SKYFALL, Johnny Kavanagh

Motherly interventions

Maeve's Point of View

The first thing I became aware of was warmth.

Not just the warmth of the blanket still draped over me, but something solid.
Something steady.
Something I shouldn't have been leaning against.

Johnny.

My stomach dipped.

Somehow, at some point in the night, I'd ended up curled against him.
My head was resting on his chest, his arm stretched along the back of the couch, close but not quite touching me.

I stayed very, very still.
Then–
Click.

I frowned.

Then it happened again.
Click.
A camera shutter.

Johnny stirred beneath me, his breathing hitching slightly before his whole body tensed.
His voice was thick with sleep when he muttered. "What the fuck?"

I sat up quickly, nearly knocking heads with him in the process.
He blinked blearily at me, then turned toward the source of the sound.
Standing in the doorway, camera in hand, was a tall blonde woman with a wide grin on her face.

"Oh, don't stop now." She teased, lowering the camera. "You two looked adorable."

Panic spiked through me.
Because I knew exactly who this had to be.
Edel Kavanagh.
Johnny's mother.

And she'd just caught us in what probably looked like a much more compromising position than it was.

Johnny groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Jesus Christ."

Edel raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. "Not quite, love."

Johnny exhaled sharply. "Ma, what are you doing here?"

She smiled sweetly. "Well, I do live here."

He gave her a flat look. "You weren't supposed to be back until Thursday."

Edel waved a hand like it was nothing. "Oh, plans changed."
Then she turned back to me, her brown eyes twinkling. "And thank God for that, or I wouldn't have walked in on this lovely surprise."

I could feel my face burning.
Johnny muttered something under his breath.

Edel ignored him entirely. "And who might you be, sweetheart?"

I swallowed.

"She's Maeve." Johnny cut in before I could even think of an answer. "We were working on a project. She stayed over."

Edel's eyebrows lifted slightly, like that wasn't the answer she was expecting.

Then, after a beat, she grinned.

"A project." Her lips twitched. "How studious of you."

Johnny groaned again.

Edel turned back to me, all warmth and curiosity. "Well, Maeve, it's lovely to meet you." Then, in a voice dripping with amusement, she added. "You are the first girl Johnny's ever brought home."

I blinked.
Johnny froze.

"Oh, for fuck's sake." He muttered under his breath.

Edel gasped, clutching her chest. "Jonathon Kavanagh! Language."

Johnny shot her a look.
I tried not to laugh.

Edel turned back to me, clearly enjoying herself. "I do hope my son was a good host and didn't let you starve."