23. Chapter 22

CHAPTER 22

RILEY

T he magic of avoidance continued well into the next morning. I sipped my coffee at the kitchen table dressed only in Colton's oversized t-shirt and my underwear. In front of me, Colton and Justin stood in front of the open refrigerator arguing about what to make for breakfast. Both were shirtless and dressed in gray sweatpants, every woman's weakness. As it was, I kept getting distracted from what they were saying by all their bare skin. I shifted in my seat. Down girl .

"Dude, we've had eggs almost every day this week."

"So?" Colton argued. "Eggs are a vital food group."

"I'm not disagreeing with that but at least let's do a little bit of variety. What about french toast?"

Colton's nose wrinkled. "It never turns out right unless Momma makes it."

I hid my laugh with another sip of my perfectly made coffee.

"A lot of things don't taste the same as Momma A's cooking but we still need to eat." Justin pointed out practically. "Besides, it's not like we have anywhere to be."

Colton had texted Jake while we were still in bed saying that he and Justin would be late to work this morning. Neither man was sold on going in at all but I encouraged them to take the morning and see how they felt.

After a good night's sleep, I felt better. We were still going to have to figure out what to do if the town turned against them and their business but both Colton and Justin were still adamant this morning that they would just move if they needed to. But I didn't want that for them. This place was their home. But I didn't know how to overcome small-town values. But we were still in avoidance mode so I pushed those thoughts aside.

Three knocks sounded at the front door and we all turned towards it just as a key turned in the latch and the door popped open. An older couple walked in, the man dressed in khaki shorts and a bright blue hawaiian print shirt that reminded me of the one Colton wore on the island. His hazel eyes looked so similar to Colton that I knew instantly these had to be his parents. Colton's mom was dressed in a bright blue and yellow skirt and a neon yellow top that almost hurt to look at. Her long silver hair was tied back with a blue scarf. She swept into the room like a brightly colored hurricane, eyes narrowed at my men.

"Colton James Anderson and Justin Tanaka Anderson, you have some explaining to do."

Both men froze at her words and if I also wasn't in shock I would have laughed at the guilty looks on their faces. But as it was I was sitting in their kitchen in just Colton's t-shirt and my underwear about to meet his parents for the first time.

"Momma–" Colton started.

"Don't you ‘Momma' me!" She wagged her finger at him. "No calls, no texts, no emails, not even a pigeon to let us know what was going on." Uh oh. This wasn't good. Her blue eyes were flashing and every inch of her radiated disapproval. She turned to me and I braced myself for whatever she was about to throw my way.

The disapproval melted away into a wide grin as she yanked me out of the chair and into a big hug. I felt like a board in her warm grip. I never felt so much warmth in a hug before.

"Oh my goodness, aren't you just gorgeous? I can see why my boys fell for you. And you're an author? You'll have to tell me all about that so I can brag to my friends in Florida. But first…"

She looped an arm around my waist and turned back to the guys, glaring at them. I stared at them with wide eyes, not quite sure what was happening. I discreetly tugged the hem of Colton's shirt down before she launched into a full blown lecture. Forrest, Colton's dad, poured himself a cup of coffee, completely unphased as his wife started scolding my men like they were twelve years old again. His eyes twinkled at me and he winked.

"Momma, what are you doing here?" Colton interrupted before she could get very far.

Agnes let go of me to go over and smack both of my guys upside the head. "Did you think I wouldn't know? I still chat with Beverly weekly and she's been keeping me updated on all of your shenanigans but I was good and I patiently–"

Forrest coughed and Agnes rolled her eyes at him. I bit my lip to keep from laughing and Justin arched an eyebrow at me with a small smirk that fell away as Agnes kept talking.

"Fine, not patiently waiting for my two boys to tell me that they fell in love with not only the most gorgeous woman but also each other but nooooo . Now I've got some vicious little trollop trying to embarrass my future daughter-in-law because my idiot sons didn't tell me. So of course I came."

Emotion clogged my throat at her passionate defense of us and our relationship even if she didn't know me. Aside from the guys, I never experienced that from anyone before. My parents would never, too concerned with their image and what people thought of them. If anything, after they passed their critical judgments, they would have started talking me out of it and listing all the reasons it wasn't going to work out.

I didn't realize a tear was rolling down my cheek until Agnes turned around and her face softened. She wrapped me up in another hug.

"There, there, don't you worry. I'll make it better, you sweet girl." I had to bite my tongue and close my eyes to stave off the tears that threatened to fall at her words. When I opened them, Colton and Justin had soft smiles on their faces as they watched us both.

Agnes pulled back after one more squeeze. "Okay," she clapped her hands. "You boys are going to take your father to work with you and I'm going to take our sweet girl here around town and put some self-righteous biddies in their place."

She pushed me gently towards Colton and Justin. "Say goodbye to your men, dear, we've got a busy day ahead of us."

"Momma A, are you going to let us have breakfast and get dressed before you go terrorize the town?" Justin asked, pulling me close, his hand running up and down my back and easing my frazzled emotions.

