MacNamaras Lady

Chapter Fourteen

“Do you think she’ll like me?”

It was the tenth time she’d asked him that question since they’d gotten in his truck to make the drive to his mother’s home. It wasn’t like Missy to be so insecure. It was a testament to how important this was to her. To both of them.

“She’s going to love you as much as I do.” He reached out his hand and she took it. As always, she twined their fingers together.

It had been a week since they’d declared their love for one another, but it felt like a lifetime. Both of them had changed so much. Missy didn’t feel the need to be so regimented, so in control. And he no longer felt the need to protect himself behind a shield. In a way, that had been his form of control. Show the world a laid-back guy with good humor and it masked the deeper emotions that bubbled beneath. With each other they could simply be themselves. It was both liberating and scary as hell.

They’d shared the news with their friends. Candy and Lucas had both been pleased. Lucas had insisted they come over for dinner to celebrate. It had been a different experience to kick back with friends and be part of a real, committed couple. He liked the feeling.

“Are you going to tell her we’re moving in together?” For the third time, Missy checked the flowers she’d insisted on buying for his mother. God, he loved this woman so much he could barely breathe, his chest was so damn tight, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Yeah, I am. I’m not ashamed. Are you?”

She scowled at him, wiping away the worried look that had filled her eyes the entire way over. Now she looked more like his Missy. “You know better than that.”

He raised their clasped hands to his lips and kissed the top of hers. “I do.” He released her and concentrated on turning the truck into the driveway. His mother didn’t have a car, didn’t want one. She’d never learned to drive and had told him a hundred times she had no desire to learn at her age. The bus and her two feet did just fine, thank you very much. He worried about her, but she had refused to let him buy her a car.

He glanced at Missy. She and his mama had a lot in common. They were both determined, stubborn ladies. Not that he’d ever tell them that. He did have some common sense when it came to dealing with women.

He turned off the engine and undid his seat belt. Beside him, Missy hadn’t moved yet. He undid her restraints and took her hand. “Everything will be okay.”

“Easy for you to say,” she muttered. “You don’t have to meet my family.” They’d discussed that at length. Missy hadn’t had any contact with her family other than her sister for years. She’d flat-out told him her father was a bigot and wouldn’t like him because he was white. He couldn’t care less about what her father thought. He only cared about what she thought.

They’d decided not to bother to contact her family. She’d made a life for herself that didn’t include them. T.S. could understand that. He’d talked to his mother several times this week, telling her all about Missy. She couldn’t wait to meet her. She had more than enough love to share.

“Let’s go.” He climbed out and came around to the passenger side. As usual, Missy hadn’t waited for him, but was already standing there waiting. He frowned at her but she just laughed and patted his chest.

The wrapping around the flowers crinkled in her hand. She took a deep breath. “I’m ready.”

He shook his head. Missy had never known the love of family. Luckily, he had. That and Lucas’ friendship had been the only things to get him through the dark time in his life. His brother had wasted his life, losing it far too soon. T.S. hadn’t made the same mistake.

He put his hand on the small of her back and led her to the front door. He unlocked it and let himself in. “This is another one of my buildings,” he told her, hoping to take her mind off her nervousness.

“How many buildings do you have?”

“Six, including the one I live in. Seven, once we find something you like.”

Missy stopped and stared up at him in wonder. “What does that mean?”

“It means, I want you to have the home you want. We’ll go looking at buildings. When we find something you like, I’ll buy it and we’ll renovate.”

“We’ll buy it,” she corrected. “I’ve got money and I’m part of this relationship.”

“Whatever you want. Whatever makes you happy.” He dropped a kiss on her luscious mouth.

She shook her head. “Buy me a building,” she muttered. “Are you crazy?”

He spun her around, crushing the flowers between them. “Crazy in love,” he agreed as his mouth captured hers. He was sizzling when he released her a few moments later. “We’ve got to get going or my mother is going to be down here any second. I know she was watching and saw us drive up.”

Missy practically shoved him away. “Ohmygod. Do I look okay? Did you mess up my makeup?”

“You look beautiful, as always.” The compliment was nothing less than the truth. Beneath her coat, Missy was wearing a black skirt that hugged her hips and a white silk blouse that made her chocolate skin look utterly delectable. The gold necklace she wore matched the hoops hanging from her earlobes. She looked cool and poised and confident.

And if they’d been going anywhere but his mother’s place they’d have never made it out the front door of her apartment.

They started up the stairs again until they hit the second landing. “This is Mama’s place. Not too many stairs, but she’s above the ground floor, which is safer.” He reached out to knock on the door. Before he’d barely had a chance to do so it was whipped open.

His mother stood there in one of her Sunday dresses, the ones she kept for church or special occasions. Her dark hair was styled and there was a huge welcoming smile on her face. “Come in. Come in.”

Missy stepped in beside him. To take some of the pressure off her, he reached for his mother and gave her a hug. “Hey, Mama.”

She cupped his cheeks in her hands. “You look so good. I hope you’re hungry. I made plenty of food.” She turned to Missy, who was still clutching the flowers to her chest. “And you must be Missy.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. MacNamara.” Missy thrust the flowers toward her.

