Page 38 of Isolated (Harper Security Ops #21)

Landen

“Are you home?”

Without hesitation, a response came through the line from a voice of comfort. “Yes.”

“Would it be alright if I stopped over?”

This time, there was a pause. And when the voice came through the line again, it was unsteady. “Of course. You never have to ask.”

“I’ll be there shortly.”

After saying goodbye, I disconnected the call, turned on the engine, and pulled out of the lot.

It was late Friday afternoon, and I’d left work early for the day. For the weekend. And I thought this was the perfect time to take care of something that I’d been putting off for too long.

Not quite fifteen minutes after I’d ended my call, I’d arrived at my destination. I’d just barely made it to the front door when it was flung open, and I was staring into a face filled with alarm. “Is everything okay?”

My mom.

My poor mom.

I should have offered her some reassurances when I called and asked to stop by. No doubt she’d spent every second since we’d ended our call presuming the absolute worst had happened.

It wasn’t that I didn’t ever come over to visit with my mom. I did. The problem was that I didn’t often just call her on a Friday afternoon, asking to make that visit immediately.

“Landen,” she breathed. “Are you okay? Is everything alright? Please tell me that nothing bad happened?”

Her worried and frantic eyes roamed over me from head to toe and back again, searching for any sign of injury or ailment.

I reached my hands out and braced them on her arms as I stepped forward into the house. “Relax, Mom. I’m fine. Nothing bad happened. Unless…”

“Unless what?” She tensed right up again.

My hands moved up and down her arms to comfort and relax her. “I was just going to say that this visit here is only going to be bad if you’ve already taken the steps to set me up on a blind date with someone from church, or anywhere else, for that matter.”

Some of the rigidity eased out of her frame. “Well, I’ve been trying, but I haven’t quite found anyone suitable just yet. Why are you telling me this? What’s going on?”

I grinned at her. “I met someone.”

Any of the lingering tension evaporated. “What?! Are you serious? ”

My mom was doing everything she could to contain her excitement. I could tell she wanted to jump for joy, but she was holding herself back. Perhaps she didn’t quite believe I was telling her the truth.

“I’m being honest with you.”

Her features softened, and her expression warmed. My mom’s eyes filled with unshed tears. “This is the best news I’ve heard all day.” She tugged on my wrist and urged me deeper into the house. “Come in and sit. I want to hear everything about her.”

My mom wasn’t a pushy person, but in this case, she did not hesitate to lead me into the living room before all but shoving me onto the couch.

“Okay. Tell me about her. What’s her name? How did you meet her?”

“Her name is Iris Gibson, and I’ve known her for more than a year now. Closer to two, actually. We met at the gym.”

If I thought she’d been stunned to learn I met someone, the reaction she’d had then didn’t compare to the one she was having now. “You’ve been dating her for more than a year?”

There was an edge of ire in her tone. That, and perhaps a bit of hurt and disappointment. Even if there was a hint of anger or resentment there, more than anything, she was upset to think that I’d hid something like this from her for so long.

Holding my hands up in surrender, I quickly defended myself. “We haven’t been dating for a year. I’ve known her for a while, but it was only two weeks ago that I took her out on our first date.”

For the first time since she’d opened the door to me, my mom genuinely relaxed. “Oh. Okay. That makes me feel so much better. Tell me more about her. About Iris.”

The way she said her name made me think she was getting used to the sound of it, like she was trying it out to see if it fit. I figured the best thing I could do is give her more reasons to adore a woman she hadn’t had the opportunity to meet just yet.

“She’s gorgeous, Mom. And I don’t mean in the physical sense.

Obviously, I think Iris is beautiful. She’s got this thick auburn hair and bright green eyes and a smile that lights up the whole room.

But even more than that, she’s the sweetest woman in the world.

Iris will make friends with anybody. And she’s got this confidence and determination that I just love about her. ”

For a few moments, my mom just stared at me with what I could only assume was disbelief written all over her expression. But it quickly morphed into something else, and a smile spread across her face. “Iris sounds lovely.”

“She is. She’s wonderful. And I really like her.”

After reaching for my hand and taking it between hers, my mom said, “When you’re ready, I’d love to meet her. Do you think she’d be up for an introduction sometime soon?”

