Page 48 of Fierce-Ivan

“I don’t need to see your face to know you’re beautiful, Kendra. I don’t think Ivan does either. Remember that.”

It was times like this her mother put everything into perspective when she was struggling.

“I know. He’s very handsome, but I don’t see that when I look at him either. I mean I noticed it right away, but it wasn’t until I started to talk to him more that I really was attracted to him.”

“Which is the way it should be,” her mother said.

“Not everyone feels that way,” she said.

“Don’t compare Ivan to anyone else you dated in the past. Especially not your father.”

She looked at her mother. She was still very attractive for fifty years old. She had long straight brown hair and she supposed that made it easier for her mother to wash and style and then brush to the side or pull back into a ponytail like it was now.

Her mother didn’t have any makeup on and didn’t normally. She wouldn’t be able to put it on or see it anyway, but she religiously moisturized her face and her skin was still youthful and glowing.

Kendra didn’t always realize how much she looked like her mother until someone pointed it out.

Like Ivan did tonight.

After they were dressed again, they went and sat on the couch and just talked about their week. It wasn’t uncomfortable or awkward, but more relaxed and natural.

He’d said it was nice to meet her mother because it told him how stunning she’d be in twenty years. She found that so sweet and had to battle back the tears.

Ivan didn’t see her mother’s disability. He saw a caring mother that wanted to meet her daughter’s boyfriend.

“I’m not,” she said. “There is no comparison and there never will be.”

16

A Good Spot

“Ifeel bad we aren’t going out and doing anything,” Ivan said when Kendra showed up Saturday afternoon. They were going to see each other last night but then something came up and she had to cancel. He wasn’t sure what that was and they hadn’t had a chance to talk about it much, but she’d said she’d be here today.

“Don’t worry about it. As big as Charlotte is, we could still run into someone. Besides, I’m a homebody. I like the idea of snuggling in under the blankets and binge watching some TV.”

Not many of the women he’d dated in the past liked the idea of doing that. They’d rather go out to eat, go to the movies, clubbing, parties with friends, or even vacations.

Once they found out who he was related to, it was as if it was an all-access pass to go to Fierce on the weekends and hang out at the pub, listen to music or eat in the restaurant.

He’d done it from time to time, but he didn’t get special treatment. If the place was packed, then it was. He waited like the rest of the family did.

The only ones that got free passes were his Aunt Jolene and Uncle Gavin. They still owned the place or a part of it. He wasn’t sure how things were set up and it wasn’t his business.

Even then, his aunt and uncle never tried to push their way in. They knew when things were busy and they waited, knowing they could go whenever they wanted.

His parents went from time to time and again, never expected any favors.

Sure, they got in or rushed back faster than someone else might, but if it couldn’t be done, no one cared and no one asked, least of all expected it.

“There are a lot of things to choose from,” he said. “As you said before, you don’t watch much TV. Why is that?”

“I like to read. I’ll watch a few shows here and there but never find time to sit and watch them nonstop. There is always something that needs to be done around the house. Errands to run. My mother likes to get out so I’m the one doing that too.”

“I get the feeling your mother doesn’t ask for much,” he said.

“No. She really doesn’t. She does like to go to the store once a week. We go when it’s not busy. Normally first thing on Saturday or Sunday morning. We ended up going last night. That wasn’t what came up though. I don’t want you to think I’d cancel a date to take my mother grocery shopping.”

“If you had to, then you did.”