Dinner was good, I said. Ive never had homemade mayonnaise before. And your mother is welcome to invite whomever she wishes to dinnerespecially if she is cooking it.
Jesse sat up and tossed her pencil on the bed. She wiped her eyes.
You know , she said hotly. You understand people, Mercy. You know how power worksIve seen you with the pack. Why did you let her take control without even fighting back?
I sat down on the bed beside her without touching her and let air out in a huff. With the air I gave up my night of rolling in my spite. For Jesse, I could be a better person right now.
Your mom is scared, I said honestly. She invited this handsome prince into her life and now a man is dead because of it. She had to ask for help from your father after shed told the world she didnt need him. She had to come here, to the home she built, and know that it isnt hers anymore, that Ive taken her place.
She chose that, Jesse all but hissed.
I patted her leg. Yes, she did. That makes it hurt more rather than less. I gave her a rueful smile. I always hate having to relive my mistakes, I dont know about you. Jesses expression eased, so I continued to defend Christy. Shes scaredashamed of how she left both of you, ashamed of how poorly shes filled the role of being your mother. So shes trying to control something. She knows cooking, knows shes good at it.
And you let her do it, Jesse said slowly. Because you feel sorry for her?
I nodded, glad that she couldnt tell if I lied or not. Then I heaved a sigh because I tried not to lie to Jesse any more than I lied to her father. I might make exceptions in the case of their safety, but never just to make myself look better.
Thats part of it, I said. Id like to think that it was the biggest part of it because
that makes me look better. Confident even. But part of it is also thiscan you see me trying to compete with your mother in the kitchen while shes at her Suzy Homemaker best? Id just look stupidand thats what she was prepared for.
You gave up control of the house to her, Jesse said as if it were a terrible and wrong thing. And couldnt get it back?
I snorted. You obviously grew up in a werewolf pack, kid. Werewolves dont know everything. Giving her power down there did not hurt mine. This is not her home, and a dozen gourmet dinners arent going to change that. If she is scared and needs to feel in control over dinner, I can give her that because I dont have a creep chasing after me. Ultimately, she cannot take over this house because it belongs to your father, and he is mine.
Give her an inch, and shell take a mile, warned Jesse.
I nodded. That may be. But it will be okay; your mother is a good person.
Jesse snorted.
Shes a good person. She loves you. I closed my eyes because I didnt want to say the next bit very much. She even loves your father still. I could see it in her body language. Shes a good person, but she is a weak person, too. She cant take care of anyone else because shes too busy taking care of herself. I yawned, and Jesse nudged me.
Go to bed, Mercy, she said with a smile.
I got up and stretched. We good? I asked.
She nodded. Were good.
Adam was holding the wall up outside Jesses bedroom when I opened the door.
Good night, Jesse, he said. Your mom is already in bed.
Night, Dad, Jesse said, dumping the stuff on her bed on the floor with all the other Jesse debris. Turn out my light, okay?
I hit the switch and shut the door.
How long have you been there?
He put his warm hand on the back of my neck and hauled me to our bedroom.
Long enough to hear you defend Christy to Jesseso, might I add, did Christy. I sent her to bed after you called her a Suzy Homemaker because she took offense at that.
I shut our door, closing us in away from Christy. If she heard something she didnt want to tonight, it was her own fault. I turned around, and Adam leaned against me, pushing me backward until the wall pressed into my shoulder blades.
You are the opposite of Christy, he told me seriously.
I raised my eyebrows. You dont think Id ask for help if I acquired a stalker?
His hard belly vibrated against mine as he laughed silently. Maybe. Just maybe, and only if you thought someone else might be at risk. But I wasnt talking about that. He kissed me until the pulse in my neck jumped against his thumb. Shes too busy taking care of herself to take care of anyone else, you said. Thats about the best description of Christy Ive ever heard. You? You are too busy taking care of everyone else to take care of yourself.
He kissed me again, then put his head down to whisper in my ear. I like your way better. And then he nipped my ear and slapped my hip lightly and stepped away.
Morning comes early, he said lightly. Lets get some sleep.
Adam, I said quietly, hoping Christy couldnt hear. That whole spiel I told Jesse about why I didnt set Christy on her ear tonight? I thought that up later. At the time, the real reason was the second one I admitted to, that I couldnt do it without looking like a vindictive, insecure witch.