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When I get up in the morning and saunter to the living room, my mother is sitting on the sofa. I barely wiped the crust out of my eyes and she’s in my house.

“Ma, what are you doing here?”

“Well, I saw that car in your driveway and I came to investigate.”

“Inves—your key is for emergencies only.”

“This is an emergency. You never have anybody over here. Who is she?” she whispers. “Is she the woman you told me about?”

“I never told you about a woman.”

“You did. You didn’t say it outright, but I can read between the lines.”

I stretch and walk over to the kitchen to make coffee, then say, “She’s a friend.”

“A friend who spends the night? I don’t think so.”

“Well, this one does.”

Her face transforms into the happiest expression I’ve ever seen on her when she says, “You have a girlfriend!” She’s giddy with excitement – has balled her hands into fists like a little girl and does a shimmy. “Oooh, I want to meet her. Please, please, please let me meet her.”

“Ma, you probably will meet her, but it won’t be this morning.”

I walk over to the sofa, take her hand, and help her up. Amused, I say, “Now, be a good mother and go on back home.”

She wraps her arms around me and says, “I’m so happy for you. Oh, I could just scream.”

“Mother…”

“Okay, I’ll get out of your way, but you make sure you bring her by for supper.”

“I will.”

I close the door as Autumn steps into the room stretching, asking, “Did I just hear you talking to someone?”

“Yes. My mother stopped by when she saw the car in the driveway. Needless to say, she’s eager to meet you, by the way.”

“Aw…you should’ve let her stay.”

“I didn’t want that to be too much for you.”

“It’s not too much at all. Call her back. I had planned on cooking breakfast, anyway.”

“Autumn, are you sure?”

“Yes. I’m fine with it.”

“Okay.”

I open the door and summon my mother back. Happily, she skips right on back this way.

When she steps inside, I say, “Mother, this is Autumn. Autumn, this is my mother.”

“Hi, Mrs. Westinghouse. It’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you as well, dear,” she says with tears in her eyes. “Oh my.”

“Are you crying?” Autumn asks her.

“I am. I’m so happy to meet you, Autumn. And you’re completely perfect and beautiful,” she says looking at Autumn from head to toe.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Oh,” she throws a hand to her chest.

“I was going to cook breakfast if you want to join us,” Autumn tells her.

“I would love that.”

Autumn walks to the kitchen, opens the fridge like she lives here when yesterday was only her first time visiting.

She takes out eggs, sausage, and cheese.

Disappointed that I don’t have the ingredients to make biscuits, she settles for toast. And then after the food is done, we sit down to the table to eat.

Mom says, “So, Autumn, how did you and Judah meet?”

I glance over at Autumn. She’s already smiling.

She says, “We met because my ice cream cone got knocked out of my hand and Judah basically gave me his.”

My mother places both hands over her heart and says, “Oh, how romantic. Judah has always been kind-hearted. He gets it from his father.”

“Oh, really?” Autumn asks, glancing over at me for good reason. She knows I don’t get along that well with my father, so it must come as a surprise for her to hear that my mother describes him as kind-hearted .

“Yes, he is. That’s how he was able to get me. That man can charm a snake—you hear me?”

Autumn grins. “I believe you.”

She’s perfectly at ease with my mother – almost like they already knew each other before today when I know they didn’t.

“Judah, you’re awfully quiet,” Mom says.

“I didn’t want to interrupt you two. You’re like two friends who just got reacquainted after years of being apart.”

Mom cackles. It’s no interruption. “And these eggs have got to be the best I’ve ever eaten.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Westinghouse.”

“They are good,” I chime in. “I guess next time, I’ll have everything for you to make biscuits because if the eggs are this good, I can only imagine what the biscuits will taste like.”

“Absolutely,” Mom says. “So, Autumn, tell me a little about yourself. Are you from here?”

“I’m from Asheville, but I moved here for work. My parents still live there and, like Judah, I’m an only child.”

“Nice.”

“How long have you all been in Arden?” Autumn asks.

“I was born and raised in Arden. I know it’s hard to believe with it being a small town and all, but yep. Been here all my life, and I actually love it. Whenever we want to go to the big city , we take the short drive over there.”

“Yeah, that’s what I like about it.”

I take a sip of water, watching them converse, thinking about how my mother has immediately taken to her. I say, “I think I need to give you ladies some privacy.”

“Oh, no, Judah,” Autumn says. “You don’t have to leave.”

Mom says, “I got an idea. Autumn, grab your coffee. It’s a beautiful morning. Let’s go for a lil’ walk.”

“That sounds nice. Let’s do it.”