Page 16 of The Attraction
“Well, if you called her more often, she wouldn’t need an excuse to ring you.” It’s something I’m constantly reminding him, that they are getting older and we should be checking in on them more. But it shouldn’t have to be me all the time. I carried the load for the fifteen years he was in Australia working, so he could at least share the responsibility now.
“Just be thankful they don’t live close by, otherwise she would be here on your doorstop in ten minutes flat.” He chuckles as he starts down the hallway to the spare room as well. I can feel my phone vibrating in my pocket, stopping, then starting up again. Pulling it out, I see Mum has already called three times, one after the other. Sending her a message is the only way to stop this.
Forrest: Ignore Flynn, Mum. He thinks he’s funny, but he’s not. I have Harper, who is Felisha’s best friend, just staying in my spare room for a few days. There is nothing to it.
As I shove my phone in my pocket and head down to the room with the last suitcase, I feel a message notification on my phone in my pocket. I know it will be Mum because it would have taken her that long to type it out.
Mum: You said you were getting a delivery, but you didn’t say it was a girl. I love Harper and she is perfect for you. I think I need to come for dinner.
“For fuck’s sake, I’m going to kill you,” I say, looking at Flynn who is smirking, knowing it will have been from Mum, so I say my reply out loud as I type it. “Sure, Mum, Flynn said he and Felisha will join us too. He will cook for us. I’ll be in touch with a date. Bye.”
“What have you done?” He is glaring at me now.
“Checkmate, little brother. The four of us are now having the pleasure of dinner with Mum and Dad, here, and you get to play chef again.”
“Oh, touché, I will give you credit for that move.” Flynn starts laughing now.
“Ummm, so why did we get dragged into this? They aren’t our parents,” Harper grumbles, clearly still in a pissed-off mood.
“Call it payback for the punishment you are about to inflict on me. Besides, they are Felisha’s future in-laws, so she has no choice.” I lean against the doorjamb.
“You two boys are awful. I’ve met Maurice and Marion, and they are so sweet. Your mother just wants her sons to be happy and loved. So, I will happily have dinner with her anytime. And if she wants to be involved in the wedding, I’m sure we can find her a little job that will make her feel important, can’t we, Harper?” Felisha is trying to lighten the mood in the room.
“Sure. I mean, unlike her son, she is lovely and so approachable. I did wonder where he came from actually, because after meeting his parents, they are nothing alike.” She’s staring at me with her hand on her hip and her head tilted a little as if to say,come on, what’s your reply to that?But I’m smarter than to piss her off any further than she already is today. If she wants to project all her anger at me for what she has been told today, I’m strong enough to take it.
That’s what I’ve signed up for. To protect her, keep her safe, but also to be someone she can lean on until we get her through it.
“Beautiful, be careful what you wish for here.” Flynn walks up behind Felisha and wraps his arms around the front of her, kissing her on the top of her head. “You might earn the title of bridezilla when the time comes, and that’s perfectly okay, but my mother will become your worst nightmare by getting in the road and constantly fussing.”
“So, you will put up with me being a crazy woman but won’t give your mother a little bit of leeway? I hate to tell you but out of the two mothers, I will take bets that mine will be ten times worse. It’s why I have taken the organization out of Harper’s hands, and she will just be overseeing the wedding planner, who I’m sure I’m going to have to pay a lot of money to cope with it all. Especially now that this has all blown up today. It’s the last thing Harper needs to be worrying about.”
Looking around the room, everyone looks tired, and I know the stress has gotten to all of us today.
“Well, I’m sure we can debate whose mother is the worst after we have that dinner, but for tonight, why don’t we let Harper settle in. Make sure to set up her dartboard on the back of this door with my picture in the middle of it so she can take out her annoyance of being in my presence in a more constructive way than maybe using my kitchen knives.” And although it was only there for a second, there was the slightest hint of a smile on her face.
Flynn laughs. “Wow, your jokes are improving. Have you been reading a few joke books in your spare time?”
“Time to leave. I’ve hit my Flynn quota for today.” I hike my thumb over my shoulder at the door.
“Yeah, yeah, I get when I’m not welcome anymore,” Flynn replies as I’ve already turned and am heading back toward the front door with him following closely behind me.
Felisha has stayed behind with Harper for a moment.
As Flynn and I stand looking at each other, the joking from a minute ago is gone, and he looks at me seriously.
“Watch out for her, Forrest, she’s more fragile than we realize.” And I can see the care and compassion in his eyes.
“I know, and as much as we butt heads, I care about her and won’t let anything happen on my watch. She doesn’t understand why I brought her here yet, but she will. Hating me will be the best distraction she has to stop her thinking about the outside world.” And I can tell he totally appreciates my motives.
But then he shocks the hell out of me with his reply.
“Keep telling yourself that, Brother. You care way more about her than you are prepared to admit to yourself. But I’ve been there, and eventually those walls will break. And when they do, I can tell you it’s the best thing that will happen to you.”
For the first time in my life, I feel like Flynn truly sees me deep down behind all the facades that I have up.
Taking a breath, I reply the only way I know how to. “My walls aren’t the problem.”
The sound of the girls coming out of the bedroom puts an end to the discussion, and I’m grateful because this is not a discussion I want to continue.
