Chapter 453

• The food is amazing—creamy tomato and spinach gnocchi. It’s light, fluffy, and as delectable as his mother’s company. The three of us sit and fill our stomachs with the beautifully made dish and lots of crispy bread. She’s easy to relax around with Jake’s same chilled personality and easy, joking manner, the same social ability to chat and carry on the conversation. The two of them are so alike it’s almost alarming. Jake was right. I feel better being here. His mother is like a soothing balm with endless cheeky jibes and a loving nature. She exudes the same laid-back confidence that Jake oozes, and it’s obvious they are very close.
• Soon the conversation turns to Sophie and his mother’s work with abused children, and I start to feel uncomfortable. Jake had admitted that during our separation period, he’d spoken to his mother about me, about us, and some of what he’d known about my past, trying to gain a little insight into why I was the way I was. She doesn’t seem the type to pry, but when the conversation pushes along this line, I’m ready to close down and blank them both out. Jake seems to sense my change, looks at me, grabs my hand, and pulls it to him quickly.
• “Mamma, I’m going to take Emma around the grounds and show her this place, maybe take her on a house tour too.” His eyes meet mine, holding so much gentleness that it makes me smile and relax again.