Free Kissing Comfort by Jo Goodman

said.”
    Bode returned her smile. The fire crackled beside Alexandra and light flickered in her hair, accenting the deep red color more beautifully than the rosebuds had. His mother deserved to be happy. Wasn’t that what Comfort said to him this evening?
    â€œAre you happy, Mother?”
    Alexandra did not mask her surprise. “What an odd question. Did you take a blow to the back of your head?”
    â€œNo,” he said. Because she looked as if she might get up and verify his denial for herself, Bode put a hand to the base of his skull and rubbed hard. He managed not to grimace. “I swear it, no.” He watched his mother deflate slightly and ease back into her chair. “It’s not an unreasonable question, you know. Are you happy?”
    â€œAre you living at home?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œThere is your answer.”
    He sighed. “Your happiness cannot be dependent on that.”
    â€œWho says? Show me where it’s written.”
    â€œNow who is pretending to be obtuse?”
    She returned his stare pointedly.
    â€œMe?” he said. “You think I don’t understand?”
    â€œI know you don’t. You’re not a parent.”
    â€œHow does one explain Father? His happiness never depended on the choices his sons made.”
    â€œNothing explains your father. He sired you. He was not a parent. And I would challenge your assertion that he was happy.” Diamonds glittered as she waved one hand dismissively. “But all that aside, it remains a truth that raising my sons is my singular achievement. If I want to rest my happiness on their choices, then that is my prerogative.”
    â€œGod, but I wish you’d had half a dozen children. Your happiness is a considerable burden for two sons to shoulder.”
    â€œTwo sons. Four shoulders. It seems adequate, if only you and Bram would share it evenly.”
    Groaning softly, Bode closed his good eye and let his head thump against the back of the chaise. The contusion at the base of his skull throbbed. He shouldn’t have rubbed it quite so hard. He picked up the covered icepack Travers left for him and held it over his shiner.
    â€œBram seems to be doing his part to help,” he said.
    â€œYou mean his engagement?”
    Bode turned his head a fraction and risked a narrow glance at her. “Has he done something else?”
    â€œThat will always be a question, won’t it?” Her rueful smile said she accepted it. “But, yes, I’m pleased with his announcement and his choice.”
    â€œHis timing?”
    â€œIt was unexpected, I grant you that. I think if you had arrived on time, he would have chosen another venue to make the engagement public, but a celebration had been planned, and he saw an opportunity to give our guests something else to talk about besides your absence.”
    â€œThen perhaps I should have apologized for showing up at all.”
    â€œNonsense.”
    â€œI was being facetious, Mother.”
    â€œOh. I don’t usually miss that. I must be more tired than I thought.” As if to underscore her point, she yawned abruptly. “Well, there you have it. I’m going to bed. I’ll send Travers back to assist you with your nightclothes. Do you mean to sleep on the chaise?”
    â€œYes. I think I will.”
    â€œWhatever is most comfortable,” she said, coming to her feet. She approached the chaise and bent to kiss him. His forehead was cool beneath her lips, and she looked to the icepack as the cause. “Sleep well, but make sure Travers leaves a bell with you so that you can call for help if you need it.”
    â€œI shall,” he said dutifully.
    Straightening, Alexandra gave Bode one last head-to-toe study. “I cannot understand how the collapse of a stack of boxes and barrels simultaneously injured you at the front and the back.”
    Because it seemed as if she didn’t expect an answer, Bode didn’t