Take Me in Your Arms

by Judy Lynn Hubbard

Cam shrugged. “It was just dinner.”

  “With your mother,” Derrick stressed.

  “Well, I didn’t plan it. She just showed up, and I had to invite her or she would have tanned my hide in front of Angela.” Derrick laughed heartily, and Cam joined him.

  “She wants a grandbaby.” Derrick barely got the sentence out through his laughter.

  “Well, she has one. Or one who’s like a grandchild to her, at any rate,” Cam indignantly reminded him.

  “And she loves him, but she wants a grandbaby from you.”

  “What about what I want?” Cam scowled darkly.

  “Hey, don’t kill the messenger.” Derrick held up his hands.

  “You’re just enjoying this far too much,” Cam accused his friend.

  “I am,” Derrick readily agreed. “It’s your payback for all the unsolicited advice you’ve given me over the years.”

  Cam cocked an eyebrow at him. “And how did that advice turn out for you, Senator?”

  “Great,” Derrick admitted around a chuckle. “Mama Mabel just wants you to be happy, Cam. We all do.”

  “I am happy, thank you very much, and I’ll deal with my relationship with Angela in my own way.” Cam took a needed sip of his drink. “If Mom thinks I’m going to bow to her whims, she’s got another think coming.”

  “Hey, man, stop fighting it. She’s going to get what she wants sooner or later, and you know it.” Derrick leaned back while the waiter placed their lunches on the table. “Really Cam, I don’t see the problem. You and Mama Mabel both want the same thing.”

  “I can’t let her know I want what she wants.” Cam stared at his friend in exasperation. “I’d never live that down.”

  “Oh brother!” Derrick raised his eyes heavenward and then asked, “So, how are things going with you and Angela?”

  “Pretty good.”

  Derrick frowned. “Only pretty good?”

  “Yeah.” Cam sighed heavily and elaborated, “She’s really afraid of commitment—I mean, to the point of being terrified by it. Even though we’ve slept together, she insists on clinging to the insane notion that we’re just friends.”

  Derrick placed his fork down and sat forward at Cam’s admission. “So you two have...”

  “Yes.” Cam grinned. “Several times.”

  “Well, well, well,” Derrick drawled, grinning at him like an idiot.

  “Oh, stop it!” Cam shook his head and chuckled at his best friend. “You’re worse than a teenage girl.”

  “Just enjoying watching your downfall, my friend,” Derrick teased.

  “Shut up and eat!” Cam chuckled.

  * * *

  A bright and sunshiny Saturday dawned. The high temperature was forecast to be in the low seventies. It was perfect cookout weather. Cam’s backyard was a beehive of activity. Angela, Cam, Mabel, Alesha, Derrick and D.J. were seated on benches around a table on the glassed-in patio, for D.J.’s sake.

  Angela occupied a padded bench, smiling down at D.J. while he lay in her arms, nearly asleep. She didn’t give it a second thought when Cam straddled the bench behind her, sitting until he was pressed against her back. He reached over her shoulder to touch D.J.’s tiny hand.

  “You’re very good with him, dear.” Angela looked up as Mabel smiled at her before glancing whimsically at her son. “Maybe one day...” Mabel’s words trailed off.

  Cam sighed, and Derrick, who was sitting beside Alesha, hid a laugh behind his hand.

  “Um, thank you.” Angela smiled nervously, suddenly feeling that without her knowledge, she had been auditioning for Mabel’s secret casting call for a daughter-in-law. “He’s such a good baby.”

  “He is, even though at times he has his father’s temperament,” Alesha chimed in.

  “Hey, what is that supposed to mean?” Derrick asked with fake indignation.

  “Nothing, baby.” Alesha kissed his frowning mouth. “I just mean that he’s definitely your son.”

  “Well, he’d better be,” Derrick said, and they all laughed.

  “You’ll make a wonderful mother, dear,” Mabel predicted, her attention still trained on Angela. “Have you ever thought about settling down?”

  “Well... I...” Angela swallowed hard.

