Page 4 of His Determined Bear
She managed to give me a small smile. “You’re a good son Coop, but I’m a grown-up. Forty-five the last time I checked. And believe me, I know about men that are no good.” Her face took on the same look reminiscent of the very few occasions my her sperm donor entered the conversation. I’d learned to recognize it, and remorse washed over me because I hated to remind her of that time in her life.
“Aaron is nothing like that. He’s a good man.” I opened my mouth to speak, but she put her hand up, stalling me. “And before you ask, I’ve met him several times, actually.”
Even if someone had slapped me, I would have been less surprised.
“What? When? How?” I shot at my mom, my mouth hanging open in shock once again.
“Do you remember when I went to that conference for work? And there were several times I told you I was visiting some friends….” Her voice trailed off.
“So… you lied to me,” I said slowly.
She winced, closed her eyes, and sighed. “Yes, Cooper, I lied. I’m sorry.”
I swallowed down my hurt because now was not the time to make this about me. As sincerely as I could, I replied, “Well, I guess it's good to know you’ve met Aaron in person, but two or three times is not enough to know if you’re a good match. How much could you possibly know about him in just a few weekends over ten months?”
I realized they had probably met up more than that when she didn't say anything. “You’ve seen him more than that, haven’t you?”
She looked away briefly, then looked back at me, her face painted with guilt and remorse all over it. At that point, I realized that no matter what I said to her, her mind was made up. The defiant tilt to her chin told me what words couldn’t. Whatever I had to say about all of this would fall on deaf ears because I recognized that look and stubbornness. I’d been accused of wearing it several times myself.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, Coop. I really am.” She sighed and stood up, “I needed to see for myself if we could make this relationship work. I guess I just got caught up in these new feelings and the attention from Aaron. And maybe somewhere along the way, I wanted to protect it a little because I kept waiting for it to end. And you may not be a child anymore, but you’ll always be mine, and I didn’t want to bring anyone into your life if I didn’t think they would stick around.”
“I—”
She put her hand up to stop me, which was good because I had no idea what to say anyway.
“And maybe there was also a part of me that wanted it to be just mine for a while.” She shrugged, and for a minute, I felt like the world’s most inconsiderate asshole. When my mom found out she was pregnant, she’d put me first, even when it wasn’t always what was best for her.
“I would like you to give me away at my wedding, Cooper, but you don’t have to be there for me to marry him.” I saw her straighten her spine, but she couldn’t meet my eyes. I knew immediately how much it cost her to say that. “It’s going to be my only wedding, and I want my son to be with me. I couldn’t imagine taking those vows without you there, but….” She didn’t want to say that she would marry Aaron with or without me. It was her choice to make, not mine.
Right then and there, I knew I had to tread carefully where my mom was concerned. If I did the wrong thing, it could send her running faster into Aaron’s arms like a teenager defying their parent instead of a grown woman who should know better. But what she didn’t know was that I needed to know, for myself, that he wouldn’t hurt her. What kind of son would I be if I didn’t try to protect her from someone I knew absolutely nothing about?
Mom stood and picked up her laptop from the table, putting an end to the discussion. Suddenly she stopped and turned around. “I have one more thing to tell you, but after the way, you’ve behaved toward Aaron….” She blew out a breath and shook her head, letting her feelings settle. “Cooper, it’s important that you know this, but I won’t tell you if you can’t—”
I shook my head and stood too. Taking her hand in mine, I continued, “You can tell me anything, mom. I’m here for you first and foremost.”
She studied me for a second, then nodded, “You need to know this, and I swore to Aaron that you could be trusted to keep this confidential.” She held my gaze until I nodded, reassuring her that I could do just that.
“I won’t tell anyone anything, I promise.”
She inclined her head, then looked at me. “Aaron is a shifter, Coop.”
All I could do was stare because I felt like my mom was speaking a foreign language again for what felt like the hundredth time in this conversation.
“I’m sorry, I don’t think I got that,” I said, trying to keep the scowl off my face.
Mom held my gaze and repeated with no trace of teasing or amusement. “Aaron is a shifter. He can change into an animal when he needs to.”
Okay, this explained everything. My mom was losing her mind. She was certifiably bat shit crazy, and I never saw it coming.
“Don’t look at me like I’m crazy, Cooper Matthew Alistair Wakefield.” I winced at the use of my full name. “I am not and have not lost my mind.”
“Fine,” I humored her, “And what kind of shifter—” I could barely say the word without wanting to burst into laughter, “is he?”
She pursed her lips like she could read my mind, but still, she replied, “Cougar.”
That time I couldn’t help it, and I did laugh. “I’m sorry, wouldn’t you have to be way younger for him to be considered a cougar?” Where men even called cougars when they dated younger women? “Mom, how can you take this man seriously? If he believes he can change into an animal, he needs serious help. Psychiatric help.”
My mother’s face turned to stone before she leveled me. “Don’t you dare talk down to me, Cooper, and don’t you dare repeat this to anyone. Aaron trusted me, and I’m trusting you to keep his secret.”