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It was Lynn’s turn to stare, this time at Benjamin. Why did he look so upset?
She suddenly realized how little she knew about his life away from the hockey rink. They’d talked mostly about his career the night he’d come for dinner. Had he avoided mentioning his family on purpose? She assumed his parents were both alive, so did that mean—
Was he implying his mother was having an affair?
“Maybe it’s a business dinner?” Even as she suggested it, she knew she was wrong. The scene her fleeting glimpse had revealed was vivid in her mind—the woman feeding the man from her fork, her free hand linked with his on the table, their heads tipped together.
“It’s not.” Benjamin rubbed a finger up and down the bridge of his nose, pressing so hard his skin went white before the blood rushed back in. “My mother no longer works. And she doesn’t volunteer for any organizations, either.”
She ignored the urge to turn and get a better look at the couple. “Maybe you should go say hi, then. Find out who he is.”
“I suppose.” His expression was more than reluctant. His pinched mouth and narrowed eyes implied dread and distaste.
“Do you and your mother”—she searched for a delicate way to put it—“not get along?”
“We don’t not get along.” As she untangled that, he focused on her fully for the first time since they’d sat down. “When you and I met at the bar, we didn’t talk much. About personal stuff.”
It wouldn’t help matters to point out they still didn’t. “No. Things moved pretty fast between us.” Her emotions that night had centred around resentment toward Lance, irritation she’d wasted so much time on him, and a growing conviction that she was going to take matters regarding becoming a mother into her own hands. “I’d never done that before. Hooked up with a guy for one night.”
“I remember you saying so. I even believed you.” Amusement lightened the gloom in his face. “I’m afraid I can’t say the same. Even for a fourth line player like me, being part of an NHL team meant women were easy to come by.”
“You weren’t playing any more by the time we met. Not that I knew about your past, of course. All you said was that you’d been in town for a few days and were leaving in the morning.”
“I saw you across the bar and it was like no one else was there. I had to talk to you. I didn’t think it would go as far—or as fast—as it did, though.”
“Me, neither.” The attraction between them had been instantaneous. On Lynn’s side, she’d seen a chance to have a final fling before settling into the serious business of getting pregnant. She hadn’t considered Benjamin’s intentions. Was it possible he’d also had a reason more complicated than explosive sex?
“I was in town because—”
The server appeared, but upon learning they hadn’t made any decisions yet, told them to take their time and faded away.
Benjamin drew in a deep breath. He put his menu to one side and gripped his hands together, pressing his forearms into the table. “I was in town for my father’s funeral. He died of a heart attack. We’d buried him the day before.”
“I’m so sorry.” She stretched across and laid her hands on his, feeling the tension in his fists. “I wish I’d known.”
“Do you?” His lids flickered. “If you’d known I’d come almost directly from my father’s grave to the bar, would you have given me a second look? What kind of son does that?”
“One who is working his way through his grief his own way. One who is seeking comfort in living his life fully.”
“You give me too much credit.” The bitterness in his tone made her heart ache. “Anyway, that’s all a very long explanation for my reaction tonight. My mother is dating again, and she didn’t tell me.”
“Maybe it’s a first date? Maybe she hasn’t had a chance to mention it?”
His gaze flicked over her shoulder. “I doubt this is the first time they’ve met.”
His dry tone encouraged her to risk another quick glance.
She shouldn’t have worried the couple would notice. They were staring into each other’s eyes as if they were alone in the room. Benjamin’s mother leaned toward the man and Lynn saw her in profile. She recognized the strong arch of her nose and curve of her jaw. Her almost black hair with its silver streaks was tucked behind her ear and swept in a smooth fall to her shoulder.
She turned backed to Benjamin. “Okay, it’s a date. But it’s been more than two years since your father died.”
“It’s not that. Not only that, anyway.” He shifted in his seat and toyed with his silverware. “One of the reasons I was excited to accept the coaching job here was it would give me a chance to reconnect with my mom. It didn’t start out well, because she had to go look after her sister for several weeks shortly after I came back. But once she returned, I thought it would get better. It hasn’t. I blamed myself for not trying hard enough, but now I think of it, my mom turned down several chances to get together. Was it because of this guy, whoever he is?”
His voice grew stronger as he worked his way through his thoughts, and anger replaced the dismay in his eyes.
“Settle down, cowboy. Your mother is a grown woman with a life of her own. She doesn’t have to get your approval on who she sees.”
“Of course not. But she could have been honest with me, instead of hiding him.”
For a moment she thought he was going to shove back his chair and confront his parent right then and there. It wasn’t her place to intervene so she held her breath and watched him warily. As quickly as it flared, his temper dampened.
