On the other end of the line, Irene suddenly crooned the tone of her voice becoming sing-songy. ‘I see that. Your Aunt Helen just forwarded something she saw online that would make any mother proud.’

Ward bit his tongue, recognizing the not-so-subtle dig.

As if rising to the ranks of a pro hockey player was something to be looked down upon – like it hadn’t required determination, commitment, and yes, even talent. It wasn’t like Ward skated in a beer league, for Chrissake. Or was some overweight has-been, trying to hold on to his high school glory days.

As if Irene too had not been elevated beyond her previous station in life as a low-income single mom because of his success. Ward had already ensured that she’d have it easier financially as she got older. And yet she still insisted on making calls like this – all to make him purposely feel shit about himself.

Though as to why a shot of him holding a bunch of kittens should put her nose out of joint he didn’t understand. But he had never in his life understood Irene’s thought process, so, hey.

‘What – so you’re reduced to soft porn now?’

Huh? Ward felt his grip on the phone tighten and he had the sudden desire to break the damn thing in half just to end his mother’s torment. He inhaled deeply, counting to four before exhaling. ‘It was fun,’ he said evenly, doing his damnedest not to take the bait. ‘I actually ended up saving a stray that was about to be destroyed and …’

She ignored him. ‘Oh, you mean the animal shelter thing. I know you certainly didn’t come up with that crap. So who did?’

Completely confused by the direction the conversation had taken, (to say nothing as to how the ‘porn’ thing came into it), Ward’s brain hurt. Regardless, he knew that if he mentioned to Irene that he was working with a publicist to improve his reputation, his mother would pee all over it.

But then how did he describe Hannah, if not for the fact that she was his rep? And yes, it was her job to improve his reputation. A task that she seemed to have embraced wholeheartedly.

Despite his annoyance at her sharing the kittens’ pic, Ward couldn’t deny the level of consideration she had given him thus far, nor the time and effort. The continuous words of encouragement too, even as he wanted to tear the whole experience apart.

Something his mother was attempting to do right now with her not-so-subtle insults and backhanded compliments.

Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, huh?

But Ward decided he wasn’t going to allow Irene to trash Hannah’s good work on his behalf. Before he could think further about it he answered simply, ‘A friend. A friend of mine arranged it. And she did a good job.’