“Oh, I know!” She slapped my bicep lightly. “You should introduce me! Rightnow!”
“What?” My jaw dropped. “No!”
“Why not?” she demanded. “I’ve been very patient, Julian. You told me to leave you be, and I have. But it’s been overa monthsince you announced you two were dating. It don’t think it’s unreasonable for me to want to meethim.”
“No. It’s too soon. It’s too—” I swallowed and my voice turned pleading. “Too much pressure, Mama. Daniel doesn’t likecrowds.”
“What crowd? It’s only me.” She pressed a hand to her chest and blinked innocently up at me. “I can be friendly, Julian. Best behavior, Iswear.”
I shook my head again. “Not today. Please, Mama. I want him to be prepared when he meets you, you know? It’s important for him to feelcomfortable.”
She capitulated with a frown. “When, then? He hardly ever seems to be in town at all. And if things are getting serious between youtwo…”
“Which I never said they were,” I reminded her.Please don’t let anyone start planning ourwedding.
“You haven’t said anything at all!” she huffed. “All this secrecy. I don’t know what he does for work, I don’t know where he’s from. I think any parent would want to meet their son’s boyfriend. Doesn’t Daniel’s family want to meetyou?”
I somehow hadn’t been prepared for this question, and it hit me at dead center mass, then bounced around my chest and lit up each of my fears and insecurities like I was a fucking pinball game. I didn’t know a thing about Daniel’s family. He could have been an orphan, or maybe he talked to his mother twice a day, every day, on the cell phone he hardly everused.
“I don’t know. Maybe Daniel’s stronger at standing up to emotional manipulation than I am,” I bit offsharply.
The look of hurt that passed over my mother’s face had me backing down nearly immediately, furious with myself. Bad enough that I was a lying liar; I didn’t need to compound it by being an asshole to my mother,too.
“I’m sorry,” I said, dropping my arms to my sides. “I’m very… protective. I care abouthim.”
“And that’s why you’ll bring him to Thanksgivingdinner.”
“Mama…” I shook myhead.
“Don’t youMamame, Julian. If he’s going to be in your life, Daniel’s going to need to get to know us.” She lifted a hand to pat my cheek gently. “If he cares about you the way you deserve, he’ll take it all in stride.Right?”
I couldn’t think up an excuse for the life of me. Maybe Danielwasleaving town to visit some family he’d never spoken of, and this would all be a non-issue.
Or maybe it was time for me to man up and tell the truth, no matter how humiliating it was. Daniel deserved that. My mother deserved that,too.
“I…” I swallowed. “Listen, when I told everyone that he and I were dating,I…”
She tilted her head encouragingly. “You,what?”
“I…”Fuck.I wanted to tell her so badly, but I felt like I owed it to Daniel to tell him first. To not make another fucking decision about this without his input. “Well. I realize I should have told you first,” I finished lamely, rubbing myforehead.
“Oh, Julian.” My mother threw her arms around my neck and hugged me briefly. “It’s okay. I forgiveyou.”
I patted her back. “Gee. Thanks,” I said in a strangledvoice.
She pulled away and grinned. “And you’ll invite him to Thanksgiving.” Not a question, anorder.
“Yeah.” I nodded. “Yeah, I’ll invite him.” God helpme.
My mother’s smile widened. “Good. Your aunt and your cousin are coming up from the city, and Theo’s inviting his friend Sam, Ithink.”
Oh, joy. My aunt and cousin. “Sam Henderson? What’s her familydoing?”
“Her mother and stepfather moved out of O’Leary a while back, remember? They’re over near Syracuse now. Sam lives with her father. But I guess he doesn’tdoThanksgiving.” The disapproval of people who didn’t cook turkey was clear in her voice. “You and Daniel can bring dessert foreight.”
She grabbed the books from the counter, tucking one under my arm and the other into her voluminous purse, and waved goodbye to Bill, who was still on thephone.
“I’ll let you know about book club!” she called merrily as she sailed out thedoor.
I could only hope Bill thought she was talking to him, but I was pretty sure he knewbetter.
