Free Teasing in Texas (At the Altar Book 10) by Kirsten Osbourne Page B

will.” He pulled out of the parking lot of his North Arlington apartment building. “Do you want to meet my mom?”
    “Now?” she asked, flipping her visor down and checking her appearance. She needed to look her best to meet his mother!
    Tony grinned over at her. “My mom’s not like that. She’s incredible.”
    “Every mom is like that! Mothers-in-law are supposed to be the worst monster known to mankind! How may siblings do you have?” she asked, quickly fishing lipstick out of her purse and applying it.
    “I’m an only. What about you? Did I ask you that?”
    “I’m an only too. Mom and Dad were older when they had me. I was an IVF baby. Groundbreaking and all that.”
    “I don’t know that I’ve ever known an IVF baby.”
    She shrugged. “I’m sure it’s not something most people talk about. Most kids probably don’t even know if they were. My mom had no problem complaining about how hard it was to have me and how grateful I should be she went through all the pain and difficulty.”
    “Oh, one of those.”
    “Yeah. What about your dad?”
    He shrugged. “He took off when I was a toddler. Said having a kid wasn’t for him.”
    “That stinks. Do you ever see him?”
    “Yeah. I found him after I graduated from college, thinking we could rekindle our relationship. I always had in my head that Mom was wrong, and he really did want me.” Tony sighed, not really wanting to talk about his father, but he needed to help her understand how different they were.
    “And?”
    Tony turned onto the street where he’d lived until he was out of high school. It was in the oldest part of town, and the houses all needed a good painting. “He was remarried and had two kids. He told me he didn’t want to upset the status quo, and he’d appreciate it if I went on my way.”
    “Really?”
    “Yeah. We had dinner first, and we talked. He told me he was glad I was doing so well, but he had nothing for me, and really didn’t need me in his life.” Tony shrugged as if it hadn’t mattered.
    “That’s really sad.” Jenni reached over and took his hand in hers as she looked at the house in front of them. It wasn’t middle class. It was much further below middle class than she’d imagined. “Let’s go meet your mom.”
    Tony got out and walked to the door, ringing the bell. When his mom came to the door, she looked excited. “So this is the new bride, is she?”
    Jenni was startled for a moment that she knew about the marriage, but then she realized he’d had no reason to hide it like she did. “It’s nice to meet you,” Jenni said softly.
    “Jenni, this is my mother, Beverly. Mom, this is Jenni.”
    “So good to meet you, Jenni!” Beverly hugged her close. “I’m so glad Tony finally found someone. I thought he’d be single forever.” She opened the door wide to invite them both in. “Can I fix you something to eat?”
    Jenni shook her head. “No, I’m not hungry.” She’d been munching on snacks the whole way, so she had no need of anything. “Tony told me about your daycare, and I think it sounds amazing. I wish you had one closer to where I work, because so many people need overnight care for their children. I’m surprised more people haven’t started centers like that.”
    “I could have used it with Tony when he was small. I had a job at a call center, which wasn’t what I wanted to do with my life, but it was good money. I got bumped onto night shift, but there was no one to watch Tony. My mom tried for a while, but it was a pain, so I ended up quitting and going to work somewhere else for half the pay.”
    “Well, I think keeping other women from having to do the same is just amazing. There are a lot of call centers up in Westlake, and it would be so nice if you were to open a branch up there.”
    Beverly laughed. “It takes a lot of funds to open two places, and I’d need someone to manage the other one. I can’t do it right now.”
    “What if you had an investor?” Jenni