  “Oh, Mom.” Cam sighed, and though Angela couldn’t see his face, she could tell from his voice that he was smiling tolerantly. “Please leave Angela alone.”

  Mabel glanced innocently from Angela to her son. “What did I do?”

  “That’s a rhetorical question, right?” Cam chuckled.

  “Let me put him down, Angie.” Alesha thankfully interrupted what Angela feared would turn into a more awkward conversation than it already was. Angela relinquished a now-sleeping D.J. to his mom. “Why don’t you come with me?”

  “I’d love to.” Angela stood, thankful for the opportunity to escape, and followed Alesha into the house. “Thanks for the save,” she whispered to Alesha as they walked away.

  “Anytime.” Alesha smiled. “Mabel does seem determined for you and Cam to make a commitment.”

  “No kidding?”

  “Well, you can’t blame her. You and Cam are good together.”

  “Alesha...”

  “I’m not saying another word.” Alesha laid D.J. down in his crib. “I think you’ve been traumatized enough for one day.”

  “True,” Angela agreed with a slight smile. “And thank you.”

  “Don’t mention it.” Alesha waited until they had exited the room before adding teasingly, “You know, if you need any help planning your wedding...”

  “Argh! You promised not another word,” Angela exclaimed, placing both hands to her head as if she was in pain. “I’m going to check on things in the kitchen.”

  “Okay, I’m sure Mabel will want to discuss china patterns with me.” Angela gave her friend a stern look, and Alesha held up her hands in defense. “Just kidding—sort of.” Alesha winked before retreating in the opposite direction, trailing tinkling laughter.

  Angela glanced heavenward and prayed, “Save me from matchmaking friends.”

  Chapter 12

  Angela stopped by the kitchen to check on the food simmering on the stovetop and to take a few more minutes to compose herself before rejoining the group. She was halfway into the room before she spotted Mabel removing some eggs from the refrigerator. Well, at least she wasn’t outside discussing china patterns with Alesha. That was a definite plus.

  “Is D.J. settled in?” Mabel asked without turning around.

  “Yes.” Angela took a breath and entered the kitchen. “That little darling is out like a light.”

  “Children can be such a joy,” Mabel said.

  “Yes, they can.”

  “I’m glad we have a moment alone.” Mabel turned to face her. “I hope I didn’t embarrass you earlier, dear.”

  “No, of course not.” Angela smiled as she told the tiny lie.

  “Are you sure?” At Angela’s nod, she chuckled and said, “I’m glad. I had to escape into the house because Cameron turned on music and insists on singing along.”

  Angela heaved a silent sigh of relief at the change in subjects and laughed at Mabel’s distasteful expression. “He has a wonderful voice. Don’t you think?”

  “You’ve heard him sing?”

  “Yes, we went out to a karaoke bar.” Angela grinned at the happy memory. “He brought the house down.”

  “I see he’s still living out his rock-star fantasy.” Mabel chuckled, and Angela smiled widely when Mabel shook her head as if she didn’t know what to do with her wayward son. “He has always loved music, though I had to practically threaten him to get him to take piano lessons.”

  “He played with a jazz band when we went out the other night.” Angela
smiled at the memory. “He’s quite musically inclined.”

  “Well, it seems like you two have really been spending a lot of quality time together,” Mabel said.

  “We’re friends, and we have a good time together,” Angela slowly admitted before turning to the stove to lift the lid off a pot.

  “Anyone watching you two can see that.” Mabel gave an approving nod. “I’m glad he’s dating you.”

  “Thank you.” Angela took longer than necessary to stir the baked beans before replacing the lid and turned to find Mabel frowning as she opened one cabinet door and then another. “What are you looking for, Mabel?”

  “The large mixing bowl.” Mabel sighed and then laughed. “Every time I come for a visit, Cameron has rearranged this kitchen. I swear he does it just to annoy me.”

  “It’s in here.” Angela walked over, opened a cabinet and pulled out a steel bowl. “Will this do?”

