Capítulo 48: She Was Safe For Now

"I don't want to be involved at all," Eden admitted around the lump in her throat. "She never has a single nice thing to say to me. Diana is more my mother than she is. She gave birth to me and kept me fed and clothed but that was it."

Ezra momentarily abandoned the eggs to give her a tight hug. "I know. And I'm so glad you have her. I'll always be grateful to Aubrey for letting you be a part of her family when I was gone. We'll get through today and then have fun when I come up for her wedding, alright?

"All we have to do is play some games and talk to Mom while dinner is in the oven and eat all the candy I bought us and then it will be over. If she tries giving you a hard time again, I'll change the subject. I've got your back, E. No matter what."

She nodded before addressing the egg situation. "Those eggs are going to burn if you don't do something."

He yelped before letting go of her and saving them just in time. He served them up on two plates and proudly handed one to his little sister.

"Here you go. Easter eggs for you."

Eden snorted. "Somehow I don't think this is what they had in mind when they marketed the concept but thanks, Ez. It's been a while since someone cooked for me. What sort of candy did you get?"

"Starburst jellybeans, Peeps, and Jelly Belly tropical mix for my anti-chocolate little sister. You're welcome. You better share some of those Starburst ones with me though."

"You're the best!" she said fervently.

Ezra grinned at her. "I try."

After breakfast, they got dressed and headed over to their mother's one-bedroom apartment. She had downsized after Eden moved out to save money because L.A. was an expensive place to live.

To avoid any nitpicking, her hair and makeup had to be flawless. She wore a nice springy Easter dress too, making sure that the sleeves covered her tattoo because her mother hated it. Ezra dressed up fancy as well because the one thing their mother truly cared about on holidays was getting a nice picture of her children to brag about to her friends.

"We coordinated by accident," he pointed out. They were both wearing well-matched shades of blue.

"Mom will probably think we did it on purpose to please her," Eden muttered.

That might be for the best though. Anything that kept her in a good mood so she didn't go off on them.

They ended up driving to their mother's church to participate in Easter Mass and met her in the pew she always sat in. The service was a familiar one that they had heard many times and they recognized a good number of the people present from their many years going there as they grew up.

Raelynn McBride got her desired picture with her children in front of the church building and was able to show off how grown up they were to all of her friends as she had wanted. So far, things seemed to be going well.

They headed over to her place next and started playing a game of Phase Ten as she began dinner and questioned them about their lives. Oh boy. This was the part Eden had been dreading.

"I'm doing well at my new job, Mom," she said lightly. "I told you about it before. It pays $22 an hour, which is really good for a first job out of school. Once I have the three years of experience I need, I'll be able to get a salaried position. Chemistry jobs pay very well once you've been in the field a while."

"And your marriage prospects?" Raelynn demanded, not even acknowledging what she told her.

"I had a date with a software developer on Friday." Eden didn't bother expanding on that because she knew things with Owen weren't going anywhere. But it was better than saying nothing.

"Ooh, a software developer? I hear they do very well for themselves."

"Yeah, Mom. They do. I know a guy that bought himself a three-bedroom house after only working in the field for a few years."

She didn't know why she was suddenly bringing up Troy's cousin. It had popped into her head because they were talking about software developers. But come to think of it…wasn't his cousin named Jonah? She was pretty sure that was what Owen called the guy she had hit with her shoe.

Silicon Valley was a major tech hub so it could be a coincidence. There might be more than one Jonah that worked as a software developer in the area. But if there wasn't…had she seriously made an idiot of herself in front of Troy's cousin?!

Ugh, that would be even more embarrassing than this whole situation already was. She could never say anything to him about her suspicions because if he knew his best friend/roommate/brother figure thought she was a freak, his opinion of her might drop.

There was no guarantee that cousins would look alike since they shared an average of 12.5% of their DNA according to one of her classes in college. But if Shoe Guy was actually the right Jonah and they did look alike…he was incredibly attractive. Troy might be too.

Eden shook those thoughts free. This was entirely speculation and she shouldn't be thinking about it right now when on high alert against her mother.

"Is that so? Even better," Raelynn said approvingly. "Are you going to go out with him again?"

And there it was. The question that could make or break her. She needed to come up with a lie or way around this quick. "We haven't set anything yet but he does seem to be interested in me so I imagine it will happen soon."

Owen had seemed interested in her. That much was true. She actually felt kind of sorry for him because they just hadn't clicked.

"Excellent! Ezra, dear, how are Nadia's studies coming along?"

Phew! Her mother changed the subject. She was safe for now. Her heart raced the entire time poor Ezra had to endure the Inquisition though because she knew it could change back to her any time.

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