Iris would love nothing more. “If I’m honest, she’s probably upset I haven’t already made it happen.”

Mom’s brows shot up. “Really?”

I shook my head as I chuckled. “No. I just meant that she’s the kind of woman who would’ve already made it happen if she had her way.”

“Have you met her family?”

“I met her sisters when they came in to visit her the other weekend, but her parents are traveling right now, so I haven’t met them yet.”

Confusion washed over her. “Iris’s sisters came to visit her? Do they not live here?”

“Iris is originally from Grouse, but she moved here about two years ago for her job.” I smiled at the thought. “There’s that, too. She’s so good at her job; she’s been promoted twice in less than a year.”

My mom inhaled deeply and let out a satisfied sigh.

“I would ask you if you’re happy with her, but I don’t need to.

You’re a completely different man today than you were the day you came here before the wedding.

Your eyes light up when you talk about her.

And the way you smile tells me you’re constantly thinking about her.

All I want to do is meet her to make sure she’s just as smitten with you. ”

I hadn’t really thought about the change in me, but I guess my mom wasn’t wrong. I couldn’t see what she was talking about, but I could certainly feel it. I felt like I’d been walking around weightless for a bit now, and I found that I was even approaching my cases at work with a positive mindset.

Iris was always so happy, even before things changed between us, so I didn’t think there’d ever be such a noticeable change.

But she made it clear she missed me when we weren’t together, and she was always eager to spend time with me.

I could only assume that was the way the change had manifested in her.

“I think she is. I hope so, anyway. I’ll talk to her about it, and we’ll set something up soon.”

Mom smiled at me. “I made some cookies for the bake sale this weekend. How about I grab you some now so you can tell me more about Iris. ”

“Trying to bribe me for more information with cookies?”

She rolled her eyes. “I know you don’t like to eat sweet treats too often, but you can’t resist freshly baked cookies.”

“Okay, Mom. I’ll have a couple. But just so you know, I wouldn’t have had any problem talking to you about Iris without them.”

Standing from the couch, she looked down at me and said, “I know that. And I remember what that was like. I was the same way when I met your dad.”

As she walked off toward the kitchen, an ache formed at the center of my chest. It had been ten years, but it still hurt sometimes when I thought about him and the things my dad was missing.

I would have loved nothing more than to tell him about Iris, about how happy she made me.

I didn’t doubt he would have loved her for me just as much as it seemed my mom already did.

She returned with cookies, and for the next little while, I told her more about Iris. I didn’t want to share all the details—I wanted Iris to be able to do that on her own—but I gave my mom enough to satisfy her curiosity.

It was roughly an hour after I’d arrived at my mom’s house when my phone rang. Pulling it out of my pocket, I was surprised to see Iris’s name on the display.

“Iris?”

“Landen.” Her voice was ragged, filled with devastation.

I was immediately on alert. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m… I’m sorry for bothering you at work?—”

“I’m not at work right now. I left early today and came over to visit with my mom. Just tell me what’s going on. Are you okay?”

I glanced over to see my mom looking at me with such concern. She looked just as troubled as I felt.

“Everything is falling apart.” The agony in her voice was undoing me.

“Where are you?”

“I just got home.”

“Okay. I’m coming right now.”

Silence came through the line.

I waited a few beats, but when Iris didn’t respond, I called her name. “Iris?”

“You’re visiting with your mom. I didn’t mean to?—”

“I know you didn’t. It’s fine.” I stood from the couch, sending my mom an apologetic look. She brushed off the guilt I felt with a wave of her hand. “I’ll be there in just a few minutes, sunshine. Just hang tight.”

“Thank you.”

“There’s no need for that. I’ll see you soon.”

I disconnected the call and opened my mouth to speak, but my mom beat me to it. “Not another word. She needs you. Go. We’ll talk later.”

I smiled and wrapped my arms around her. “Thanks, Mom.”

“Of course, honey.”

After telling her I loved her and saying goodbye, I was out the door in a flash.

Then I was racing over to Iris’s place, wondering what exactly was going on to make her sound like I’d never heard her before.

Not even the day she’d come into my office feeling so forlorn over her encounter with her boss had she sounded like she did on the phone today.

I didn’t want to assume the worst or draw conclusions, but I hoped things didn’t take an even worse turn at work, because she loved her job.