  “Perfect!” Mabel took the bowl with a smile. “You seem to know your way around this kitchen.”

  “Well, Cam and I cooked together once.”

  “Just once?” Mabel placed four sticks of butter in the bowl.

  “Yes, he made me breakfast.”

  “Really?” At Mabel’s wide grin, Angela realized her mistake.

  “It wasn’t really breakfast...I mean, it was, but it wasn’t in the morning. We were both hungry one night and he just...” She trailed off, unsure if her rambling explanation was hurting or helping her.

  “Just what, dear?” Mabel’s eyes lit with curiosity.

  “What are you making?” Angela hoped to divert her from the current uncomfortable topic.

  “Pound cake.” Thankfully, Mabel seemed willing to let her off the hook, at least for now.

  “My mother made a wonderful pound cake. I always wanted the recipe, but...” Angela’s voice trailed off sadly, and Mable touched her hand.

  “I’ll give you mine before I leave.”

  “I’d like that.”

  “In fact, why don’t you come and help me with this one?” Without waiting for a response, Mabel took her hand and led her over to the bowl. “You mix, and I’ll add ingredients.”

  “Okay.” Angela turned on the mixer as Mabel began adding ingredients.

  “We start by creaming a pound of room-temperature butter, and then we add two-and-a-half to three cups of sugar until smooth. If I add dried fruit or nuts, I add less sugar. Then we add six eggs, one at a time, blending each one well.” She chuckled at Angela’s widened eyes. “I know the ingredients are sinful, but we old folks believe in cooking with love, not counting calories.”

  “Nothing tastes as good as your wonderful traditional, recipes, either.” Angela smiled. “As a nurse, I know I should be more health conscious, but Cam can tell you that I love rich-tasting food.”

  “We all need to indulge once in a while.”

  “I agree.”

  “I like to add butter and lemon flavoring, more lemon than butter though.” Mabel poured some of each extract into the bowl without measuring.

  “I see you don’t measure, either.”

  “Sometimes I do, but it’s all about what looks, smells and tastes right.” Mabel replaced the bottles on the countertop. “That’s why I want you to make it with me so you’ll get the hang of it. Next we add two-and-a-half cups of flour, or thereabouts.”

  “It’s very simple.”

  “The simpler the better. Trying to be too fancy with recipes is what gets you into trouble every time.”

  Angela laughed. “That’s so true. It’s happened to me more than once.” She paused before softly saying, “I used to cook with my mother all the time.”

  “I’m sure she lived for those times, dear.” Mabel patted her shoulder comfortingly.

  “I know I did.” Angela forced herself out of her sad memory. “I’m sorry.”

  “For what?” Mabel hugged her shoulders. “I know I’m a poor substitute, but you’re welcome to cook with me anytime I’m in town.”

  “I see why Cam turned out so great.” Angela impulsively returned Mabel’s hug.

  “His father and I had our hands full with that one, but thank the Lord he did turn out pretty well—but don’t tell him I said so.” Mabel winked. Angela grinned and nodded in agreement. “When his dad passed six years ago, he knew we had raised a great son.”

  “You certainly did.” Angela placed a hand on Mabel’s arm. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  “Thank you, dear. We had a great life together, and I don’t regret a second of it. The good times get me through the pain of losing him.” Mabel touched her shoulder. “That’s what I want for Cameron—to find a good woman to share his life and start a family with.”

  Angela didn’t respond; she didn’t have to. It was clear Mabel thought she was the woman for her son, and what was more disturbing was the fact that despite her resolve to remain emotionally unattached, Angela was beginning to think so, too.

  “I think that’s mixed enough.” Mabel interrupted her introspection, took the bowl, poured its contents into a greased Bundt pan and plopped it into the oven. “Now, we’ll let that bake at three hundred twenty-five degrees for about an hour and fifteen minutes.”

  “Thank you for showing me how to make it.”

  “It was my pleasure.” Mabel kissed her cheek, warming Angela’s heart.

  “What are my two favorite ladies up to?” Cam drifted into the kitchen like a breath of fresh air.

