“Don’t be worried.” Cynthia snorted. “I’ve got more going on than both of you. And don’t think I’m unaware of your many ‘man friends,’ Augusta Hanover.”

Auggie winced.

“I know you two think I meddle. I don’t mean to. I respect both of you, and I realize how difficult it is to find someone special. Heck, maybe you’ll never get married.”

Xavier met his sister’s gaze and did his best not to laugh. Because when their mother turned all understanding, The Lecture was sure to follow.

“It’s fine if you never marry. Being independent and happy is just fine.”

Auggie subtly showed him two fingers near her plate. Yep. Two fines. There would be many more before The Lecture ended.

“Auggie, honey, the only reason I harp on starting a family with you so much is that the older you get, the more chances you have for a difficult pregnancy or problems with the baby. It’s simple biology. But I do want you to know it’s fine with me if you choose not to have children. I mean, it would be a shame, all your smarts and skills ending with you, not passed along to future generations. But it’s fine.”

She turned to Xavier. “And you. All that brain, that handsome smile and compassion, all of your fine qualities ending with you. You’re thirty-two, Xavier. I just don’t understand why...”

He let her words run over him while he continued to enjoy her delectable cooking, nodding or vocalizing his agreement at the appropriate times.

The Lecture ended with a whopping twenty-two fines. More than the last time.

After she’d wound down, Auggie cleared her throat. Before his sister could cut in and ruin the perfect setup for his lead-in, he kicked her under the table.

“Ow.”

Cynthia frowned. “What’s wrong, Auggie?”

Xavier answered instead. “Mom, I really do understand everything you’re saying.” His thoughts turned to Justine. Hadn’t they just had this conversation about interfering though well-meaning parents? “Both Auggie and I were just talking about relationships the other day. We’re trying to center ourselves, to make sure when we commit, we can give our hundred percent, because we’re happy and healthy first.”

“Makes sense.” Cynthia started eating, and he knew the worst has passed.

Auggie gave a quiet sigh, relieved as well.

“Right. But there’s something I think you’re missing.” He paused for effect. “You.”

“What? Me?”

“Yes, you. You’ve spent a lot of years making everyone else happy. It’s time you looked out for you. We talk a lot about being healthy and positive. You’ve got so much to give, why not try dating again? Noel’s gone.” And good riddance. “Don’t you think it’s time you gave the dating world another try?”

She blinked. “Really?”

“Yes. You’re only fifty-one. That’s young,” Auggie said.

“Fifty-two,” Cynthia murmured. “But, well, I don’t know. Breaking up with Noel was hard.”

“Yet that relationship showed you that you enjoy being with a partner. Noel might not have been the right one, but he wasn’t a mistake.” He said that more for his sister’s benefit than their mother’s. He hadn’t liked Noel at all, but Auggie had loathed the selfish, condescending jackass.