“What’s the problem?” her mother asked.
“We’re looking at the old band camp, but it’s currently owned by JW Properties and I doubt we could meet their current asking price.” Tapping the table, she said, “I also doubt the place is worth the price they’ve put on it.”
“That’s Jebediah’s business.”
“Yes, it is. And according to . . .” Haleigh had yet to tell her mother about the new man in her life, and considering how far they’d come today, this was not the time to broach the subject. “According to a friend, the mayor is unlikely to negotiate.”
Crossing her arms, Meredith said, “I’ll handle Jebediah.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said I’ll handle him.” She flashed the arriving waitress an uncharacteristically friendly smile. “Now let’s eat.”
“She said she’d handle him?” Cooper asked from the pantry.
Since Haleigh had worked the night shift, they were having this conversation over breakfast.
“That’s exactly what she said. She even smiled at the waitress.” Haleigh blew across the top of her coffee. “It was creepy.”
“Let me get this straight,” he said, pouring cereal into a bowl. “Your mother is now going to be involved in launching this women’s shelter, and you’re good with that?”
“Crazy as it sounds, it was my idea,” she admitted. “Turns out she has a degree in social work. She hasn’t used it in thirty years, and I didn’t even know she had it, but she admitted that she’s tried to find a job and no one will hire her.”
Cooper was unaccustomed to hearing about positive encounters between Haleigh and her mom. The change gave him hope that his potential mother-in-law might actually stop torturing the woman he planned to marry.
Pouring the milk, he said, “I can’t imagine trying to find work after thirty years out of a field.”
“I have no doubt she’s brilliant,” Haleigh assured him. “With Meredith Mitchner at the helm, we’d have the most efficient and well-run shelter in the state.”
The sudden praise seemed misplaced. Or at the least, unearned.
“Playing devil’s advocate here,” he said, “wouldn’t working with her drive you crazy?”
“Oh, I have no intention of working with her.”
“You just said she’s going to help you start the shelter. How is that not working together?”
Lifting one delicate brow, she said, “You underestimate me, my hunky boy toy. Once Mother gets her hooks in, I’m out and she’s all Carrie’s problem.”
“That’s just mean,” he laughed. Poor Carrie. She had no idea what was coming. “But how does this solve the money issue?”
“Right.” Haleigh dropped into a kitchen chair. “I didn’t quite resolve that one. We made more progress during this lunch than has been accomplished in the last fifteen years. Riding the high of unexpected approval, I decided not to push my luck.”
Secretly relieved there would be no immediate apartment hunting, Cooper said, “Half your clothes are here already. I could have the rest moved in before you get off work tomorrow morning.”
Setting the coffee mug on the table, she sighed. “You know that I love you. And we both know I’ll move in here eventually. However, I need to stand on my own. At least for a while. If for nothing else, to prove to myself that I can do it.”
Not completely what he wanted to hear, but the eventually part helped.
“Okay, darling. Let me know when you figure it out, and I’ll have the truck ready and standing by.” After dropping a kiss on the top of her head, he asked, “Do you want me to go with you the next time? When she amps the manipulation, you might want backup.”
“No,” Haleigh said a little too quickly. “I mean, no, thank you. Sweet of you to offer, though.”
Sweet had not been his intention. The woman was the source of nearly all Haleigh’s triggers. She shouldn’t be charging into that battle on her own. Plus, at some point, they needed to have an official meet-the-parent dinner. Not that he and Mrs. Mitchner didn’t know each other, but they’d certainly never met as potential relatives.
“I’m here if you need me. You know that, right?”
“I do.” She nodded. “Which is a big reason I’m able to do this now.”
Amazed at the turn his life had taken, Cooper couldn’t help but smile at the beautiful woman sitting in his kitchen. That she was his boggled the mind.
“My cereal is getting soggy, and you need to sleep.” He bent to give her a quick kiss, lingering longer than intended. Pressing his forehead to hers, he said, “I love you, Haleigh Rae.”