  “Are you finished with your concert?”

  Cam chuckled at his mother’s question and glanced at Angela. “Angela likes my singing.”

  “I told Mabel I think you have a great voice,” Angela chimed in.

  “See.” Cam grinned, placing an arm around Angela’s waist.

  “I think she’s prejudiced in your favor, son.”

  “I hope so.” Cam kissed her briefly, but long enough to cause Angela’s heart to skip a few beats. “While I was performing, what were you two doing in here?”

  “Cooking and getting to know each other,” Mabel said.

  “Uh-oh, should I be concerned?”

  “Now why would you be concerned, Cameron?” Mabel placed a hand on her hip, expression indignant.

  “Everything is fine.” Angela saved him from answering. “Mabel was showing me how to make a cake.”

  “Mom, not your pound cake?” Cam’s eyes lit up expectantly.

  “You know it.”

  “Angela, wait until you taste it.” Cam rolled his eyes in appreciation. “A thousand calories a slice, but so worth it.”

  “Lord knows I don’t need the calories, but nothing’s going to keep me from that cake.”

  “I hope I can live up to all the hype.” Mabel laughed.

  “You’ve never disappointed before.” Cam kissed his mother’s cheek and then turned to Angela. “Are you done in here?”

  “Go ahead, dear. I’ll be right out once I finish the potato salad.”

  “Okay.” Angela took Cam’s hand and walked into the back yard.

  “You two looked cozy.”

  “Your mother’s great. She reminds me of happy times with my mom.” She tried to keep the melancholia out of her voice, but she wasn’t successful because Cam stopped walking as they exited the patio and stared into her eyes.

  “Hey, are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” She glanced over his shoulder. “Derrick is motioning to you.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” At her nod and smile, he kissed her lips lightly before joining Derrick at the grill. Angela walked over to sit beside Alesha, who had moved closer to the grill to sit at a wooden picnic table and bench shaded by a huge umbrella.

  “How’s everything in the kitchen?”

  “Great. Mabel’s mak
ing a decadent-looking cake.”

  “We’re in for a treat. She can really cook.” Alesha fingered Angela’s short bangs. “I love your haircut.”

  “Thanks. Why don’t you cut yours? I can give you the name of my beautician.”

  “Oh, no.” Alesha shook her head. “Not if I want to keep my marriage intact.”

  “It’s your hair.” Angela laughed. “Isn’t it?”

  “Yes, but I would traumatize Derrick if I cut it. He loves to play with it, and he says there’s nothing like the feel of it sliding across his naked body.”

  “Alesha!”

  “What?” Alesha glanced at Derrick and smiled suggestively. “You’d be amazed at the things I can do with my hair that drive him wild.”

  “Where is my shy little friend?” Angela wondered aloud.

  “She married a sexy, virile man who opened up a world of possibilities to her.” Alesha winked.

  “So I see.”

  “What about Cam?” Alesha’s smile widened when Angela choked on her soda.

  “What about him?” Angela set her drink down on the table.

  “Does he measure up in bed?”

  “I wouldn’t know.” Angela glanced around, praying no one was listening to their uncomfortable conversation. Cam and Derrick seemed engrossed in tending to the grill, and Mabel was still in the house.

  “Please, Angie.” Alesha gave her a knowing look. “Don’t even try to deny you’ve slept with him.”

  “I’m not going to discuss this with you—especially not here.” She gave her friend a stern look.

  “No one’s paying any attention to us,” Alesha admonished. “Come on, I’m your best friend, and I seem to recall your being very curious about Derrick and me.”

  “Okay.” Angie sighed in surrender and whispered, “He’s very capable. Satisfied?”

  “The question is, does he satisfy you?”

  Angela’s eyes widened, and Alesha laughed. “Alesha!”

  “So despite your denials, things are serious between you two?”

  “We’re just...”

  “Friends?”

  “With benefits.” Angela winced at how cheesy that sounded, and Alesha’s raised eyebrow informed her she wasn’t buying it, either.