“Well, Mama, maybe Charlie should ask the Lord for forgiveness. I’m fresh out.” I get the look again, but I don’t back down. “Can we talk about somethin’ else?”
She lets out a deep sigh but nods. “I was going to wait until after the Finals, but I’ve been followin’ you on the Twitter. I’ve noticed a young lady at your games that you’ve been kissin’.”
That’s it. The sentence ends, and I’m not sure if she’s asking me a question, so I stay quiet. I was going to bring this up now since she’s visiting soon, but I want to see what she says. “I notice she’s uh…” She shuts up and looks up as if she’s pondering her next words. “She’s black.”
“You noticed that, did you?” I smile at her, and she smiles back and shoos me with her hand. “What gave it away? I’m glad you brought it up because I want you to meet her when you get here. I was thinkin’ we can pick you up at the airport and take you out to dinner.”
My mother might be a country girl, but she also loves the noise and bright lights of New York City. And for someone who hardly ever ate out when we were growing up, she loves when I take her to fancy Manhattan restaurants.
She opens and closes her mouth several times. “So, it’s serious? I figured it was when your brother and I noticed she was at all the games recently.” She goes quiet again. “Are you sure about this, Colton?”
I stare into her eyes, and this time, it’s Mama who looks away. “You know I believe people should be able to be with whoever they want, regardless of color. Don’t tell Reverend Richards, but I believe even same sex couples should be together. Who am I to judge?”
I’ve always known she feels this way, so I’m not surprised by her words. “Then what is the problem?”
“I had always hoped that you and Evan would come back home once you retired. Maybe you can get a coachin’ job at Alabama, or one of those commentator jobs, but I always thought you’d be here with me and your brother.”
I decide I’m going to ignore all comments about my brother.
“Mama, New York is all Evan’s ever known, and I don’t want to raise him back home. I like it here. You can always move here with us. Or you can live here part of the year. Whatever you want, but I’m not coming back. I want to talk to you about Vickie. I think you’ll like her.”
Her eyes soften and I can tell she’s swallowed a lump in her throat.
“I really care about her.”
“Your brother said her daddy owned a chain of toy stores and her sister is with that Ethan Bradford. They managed to get themselves two rich men.” She arches her eyebrows, and for the first time in a long time, I’m losing patience with my mother.
“Yes, her father did. They are well off, and she doesn’t want or need anything from me. I’m lucky she wants to be with me, not the other way around. It took some convincin’ for her to give me a chance.”
At that she bristles. “My son doesn’t have to convince a woman to be with him. All the young women at the church are ready to meet you since you are so stubborn about Robin—"
“Mama! I’m in a relationship. Please stop talkin’ about other women who are ready and willin’. And as for Robin, there was no chance I was going to get involved with Kelsey’s sister. I don’t know what you were thinkin’.”
She closes her mouth and purses her lips. “You watch your tone, Colton. I’m still your mother.” She sighs. “Your brother warned me you’d get defensive if I said anything, but I’m your mother and I have the right to speak my mind.”
“I still don’t understand what you’re tryin’ to say. Get to the point.”
“I was sayin’, I want you to come back home, but I guess you’ve made up your mind. And of course, I’ll meet Victoria, but if I think she’s wrong for you, I’m gonna let you know it.” I open my mouth to give her a rebuke, but she holds her hand up. “And it will have nothin’ to do with her being black, so calm down. I don’t care about that. You lost your wife, may Kelsey rest in paradise. You deserve all the love and happiness in the world. And even though I don’t get a vote in who you’re with, I still want to have a good relationship with her. You, Charlie, and Evan are my world. I promise I won’t alienate her, but you can’t blame me for wantin’ you home.”
Relieved that she’s finally gotten to the point, I nod at her. She knows she has no say in who I date. I made that clear about a year after Kelsey died when I told her to drop it about me and Robin. She gave up on that, but she invited an unsuspecting member of her church over for lunch. The woman was just as surprised and embarrassed as I was.
“Thank you, Mama. I appreciate that.” And I bite my tongue and don’t tell her that I wish Charlie would stay out of my business.
“And is she good to my grandbaby?”
She’s amazing with Evan, who didn’t make it easy on her. “She is.”
“You’re a great father, Colton. You were meant to be a father, and I don’t know why the Lord in his infinite wisdom took Kelsey from us, but I’m so glad Evan has you. I hope Victoria knows what a great man she has, and I hope she shows you. You deserve that.” Her eyes fill with tears, but they don’t fall. She won’t let them, at least not in front of me. The closest I saw her come to crying in front of me since my father’s funeral was last Christmas after I punched Charlie in the face, but she ran to her room before I could see her tears.
“Thank you, Mama. I think you’ll like Vickie a lot. She’s looking forward to meetin’ you.” As much as someone looks forward to walking the plank, but Vickie is willing, and that’s all I can hope for.
After agreeing to let her cook for us on her first night here, we end the call, but only after she tells me she loves me about a dozen times.
* * *
“I never thoughtI’d see the day that Queen Vee would be nervous. And it’s all for Mama.” I put an arm around her waist and pull her closer. “You’re still short, though,” I tell her.
She does her best to push me away, but she can’t. Evan is holding her free hand, and she’s stuck to my body. To show her how powerless she is, I bend down and give her a lingering kiss on her cheek. “You look nice. You smell nice too.” It took her hours to pick out an outfit. She decided on black pants and a hot pink top. I’ve never seen her in such a feminine color, but I like it on her. She even has her hair in tight curls, giving her a nineteen-fifties look. “I can’t wait to have you naked in my bed tonight.”
