Page 35 of Eternal Pieces
“It’s not like you can do anything with your degree since you’ll be stuck at home with the babies all day.”
“I can still work. There’s a newspaper I’m aiming to apply for. I could work from home a lot with it. And I’ll have Max and Maddox to help out.” I don’t know why I’m justifying myself to her. Force of habit, I guess.
She makes a face, but doesn’t say anything else.
“What?”
“It’s nothing. Just that I can’t see those boys sticking around for long. They were always playboys. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were sneaking around behind your back.” She really can’t help herself. Max and Maddox have been nothing but completely faithful to me, but I suppose it would be weird if my mom knew they were both virgins when we got together.
“They’re not—” I cut myself off with a frustrated grunt. There’s no point saying anything else.
The silence grows thicker between us. I always made a point of excusing myself before it got to this point, but I’m stuck in my own home with her.
“I’m kinda tired, do you need me to order you a car back to your hotel?”
Her thin eyebrows shoot up in surprise at my dismissal, but she doesn’t push to stay any longer.
“I can do it myself.”
As she’s booking a ride on her phone, I busy myself with tidying the kitchen.
“It’ll be here in thirty minutes,” she says, and my shoulders tense. I don’t want to have to spend another minute with her, but thirty minutes is quick considering our location.
“How about you show me around while I wait?”
I suppose that’s better than awkwardly standing in here.
The tour of the house is brief, the place isn’t massive, but it’s big enough for our needs.
“Thisis the nursery?” she gasps as I show off my new favorite room.
Tilting my head back, I pray that some miracle has her car arriving earlier than expected.
“Yes, Mom, this is the nursery, and if you have nothing nice to say about it, I’d rather you wait outside.”
“I didn’t say anything! It’s cute. I like the yellow and all the ducks.”
I must be seeing things because I swear she’s actually smiling.
“When you were a baby, I layered blankets up in an empty drawer and slept on the floor next to you most nights. You were a very fussy baby. Your father was supposed to buy a cot with the bonus he received the Christmas before I had you, but he lost itin a poker game with his friends.” She gets a distant look in her eye, and for the first time I can remember, I feel truly sorry for her.
“You never talk about Dad.”
“There’s nothing to say. We’re both better off without him.” She doesn’t sound like she believes that. Clearing her throat, she points out the cots. “You have three.”
“I already told you we’re having triplets. Reginald bought the cots for us as a gift.”
“All three? They look expensive. You’ve really landed on your feet, haven’t you? Enjoy it while it lasts.”
I don’t have it in me to argue. Ignoring her bitterness, I go over to the drawers and fold some of the baby clothes that have been sitting on top to put away.
After a while, Mom asks, “Can I see them?”
At that, I smile. I always love showing them off.
I grab one of the latest scans from my bedroom and bring it to her. “You can keep it.”
“They’re beautiful. I have to ask, though…are you sure those boys actually love you? I thought Reginald loved me, but you know how that ended.”
