Chapter 156
Chapter 156
“Alright” Ma bustled over with a platter heaped with herb crusted roast pork on a bed of roasted vegetables emothered in por dy tr at the center of the table. Everyone sit. Dinner’s ready p>
As they took their places–Amos finally free of his ankle weights–Ma dished everyone’s plates up and finally took her must erat at the end
“Than you for this, Mrs. Vargas,” Amos said. “It looks excellent ”
Ma acknowledged that with an impatient gesture. “Don’t let it get cold, then p>
Chloe watched out of the corner of her eye as Amos cut a piece of pork and put it into his mouth. He chewed and swallowed. “Amazing,” he declared.
Always susceptible to praise for her cooking. Ma gave Amos her first real smile of the night. “Well, there’s plenty, so have your fill”
When she’d called him to tell him he had to come over for dinner, Chloe had suggested that they tell her mother that Amos had some kind of gastro–intestinal disorder. But he’d told her not to bother. He could eat food, he just didn’t like to. It tasted like nothing and did nothing for him nutritionally or calorically. And until his venom broke it down, he would have a stomach ache, but it was hardly the worst thing in the world.
“Thank you,” Chloe had said softly, “for doing all this
“Chloe,” he’d replied just as softly. “There isn’t a thing
you love
She’d been overwhelmed, grateful, humbled, nervous. This love
く
wouldn’t do for you p>
SO
unlike any
she’d felt before.
“Just know that dinner with your family is hardly a great sacrifice on my part. Now, what time should I be there? ”
And now, there he sat, calmly eating a meal that would make him sick, all so he could make a good impression on Chloe’s lunatic family. After the roast, there was lemon meringue pie. Chloe tried not to wince as Ma cut a giant slice for Amos. Without even the slightest flicker of dismay, he accepted his plate and dug in.
By the end of the meal, Chloe had a tension headache, but Ma had warmed considerably to Amos, and Rob had stopped with the puffed–chest egoism. As Sarah rounded the kids up to leave, Rob shook Amos’s hand.
“Be good to my sister,” he said gruffly.
Chloe pursed her lips together, torn between annoyance and a sudden sentimental urge to hug her brother.
“Of course,” Amos answered.
Once they were gone, Amos insisted on helping Ma clean up the kitchen. She made a few cursory objections, but a few minutes later, Amos was loading plates into the dishwasher while Chloe wiped the stove down and Ma put the leftovers into containers. She insisted Amos take the leftovers and he obviously couldn’t refuse, so Chloe knew what she’d be eating for the next couple of days.
Finally, the kitchen clean, Amos followed Chloe upstairs to help her pack her essentials to take to his house. She loaded a duffel bag with as many clothes as she could manage and filled a box with all her toiletries. Amos loaded them into his car while Chloe said goodbye to her mother.
“I’m not that far away, and I’ll be over all the time, because you know I can’t give up your cooking p>
Ma looked small and tired again, and it broke Chloe’s heart to leave, but she knew she had to. She had to create her own life for herself. She had to allow herself the happiness she’d been missing for too long.
“I know, baby.” Ma wrapped her in a hug and held on for a long time. Finally, she pulled back, planting a kiss on Chloe’s cheek. “He’s a good one, your Amos. He’ll take care of you p>
Chloe swallowed, her throat suddenly tight. “Love you, Ma p>
“Love you, too.” One more kiss on the cheek, and then she was sent on her way.
11:01 O
Caught Naked By My Alpha Neighbor! Now I’m His–No Escape.
56.2%
Dur in the rat. Anos held the passenger dear for thiộc. As he did to the driver sest he font mis lis
“What’s wrong Cideo asked.
The windshield,” Amos answered, getting out of the car,
Something flat and round was tucked beneath the windshield wiper. Amos pulled it free and got back in the cẤT
“ What is it?” Chloe asked, leaning over.
Amos turned it in his hands, letting the streetlight illuminate it. It was a plastic gold medallion, with a design embossed in the top that looked like a kid playing soccer. It was scuffed and grimy, obviously long forgotten by whatever kid had originally owned it.
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