“Flowers. How lovely.” She took them and held them to her nose, inhaling deep. “Such a thoughtful girl. Come in. Theo, take her coat and hang it up.”

“Yes, ma’am.” His reply brought an approving look from his mother and a smile from Missy. She liked seeing his mother boss him around. That wouldn’t last. Wouldn’t be long until his mama was trying to boss her around too. It would be interesting to see who ended up managing whom. With his luck they’d both gang up on him.

He grinned to himself. He couldn’t wait.

“Missy. You are such a pretty girl. Thin. We will fix that. Come.” Not waiting to see if they were following, his mother turned and headed to the kitchen.

He almost laughed. Missy looked slightly dazed. He helped her out of her coat, helping himself to a kiss at the same time.

“Stop it. What if your mother sees?”

“She’d just start planning the wedding.”

Missy’s eyes widened and she swallowed hard. “What are you talking about?”

“You. Me. Together forever. I hadn’t planned to do this here, but…” He took a deep breath. “Marry me. Share my life with me.”

“Are you sure?”

“More sure than I’ve ever been about anything in my life.”

Missy didn’t know whether to laugh or cry or both. Her nerves were shot. She’d been more frightened about meeting T.S.’ mother than even he realized. He and his mother were close. She’d have to be a total idiot not to see that. If his mother didn’t like her, it could really put a strain on their new relationship.

She’d been so focused on this meeting and the fact she and T.S. were moving in together, she hadn’t thought any farther. She, who planned everything, hadn’t had any plans other than getting through today.

Already he’d surprised her with the idea of buying a new place together. She liked that. It wouldn’t be her place or his place but their place.

But this. This was crazy. “You want me to marry you?”

“Yes.”

She caught a twinge of uncertainty in his eyes before he masked it. They were both getting better but had a ways to go. But they would do it together. Certainty poured through her. “Yes.”

“Yes?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

T.S. grabbed her into his arms and spun her around. As he kissed her, Missy could hear the sound of clapping. His mother. How had they forgotten his mother?

He set her on his feet, grinning like a loon. She was happy, but a bit more reserved. What would his mother think?

“A wedding. We’re going to have a wedding.” She swept Missy into her arms and hugged her. Missy was taller than Mrs. MacNamara, but the woman’s hug was fierce.

She broke away and glared at her son. “Is that any way to ask a woman to marry you? In your mama’s foyer?”

“I got carried away.”

His mother clapped her hands. “Ah, young love. We must celebrate.”

“You’re okay with this?” Missy asked. “I mean I can understand if you have some concerns. We’ve known each other for months but have only been dating a short time.” No way was she telling his mother they were practically living together.

He had his mother’s eyes. That thought struck Missy full force when Mrs. MacNamara turned to her. “The fact that you would ask shows me you are a good girl. You love him and that is all a mother can ask for.” T.S.’ mother patted at her eyes with a handkerchief she pulled out of her pocket. “You will be the daughter I never had. We will have such fun planning the wedding.”

“Mama,” he warned.

“Pah.” His mother waved him away. “This is for women to discuss. Yes?” She questioned Missy.

“Yes. Absolutely yes. I’d love to have your help, Mrs. MacNamara.”

“First, you must call me Sophia.”

Missy shot T.S. a look before turning to his mother again. “Can you tell me his name? He refuses to tell me what T.S. stands for other than Theo.”

His mother laughed. “It was always such a big name for a boy. He changed it to just his initials when he started junior high. Such a shame.”

“Mama,” he groaned. “You don’t need to tell her that.” T.S. wrapped an arm around each woman.

“You’re marrying the girl, Theo. She will see it on the marriage certificate.”

He sighed and nodded. He hadn’t thought about that.

Now Missy was really curious. “My middle name is Grace,” she offered.

“Such a lovely name,” his mother praised. “Theo was named after my grandfathers.”

He groaned and lowered his head. “It’s Theophilus Samuel.”

Sophia patted her son on the cheek and smiled at Missy. “I must check on dinner.” She hurried to the kitchen, giving them a moment of privacy.

Missy caught T.S.’ face in her hands. She’d never seen him embarrassed by anything before. He was so strong, so sure of himself. She could easily imagine him as a little boy, being teased about his name. “I love you, Theophilus Samuel.” She kissed him. “Theo.” And again. “T.S.” And yet again. “It doesn’t matter what your name is. It doesn’t matter what your past is. I love the man you are.”

“Missy.” He said nothing more but her name. But he didn’t have to. There was so much love and need in that one word. Her heart expanded to fill her chest. His mother had accepted her. She was going to marry T.S. and have a family of her own.

This was better than anything she’d ever planned. She would change her last name to his. Rid herself of all remnants of her past and start anew. “Missy MacNamara has a nice ring.”

“You would do that for me? Change your name?”

She shook her head. “I’d do it for me. For us.”

He pulled her close and kissed her like she was the most important thing in his world. It felt good. It felt right. And it was fair, considering he was the most important thing in her world.

“Dinner’s ready,” his mother called from the kitchen.

He broke the kiss and stroked the side of her face. “Later.”

“Later,” she promised.