“Oh, but who’s going to make me my Arnold Palmer? You always mix it so perfectly.” Mom said, her smile taking over her entire face and crinkling at her sea foam-colored eyes.
Xavier snickered, then leaned in close to Mom’s ear. “Don’t worry, love, I already made it. Anna, the new hire, should bring it out with your food any minute now.”
Again, her blush was undeniably red. Even Liam slid me a conspiratorial glance, now noticing the tension-heavy moment.
“I was thinking,” Xavier said. Still snuggled up close to
Mom while Liam and I watched with glee-filled expressions. “Maybe tomorrow if you’re not too busy with these crazy kids, you might want to go out with me? Possibly let me buy you a drink or two?”
This was the most forward he’d ever been with her. He was always so cautious—respectful. No matter how many times she turned him down to grab coffee or a quick lunch while us kids were at school.
I knew why Mom declined his offers. Before—with Richard—she had rushed into the relationship too fast, too easily and reaped the consequences.
We all had.
So, she played this thing between her and Xavier with so much wariness there was no room for anything to happen. Years passed since the nightmare had ended. Since we escaped safely and years of learning that Xavier was a good man.
I could see the denial cooking up on my mother’s lips, so I answered before she could, “She’d love to! Liam and I will both be out, so it’ll be perfect.”
All eyes landed on me.
Liam slanted me a crooked stare because I never had plans out, especially with him. Xavier was most likely just shocked to hear me speak at all, let alone quip in the middle of their conversation.
Mom’s attention on me was soft, grateful, because we both knew what my intervention meant. That I was okay, that I found a way over the past (at least in this aspect) and was giving her the permission to do the same.
She turned to Liam then, who nodded, giving his support as well.
Mom kept a thankful smile geared towards me and Liam as she said, “Well then, I guess I’m free. What time do you want to pick me up?”
Xavier’s wide brown eyes glimmered as he said, “Does seven work for you?”
Mom finally turned her smile back up at him. “Perfect, it’s a date.”
Xavier kissed mom’s cheek, winked at me and bid our family farewell before sauntering out of the restaurant.
We laughed through the rest of dinner, reminisced on the happy moments. Mom gushed over Liam, and his performance at graduation. Liam raved about his upcoming season as a college athlete. I watched my mom, the smile on her lips as she sipped on her perfectly mixed iced tea and lemonade.
***
Liam claimed shotgun in the car while I dutifully took the back seat.
“So, I will pick you both up in the morning?” Mom clarified as we set off in the car toward our final destination of the eventful day. Liam shook his headwhile he sipped on a to-go cup of soda from dinner.
Between slurps he said, “No, sleep in. You need to get all the beauty sleep to be ready for your big date tomorrow,” he teased. “And Trey said he’d give us a ride home.”
Mom side-eyed him. “And your friend won’t be drinking tonight?”
He chuffed. “He promised his mom he wouldn’t drink. That’s why he offered to be the DD.”
Mom nodded. “You wouldn’t happen to make me the same promise, would ya?”
Liam didn’t hesitate. “I love you, but no.”
Stephanie Mason was what most would consider as the “cool mom”. She wasn’t naïve to the fact that there would be graduates, including her own, drinking at this party. Regardless of certain laws and her own advisement.
But the stance she liked to take was, “You’re an adult, you can make your own choices. I’m not here to control you. But don’t come crying to me when the consequences of your actions bite you in the butt.”
“Okay, okay,” Mom sighed. “Please don’t hesitate to call me if plans change, though. I don’t think my little mom heart will let me sleep in, let alone sleep at all while my babies are out all night.”