Agnes sighed dramatically, hands on her hips as she looked at the ceiling. "If I must. Y'all go get dressed and I'll finish up breakfast. I'm thinking French toast."

"Score," Colton whispered as he squeezed my hand. I giggled as Agnes turned towards the fridge and started rummaging through it.

"Best be running along and doing what she says now," Forrest said, sitting at the table. "It's nice to meet you, Riley."

"Nice to meet you too," I said over my shoulder as the guys tugged me down the hallway.

"Breakfast is in ten minutes so no time for funny business!" Agnes shouted after us. My cheeks flamed red but I also kind of wanted to be like Agnes when I grew up.

I wanted to melt into the floor but Justin just laughed. "Welcome to the family," he murmured, pressing a kiss to the side of my head. "You get used to it."

An hour later, my hand was tucked firmly in Agnes's elbow as we walked down Main Street. It feels like we had been to every shop starting at Brewed Awakenings. Inside every shop, Agnes greeted the employees and owners by name and introduced me as her future daughter-in-law. Most people were friendly and welcoming but there were a few judgmental looks and side-eyes. But Agnes was a force of nature, putting people in their place with a few well-placed words. I definitely wanted to be her when I grew up.

Agnes let go of my hand to push open the door to Daisy's Diner. It was a little after lunch so the crowds had thinned out but most of the booths were still filled. I paused when I recognized two women getting out of a booth at the back of the diner. One was Vicky, the guys' receptionist and the other was the blond woman who was also outside the coffee shop the other day when I met Jessica. Both women looked alike. The other woman must be Vicky's cousin, Veronica, if I remember her name right from Jessica's ranting.

It was like the temperature dropped five degrees in the diner when Agnes saw them. Daisy, the diner's sweet older owner walked over, wiping her hands on the towel hanging from the apron around her waist.

"Agnes, is that you? What are you doing in town?"

Agnes hugged Daisy. "Well, you know I can't stay away from your peach pie for that long. But I came back to spend some time with my sons and future daughter-in-law. You've met Riley, I presume? Colton loves your peach pie so I imagine he's brought her by here a few times."

"I have," Daisy's smile was warm. "But it's always good to see you again."

"Hello, Agnes," Vicky tried to cut in, a fake smile plastered on her face as she rubbed her palms against her pale pink jeans, belying her nerves. Good, she should be nervous. From the time I spent with Agnes this morning, she was deeply connected in Oakville even if she lived in Florida now.

"That's Mrs. Anderson to you," Agnes raised a silver eyebrow at her, her voice frosty. She dismissed both women with a huff and turned back to Daisy.

"Now, Daisy," Agnes said loudly, a twinkle in her eyes that I was quickly learning meant trouble. "Riley and I need a booth and some of that amazing peach pie. It's been a trying few days as we've dealt with miserable little bitches who don't have anything better to do than tear other women down."

My mouth dropped open at the same time Vicky and Veronica's did. Daisy covered up her laugh with a cough. "Of course, Agnes dear, I understand. Some people really don't know how to sit down and shut up."

My eyebrows shot up. Oh god, there were two of them. Daisy looked at me and winked and I hid my laugh behind my hand, not daring to look Vicky's way.

Agnes snagged my hand as Daisy led us to a corner booth. A few minutes later, two large slices of peach pie with a heaping scoop of vanilla ice cream were set in front of us.

"Riley, I meant what I said," Daisy said, patting my shoulder. "Don't let them dim your light, child. You're the best thing for those boys."

My throat was tight so I let out a small nod and Daisy winked at me before bustling away to the next customer. Agnes smiled after her.

"Thank you," I whispered. "I–, just thank you. Today's been wonderful"

"Of course sweet girl, I've always wanted a daughter and you're more than I could have hoped for. My boys needed someone to love both of them and someone who would be okay and even encourage them to love each other. And they found that in you."

I took a bite of the pie as that wave of emotion threatened to overwhelm me again. Flavor exploded on my tongue as the sweet, tangy peaches melted in my mouth. The vanilla ice cream was unlike anything I ever had before and had to be homemade. The few times we had come here were for breakfast and had been too early for pie.

"I know, right. Daisy refuses to tell me how she makes it. There has to be some secret ingredient but I've been working on her for forty years and she's not broken yet." Agnes whispered conspiratorially.

I laughed. "That's a long time."

"It has been."

We ate in silence for a few moments before I asked the question that had popped into my mind at her earlier words. "How long have you known about them? About Justin and Colton together?"

Agnes laughed softly, her blue eyes glazed as memories filled them. "Since they were fifteen. Forrest and I practically adopted Justin after his mother left. Poor boy was devastated and I didn't blame him. Laura was lovely and she loved fiercely. I never understood why she left him behind but I was determined he would know love despite his bastard of a father. And when that bastard finally left too, we moved Justin in. The boys grew up attached at the hip and one summer I watched them fall in love with each other. They never stopped loving each other, only stopped showing it."

