“That lovely boyfriend of yours called a few weeks ago,” my mom supplies with a subtle shrug of her narrow shoulders. “He invited us to come spend your birthday with you. He evidently thought he’d have to convince us, silly boy. Does he not know he needn’t ramble so much?”
“He’s not so good with words sometimes,” I admit then embrace her again. “C’mon, I’m sure everyone is ready to meet you.”
“Who exactly is ‘everybody’?” she asks slowly.
I merely grin in response, looping my arm with hers, and we set off toward the door. The house beyond is quiet save for the chatter of two toddlers in the living room and the faint conversations coming from the deck. I gesture for my parents to remove their shoes; once they’ve done as requested, I lead them to the living room. Ashton and Henry play happily with Eddie, who nudges block towers until they collapse to the floor.
I clear my throat. “Hey, Ash, look who’s here.”
“Paw!”
My dad leans down enough to snatch up the child running toward him, and I bite down on my bottom lip to distract from the sharp aching in my chest. Taking Ashton away from Texas means I’m not the only one who’s left behind people who mean the most to me. Ashton has lost connection with his grandparents.
“Holy Hell, you and your mom could be twins!”
“I like this one,” my mother announces with a soft laugh, and I shake my head.
“Yes, because I didn’t hear that all the time when I was growing up. Mom, Daddy, this is Eddie, one of my new bestest friends. That adorable monster there is Henry, Phil’s kid.”
“Nice to meet you guys,” Eddie says as he clambers to his feet. He comes nearer with a hand outstretched. “Dealla’s told us about you two.”
“Hopefully good things.”
I stifle a sigh at my father’s abrupt tone but don’t mention it. I understand what he’s about to undergo today—I’d felt much the same, overwhelmed and out of my depths, when I first met Holden’s friends. I pat his arm gently, trying to convey the comfort I yearn to offer but know he won’t accept.
“Only the truth, Daddy. So I’m gonna go find Holden. You stayin’ in here with Ash?”
“That okay?”
“No, Daddy. Not at all. You’re not allowed to spend any time with the grandchild you haven’t seen in months because I’m just that cruel. Yes, of course it’s okay.”
His lips twitch, and he tugs on a lock of my hair. “Not too old to be grounded, young lady.”
“I’d like to see you try, old man.”
“Alright, that’s enough,” interjects my mom, holding her hands up between my dad and me. “Eddie doesn’t need to hear y’all bickering. Deals, mind if I come with you?”
I stick my tongue out at him then dance out of reach when he swats in my direction. His smile breaks free, and I turn on my heel to lead my mother through the house. She nods approvingly as she takes in the sights around her, and she lets out a low whistle when she comes to a stop in the doorway to the deck.
Holden looks up from where he stands by the grill with John, eyes narrowed in the bright sunlight, and I inhale shakily. This is it—the moment the man I love meets one of the women who raised me. I wrap my arm around my mom’s, pulling her out into the mid-morning heat.
“Hey, everyone. This is my lovely mother, Rose. Mom, this is my boyfriend, Holden. That’s Tristan, Luci, Cheryl, Samantha, and John.”
To my surprise, my mom ignores everyone else, approaches Holden with arms open. Holden’s face lights up, his smile slow and pure, as he embraces her. Luci flashes me a thumbs-up and a beaming smile. I, for my part, swallow against the tightness in my throat.One down, one to go, I think as my mom moves away to hug the others.
“Thank y’all for taking care of my baby,” she says once she’s embraced everyone.
Holden meets my eye and reaches for me. I step into his space, and he doesn’t look away even as he says, “Thank you for giving us someone so wonderful to love and care for.”
Love. Could it be…?
In the Heat of It
IhelpLuciandSamantha set the table, and Cheryl carries platters to the table as John finishes cooking the burgers and hot dogs. Eddie sits back in his seat, sips his beer, watches everyone else ready for the early lunch. Until my mom pins him with a pointed look, then he rushes to his feet and vanishes inside. When he emerges, he has a pitcher in each hand, one full of iced tea and the other water.
“Where’s Daddy and Holden?” I ask my mother when I realize they’re nowhere to be seen.
“Your dad wanted to talk to him, ‘man to man’, so…” She shrugs and sets a fork beside a paper plate. “I’m sure they’re fine, sweetie. You know your daddy ain’t the type to threaten.”