“I’m sorry.” His smile was rueful. “I’m sure this isn’t what you were expecting tonight.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s not like you planned to run into your mother.”
“No.” He closed his eyes, drew in a breath through his nose, and opened his eyes. “There’s no way to avoid them. She hasn’t seen me yet, but she will sooner or later. It’s probably best if I go say hi, civilly and calmly.”
“I agree.”
He remained rooted in his seat.
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BENJAMIN WONDERED IF he was overreacting to the situation. If he was, he couldn’t help it. The sight of his mother in an overtly romantic situation with someone other than his father caused his gut to roil with a bubbling stew of resentment and happiness, sorrow and surprise.
Thank god Lynn seemed to be taking it in stride. Her expression was sincere and sympathetic, and she didn’t appear to think he was being a jerk. Though she certainly wasn’t letting him feel too sorry for himself. Right now, she was waiting patiently yet expectantly for him to make a move.
He stood up, his knees watery with nerves. “Will you come with me? I could use the moral support.”
“Of course.” She pushed back her chair and took his hand. “I’ve got your back. Let’s go.”
I’ve got your back. The simple, casual statement stiffened his resolve and made it so much easier to take the first step. Of course, if she knew the whole story behind his father’s heart attack, knew that Benjamin had been the one to precipitate it, she’d think differently.
Which was one reason he would never tell her the truth.
Clutching Lynn’s hand, he led her toward his mother.
Her grief at her husband’s death had been deep and profound. Benjamin didn’t doubt that for an instant.
He was the last person who should be upset she had found love again. After all, she wasn’t yet sixty and had decades of life to live. He couldn’t expect her to live those years alone.
But he kind of did.
As curious as he was about her companion, he didn’t take his eyes off his mother. He drifted to a stop beside the table, Lynn’s grip anchoring him as she stood just behind his shoulder.
Finally distracted from her date, his mother looked up with a smile that froze when she realized who was standing at her side. “Benjamin! What are you doing here?”
He bit back a snarky I could ask the same of you. “I’m on a date. This is Lynn Kolmyn. Lynn, my mother Thea Whitestone.” He refrained from looking at the man sharing his mother’s table.
“Lovely to meet you, Mrs. Whitestone.” Lynn shook his mother’s hand without releasing her clasp on his.
“And you.” Red flags bloomed on her cheeks and her eyes darted from Lynn to Benjamin to the as-yet-unnamed man and back again. “Kelly, this is my son Benjamin.”
Kelly stood up and extended his hand. “Kelly Jarmin. Thea has told me a lot about you.”
“Mr. Jarmin.” Benjamin squeezed his hand firmly, not in challenge, but in warning. Of what, he wasn’t exactly sure. He just knew the other man made his hackles rise.
“Call me Kelly.” Jarmin smiled at Lynn and shook her hand as well. He was about Benjamin’s height and his thick grey hair swept back from a sharp widow’s peak. He didn’t even have the grace to be going bald. Neither did he have a paunch or jowls. In fact, he looked disgustingly fit for a man his age.
“Would you care to join us?” He indicated the two empty seats at their table.
“Yes, please do.” Thea seemed to have recovered her poise though she was having trouble meeting his eyes.
“No, thank you.” Benjamin didn’t have to think twice. In fact, he couldn’t think of anything more excruciating than making small talk with his mother and this Kelly. Maybe having his toenails pulled out without anesthetic. “We’ll leave you two alone. Could I come by tomorrow afternoon, though? I haven’t seen much of you lately.”
She gave a dignified nod, a flicker of her eyelids revealing she understood what he hadn’t said.
“Have a lovely dinner.” Lynn stepped back, gently tugging his hand.
“Yes.” It was difficult, but he kept his tone agreeable. “Have a lovely dinner. See you tomorrow, Mom.”
At their table, the server was hovering. Benjamin quickly scanned the menu, decided he had little appetite, and chose steak and potatoes by reflex. He also ordered a bottle of wine after a brief consultation with Lynn.
“How are you doing?” She rested her elbows on the table, intertwined her fingers, and propped her chin on her hands.
“I’m sorry. Tonight is turning into a disaster.” The waiter returned with their wine and nothing more was said until he left.
“I wouldn’t say disaster,” Lynn said judiciously. “Odd and uncomfortable, perhaps. But you’ll talk with your mother tomorrow and get everything straightened out. For now, can we put that aside and start again?”
“I would love to.” He didn’t deserve her understanding, but he would accept it gratefully. He raised his glass. “To new beginnings.”
“New beginnings.” The crystal chimed and she sipped. “Did I tell you what Oscar did yesterday?”