"I saw that from the beginning," I admitted. My heart ached for a young Justin but Agnes's words filled that niggling doubt I had about the circumstances around Laura's disappearance. How could a woman who loved her son fiercely just disappear?

When Agnes got up to pay our bill, I took my phone out and checked my email to see if Alyssa had sent me anything. She hadn't but she wasn't the type to send updates unless she had something. I sent an email to her anyway and told her what Agnes said. I asked her to dig into Justin's father's past a bit more and see if he showed any signs of violence in his past or present. Justin had said he was abusive and the bad feeling I had kept growing.

"Ready to go?" Agnes came back and looked at me expectantly .

"Yes. Just checking email."

"Oh, that's right, you have to tell me all about being an author. But first." She guided me towards the grocery store. "We need wine."

Four hours later, I was distracted from my very animated retelling of my first FBI ridealong with a rookie FBI agent that I was sure hated his life that day when a familiar silver truck pulled into the driveway. Agnes and I were on our second– no third bottle of wine between the two of us and the half empty bottle was nestled between us in the cushions of Colton's porch swing. The afternoon sun had set behind the trees, no longer blinding us with its rays. My bare feet were curled up underneath me, my sandals discarded on the porch steps. Maggie lay next to the swing while Rex curled up in a chair on the other side of the porch.

Colton, Forrest, and Justin climbed out of the truck and I bit my lip to hold in my swoon. My men were slightly sweaty and I almost drooled when Justin raked his hand through his hair, forearm muscles rippling. Forrest clapped a hand on Colton's shoulder and I could picture how Colton would look in thirty years and I wasn't disappointed.

"Hubba, hubba," Agnes murmured under her breath and I snorted, wine almost coming out of my nose before breaking out into giggles. She laughed with me. "What, I'm old, but I can still get it on and my husband is a fine piece of ass."

I laughed so hard I snorted and Agnes about fell out of the swing. All three men paused at the bottom of the steps and looked at us, amusement in their eyes. Maggie huffed from her spot next to us and went to curl up in the other chair next to Rex. It was like the dogs were saying "Good, you're here. They're your problem now."

"Are you having a good time, Aggie?" Forrest asked.

"Aww he calls you Aggie?" I cried. "That's so sweet."

Agnes attempted to sit up straight but she wobbled the swing dangerously as she lifted her wine glass to her mouth. "That's not all he calls me."

"Momma! "

"Momma A!"

I burst into laughter. Agnes snorted and collapsed into the cushions next to me. The swing rocked dangerously, threatening to tip us. I've never seen three grown men move that fast. Forrest and Justin stabilized the swing while Colton rescued the wine bottle that almost tipped over.

"Good boy," Agnes crowed. "Rescuing the wine just like I taught you."

I patted Colton's cheek and he grinned at me. "Are you a little wine drunk, baby girl?"

I sniffed and took another sip of my glass. "I'm not drunk, I'm perfectly intoxicated."

Justin chuckled and I leaned my head back to look at him, wincing when the move made me dizzy. Okay, I was a little drunk. Okaaayyy, a lot drunk.

"Come on, Aggie, Priscilla has a room for us at her bed and breakfast. We're going to leave the youngins to themselves tonight," Forrest gently guided Agnes up and out of the swing.

"Aww, you're leaving already?" I pouted.

"Oh no, sweet girl, you can't get rid of me that easily," Agnes cupped my cheeks with her hands. "We're staying at least until the Harvest Festival."

I wrinkled my brow. "The Harvest Festival?"

"Mmhmm it's in a few weeks. So that means that this," she attempted to draw a circle around the swing and almost fell over. "Will happen again."

"Yay!" I cheered and the guys laughed.

Colton set the bottle of wine on the railing as Forrest guided Agnes to the truck. She waved dramatically at us and I waved back, rocking the swing.

Justin dropped onto the swing next to me and pulled me into his lap so Colton could sit down next to us. Colton pulled my feet into his lap and started rubbing them gently. "Did you have fun, baby girl? "

I snuggled into Justin's chest, suddenly tired. "I did." I looked up at Colton, "You're lucky to have grown up with a mom like her." Agnes was just so warm and kind and made me feel supported no matter what I told her. She bragged to everyone in town about me being an author. My parents had never once done that.

Colton's eyes softened. "I know, baby girl. But remember, she's your mom too."

I just nodded and Justin nuzzled his cheek in my hair. "What did you all get up to today?" He asked.

I giggled. "We put some bitches in their place." I giggled uncontrollably and Justin's chest vibrated underneath me as he laughed.

"Come on, sweetheart," Justin said, standing with me in his arms and ignoring my squeak of surprise. "Let's get you some water and into bed. You're going to hate life tomorrow otherwise."

I hummed as Justin opened the door and carried me inside. I could hear Colton calling for the dogs behind us. I smiled and closed my eyes. I was pretty sure this is what home felt like.