“Oh,happy birthday, baby girl!” Mama exclaimed, as she seemingly forgot why itwasshe was even here. She took off down the deck steps torun toward me.
“Thanks,Mama.” Our arms were around each other before I knew what hit me.
“I’vemissed you so much, sweetheart,” she whispered, unable to keep the tears atbay. They dripped onto my shoulder, and my own splashed against her hair. “Butyou look good. Do you feel good? How’ve they beentreatin’you?”
“Mama,you’reactin’ like I don’t spend an hour on the phonewith you every night.”
“Oh,I know, baby. It’s just not the same ashavin’ youhere,where you belong.”
Myheart lurched at the sentiment.Where Ibelong. She meant Texas, with her. Close enough that, I could see her everysingle day. And maybe at one point I had agreed. Maybe even until recently. Butspending some time on the road had taught me something about myself, and thatwas, where I belonged wasn’t with Mama. Where I belonged was with this guybeside me. Nothing, nobody, felt as much like home as being with him, and ifthat meant Texas, great—and I hoped so. But if it meant Connecticut, Georgia,orfreakin’ Alaska, then that was great, too.As long aswe were together. In whatever capacity.
Ilet her go and smiled, hiding my inner emotions from her as best I could. Shegrinned into my eyes and pressed her hands to my cheeks.
“Thirtylooks good on you, baby.”
“Thanks,Mama.”
Sheturned to Connie and asked, “Doesn’t she look gorgeous, Con? I mean, rememberwhen we were thirty? I don’t think we looked nearly as good as this girl here.It must be that vegan lifestyle.”
“Orthe yoga,” Chad chimed in, shrugging.
“That’sright,” Mama agreed. “There is that yoga. If I starteddoin’yoga, maybe the clocks will turn—”
“Sarah,”Connie interrupted. “Are youforgettin’somethin’?”
Mamanarrowed her eyes in thought and muttered, “Forgettin’somethin’? What would I be—oh!” She turned to Chadand poked his chest with a stiff finger. “What’ve you beengettin’up to with my baby, young man?”
“Mama,”I grumbled, rolling my eyes, as Connie scolded lightly, “Oh, Sarah, lay offhim.”
Chadsighed and pinched the space between his brows as he said, “Okay, so yeah,we’regivin’ this a shot, but—”
Connieerupted in a fit of cheers and applause as she ran from the deck to throw herarms around us both. “Oh, my God, our prayers have been answered. Thank you,Jesus!”
Iturned to Mama, only to find amore quietexcitementtwinkling in her eyes not unlike the stars above. She looked at me, eyesflooding with unexpected emotion, and I had to look away before my own eyesteared and spilled over.
“But,” Chad continued, patting his mama’sback, “y’allgottatry andmind your own business, okay? It’sgonnaberealhard to build a relationship whilehavin’your meddling asses on our case all the time.”
Ilaughed unapologetically. “That’s so true.”
Mamanarrowed her eyes at me. “I do notmeddle.”
“Oh,no, Mama. Not at all,” I snickered, sarcasm dripping from every word.
“Y’alldon’t want us involved?” Connie asked, obviouslywounded as she took a step back.
“Ididn’t say that,” Chad insisted, as I cut in with, “What we mean is, we wanty’allinvolved, but not witheverything. This is new and different. We’rereallyexcitedand happy, and we know you are, too. But we just don’t wantyour, um,influencegettin’ in the way too much.”
Connienodded slowly. “I think I understand.Y’alldon’twant ustalkin’ too much about babies yet, right?That’s what it is?”
Iglanced at Chad to find his face draining of color, and I laughed. “Yes,exactly that.”
“Canwe just starttalkin’ names, then?” Mama askedinnocently. “Because I’ve beenthinkin’ Sarah’s got anice ring to it.”
“AndConstance,” Connie chimed in,grinning ear to ear. She turned to Mama and grabbed her hand. “Oh, Sarah, maybethey’ll havetwins!”
Chadlowered his mouth to my ear and whispered, “Remember what I said about notdrinkin’ much?” I nodded, biting back my laughter, as ourmothers practically skipped up the deck stairs to plan what was probably ajoint bridal and baby shower. “Well, I’mthinkin’about taking that back.”
***
