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Her mother took the water bottle. “And falling for him wasn’t part of the plan.”
“I didn’t fall?—”
“Please.” She came over and leaned against the counter. “You broke up with Edward and two days later you went to a fundraiser that he was attending, and you acted as if... I just didn’t see you spend a couple weeks in your pajamas after Edward. I think he was the easy answer.”
Tia stared at her mother. “Theeasyanswer? I loved him, Mother.”
“Oh, I’m sure you did. A love that fit into your neat box, with all the right conditions and parameters. A love that felt safe and controlled and?—”
“Ididbreak up with him—because he loved someone else. I wasn’t exactly in charge of his heart?—”
“But you also asked him out first. And who wouldn’t be wowed by you, Tia? You’re a force of nature—a woman who knows her mind, who isn’t afraid of anything.”
“Oh, I’m plenty afraid, Mother.”
She couldn’t believe she’d said that, but—probably it was time to admit it aloud.
“I know you are, honey. That’s why you always make a plan. And that makes you feel safe, and in control, and that’s why whatever happened—whoeverhappened—in Mariposa totally shook you.” She leaned in. “What, did he sweep you off your feet?”
Tia gaped at her. Then, “Maybe. Mostly he just... he just showed up. Whenever I needed him, Doyle was there. And even when I didn’t need him. And he was... so impulsive. Just over-the-top. You have no idea.”
“I think I do,” her mother said quietly, winked. “That’s the smile I’ve always wanted to see, the one you never had with Edward.”
Tia shook her head, looked away. “It doesn’t matter. He lost his true love on their wedding day, so?—”
“Are you talking about Doyle Kingston?”
She looked at her mother and must have worn a look of surprise, because her mother leaned back, nodded. “I see.”
“What do you see?”
“I met Doyle a couple years ago, at a fundraising event for Beacon of Compassion International. He was one of the team leaders for disaster relief. We sat at the same table. Such a nice man, but sort of quiet. Distant. I felt like he had a lot behind that smile. I asked later and heard about his fiancée dying. And then, of course, I met Conrad, and small world. This Doyle is the same man who swept you off your feet?”
“Stop saying that.”
“It feels right.”
“Mom.”
She held up a hand. “I find it interesting that you both lost intendeds. It seems that you might understand each other better than most.”
Tia closed her computer. “Except Juliet was his true love.”
“You loved Edward. Maybe not the same way, but you lost a future too.” Her mother stood up. “I am proud of you for saying no and waiting for your true love as you and your sister used to say.”
“I don’t think I’m Doyle’s ‘true love,’ Mom.” She finger quoted the words. “Juliet was perfect for him. I’m... bossy and stubborn and—I just got him into trouble.”
Her mother raised an eyebrow.
“Trust me, I drove the man crazy.”
“You?”
“Mom.”
“I’m just saying, I know you’re perfectly capable of taking care of yourself, but maybe it’s okay to find someone who steps between you and your desire to save yourself.”
She had nothing, except for Doyle’s voice in her head.“Why, why, why are you so intent on getting yourself killed?”