My phone rings and I step away from the kitchen knowing Collin will keep her talking and her mind off asswipe.
“Hey Mom.”
“What’s wrong?” She sounds worried. “Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m not hurt. I’d have told you if I was. Like I said, it’s good news.”
She lets out a breath. “I was worried. You don’t usually leave voicemails.”
“The Raptor’s recruiter called Coach. He wants to sign me and Collin to start right away. Two of their players were injured in Wednesday’s game and will be out for the rest of the season.”
“They want you to start now? What about school?”
“We’re going to go talk to the Dean on Monday and try to arrange for remote learning and then scheduling any tests we have to take for when we’re home. Even if I have to drop out this semester, Iwillfinish school. There’s summer classes and online classes I can do from other schools.”
“I’ll come with you on Monday. The Dean knows who I am and to not argue with me.”
I laugh, knowing she’d want to be there for that meeting. The Dean had one run-in with my mom during my sophomore year and let’s just say he probably never wants to meet her again.
“I’m so proud of you, Jonathan.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’m at Daisy’s, but I’ll swing by the house tomorrow. I might even convince her to come over too.”
“Uh…”
“Mom?” Curious, I wait her out. She sounds sus.
“Um, I had plans tomorrow…”
“Plans?”
She sighs. “I want you to meet someone.”
What is this?
“He and I have been seeing each other for a while now and I didn’t want to introduce you until I knew more about him and…”
“Mom, slow down. Who is he?” I can’t remember the last time she went out on a date. I think I was in middle school.
“His name is Michael Sutton. He owns his own business. I met him when I was at Caroline’s house a few months ago and his company was mowing her lawn.”
“He owns his own business?” Well, at least he’s not a bum.
“Yes, he does well for himself. He’s kind and funny and he makes me happy. I wanted to introduce you a few weeks ago, but then you were talking about being stressed and then the scouts were coming by and I didn’t want to stress you out even more…”
“Mom!” I interrupt her rambling. “Take a deep breath. Invite this guy to dinner tomorrow. Me and Collin will grill him and see if he gets our stamp of approval.”
She lets out a shaky sigh. “You’re not mad?”
“No. As long as he’s not a bum like Dad, then I’m good with it if he makes you happy. You deserve it.”
“Your father’s not a bum, Jonathan.”
“He walked out on us, didn’t he?”
“He wasn’t happy. No one should be forced to stay in a marriage if they’re not happy.”
“Yeah, but he skipped out on me and Olliver without so much as a backwards glance. That makes him a bum to me.”
