d been doing it for years.
Mara must have really cared about her career to be trying this hard with my family. I tried not to think what it would do to Mom and Dad when we broke up.
Dad pulled me aside in the living room, saying quietly, “She’s a good one, Jonas. I like her.”
Tess nodded. “Me too. Why’d you keep her secret for so long? If it’s because of her size, I’ll—”
“My god, Tess,” I said. “She’s hot as hell. Why would I keep her hidden away?”
Tess flushed, and I shook my head, saying, “I’m just glad Mom likes her.”
“Me too,” Tess whispered. “When are we going to tell Mom about the dialysis? Surely she’d be happy to have Mara around.”
“Dialysis?” Dad said.
“I’m going to ask her tomorrow morning on the way to the appointment if she’ll be okay with Mara doing it here at the house,” I said. Dad was being oddly quiet, so I turned to him and said, “You think that’s okay, right?” I’d thought he would be overjoyed.
He was still quiet.
“Dad,” Tess admonished. “You can keep a secret for one night, can’t you?”