Chapter 39 Zeke
thirty-nine
Zeke
Avalon’s meeting my mom today.
I almost told her we should choose a different day because of everything going on with her mom. She hasn’t seen her in a week, which isn’t abnormal. She went months before her mom overdosed, but this feels different.
When her mom disappeared before, it didn’t feel final. This does.
So, I’m hoping that meeting my mom will go well today and that Avalon will get to feel the kind of maternal love I’ve had my whole life. The type of love Avalon has always wanted from her own mom.
“Is this okay?” She steps away from her closet, wearing a pink sweater and jeans.
“Yes.” I laugh. “And so were the last six outfits.”
“I’ve never done this.” She drops down next to me on her bed. “I’ve never met a guy’s mom, especially not on his birthday. I don’t even know what I’m supposed to say or how I’m supposed to act.”
“Stewart, she’s gonna love you.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I d—” I pause, thinking of my next words carefully… because I almost just told Avalon I love her. Maybe not with those exact words, but I was going to say I do.
My mom’s gonna love her because I love her.
“You make me happy, Stewart. That’s how I know she’ll love you because all she wants is for me to be happy.”
“Maybe this isn’t a good idea,” she replies.
“You’re coming with me, Avalon. I met Jay on a whim, and I think it went well.”
“It did. He really liked you.”
“And why do you think that is?”
“Because you make me happy.”
“Exactly.” I lean forward, kissing her softly. “My mom won’t care what you’re wearing. She’ll just be happy that I found someone who makes me feel alive again.”
“Okay,” she whispers, resting her forehead against mine. “Let me try one more outfit.”
She pushes off the bed and rushes over to her closet. I watch her change into her seventh outfit in the last fifteen minutes and smile. If I didn’t know what love felt like before, I do now—
This is it.
Mom?” I linger in the doorway before stepping inside her room. Avalon stays out in the hall as I do. She wanted me to have a moment with just my mom. I’m just hoping she’s still on the other side of the door when I go to get her.
She smiles, her eyes lighting up in a way they haven’t in a while. “My baby.”
“Hi, momma.” I lean forward, engulfing her in my arms. “How’re you feeling today?”
“Better now that you’re here.” She pinches my cheeks as if I’m a child. “Happy birthday, baby.”
“Thank you.”
“I can’t believe you’re old enough to drink,” she pauses, “well legally, now.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about; I’ve never had a sip of alcohol in my life,” I lie, and she rolls her eyes.
“I’m dying, Zeke. Not dumb.”
“Mom!”
“What? I’m just being honest.”
“When you get your last set of tests back, you’ll find out that you’re in remission and—”
“I’ll technically still be dying. I mean, technically, we all are.” She laughs.
“This is not how I saw my birthday starting.”
“You’re right. We have better things to talk about.” She points toward the door. “Like the girl you abandoned in the hallway.”
My cheeks heat up. There’s no going back now. My mom already saw Avalon, which means I have to introduce her. Not that I’m having second thoughts, but it’ll be really embarrassing if Avalon did have second thoughts and is no longer in the hallway.
“Oh, um, that’s uh, Avalon.” I take a deep breath. “M-my girlfriend.”
“Are you gonna make her stay in the hallway your whole visit, or are you gonna invite her inside.”
“Right.” I turn around, heading back to the hallway, and grab Avalon’s hand to bring her inside. Her eyes widen as I pull her inside, but I give her a reassuring nod.
“Avalon, this is my mom, Elise. Mom, this is Avalon.” I pull out one of the chairs next to my mom’s bed and motion for Avalon to sit down.
“Hi, Mrs. Harris.” She smiles. “It’s really nice to meet you.” My mom grabs Avalon’s hand, cupping it between both of hers.
“The pleasure is all mine, Avalon. And please, call me Elise.”
I sit beside Avalon and scoot closer to my mom’s bed.
“So, how’d you two meet?” My mom sits up and looks at Avalon; I cover my mouth with my hand to hide my smile.
My mom already knows exactly how we met.
“A party,” she replies, looking over at me as if to ask how much detail she should share. “We met at a party.”
I grab Avalon’s hand and squeeze, trying to calm her nerves.
“And did you know right away that he was someone you were interested in?”
“Um, depends on what kind of interest we’re talking about,” she replies, causing me and my mom to laugh.
“I think that’s the kind of response that makes us change topics,” my mom continues. “I know what goes on at those hockey parties of theirs, so I don’t think I need any more information there.”
“Those parties aren’t as crazy as you think, Mom.” I sit back in the chair, resting my arm across the back of Avalon’s. “They’re actually quite tame.”
Their heads turn toward me in unison, both rocking a furrowed brow.
“Okay, they can get a little insane. Wait until my birthday next year, Avalon. If you thought that hockey party was insane, you haven’t even seen the half of it.”
“You’re not having a party this year?” my mom wonders.
“I didn’t feel like it. I wanted to spend it with you and Avalon, so throwing a party didn’t seem like something in the cards this year.”
“I don’t want you to not have a party because of me.” Avalon’s eyes soften. “We can celebrate another time; it doesn’t have to be today.”
“Stewart, forget about it being my birthday. It’s our first Valentine’s Day together, I’m not gonna ditch you to party with the guys.”
“Are you sure?”
“Definitely.” I tuck my index finger under her chin and pull her lips to mine. “This is so much better than a party.” I kiss her again.
My mom coughs. The kind of cough that lets us know she’s sitting right there.
“Sorry, Mom.”
“Don’t apologize. I never thought I’d see the day where you’re introducing me to your girlfriend, let alone have to break up a moment of PDA.”
I grab Avalon’s hand, kissing it, before resting our hands on the arm of the chair.
“You guys are using protection, though, right?” My mom reaches out to us with her hand. “I know I told you the other day I’m not opposed to being a grandma. And Avalon isn’t some random girl, but I’d still like you to have all your ducks in a row before the two of you bring a baby into this world.”
Avalon’s eyes go wide. She looks at me and then back to my mom.
“No babies anytime soon. I promise you that.”
“Nothing against your son, Mrs— Elise. But I have a lot of goals I want to accomplish before I even think about having a baby. And we haven’t been together for that long; I don’t even know if he wants kids because we’ve never talked about it.
Do you want kids?” She glances at me and then quickly turns away.
“And not that there’s anything wrong with having kids out of wedlock because a marriage doesn’t mean they’ll stick around after the baby is born, but I’m not going to have a baby unless I feel like I’m with the right person.
” Avalon’s eyes dart to me again. “Not that I don’t think Zeke’s the right person.
I wholeheartedly believe that you shouldn’t be in a relationship with someone if you don’t see a future and—”
She freezes, and I can’t tell if she’s trying to catch her breath to continue her rambling or if she’s absolutely mortified.
“Sorry.” She licks her lips. “I ramble when I’m nervous. I guess what I’m trying to say is I don’t have any plans to have a baby right now. Neither of us do.”
My mom grins. A grin so big it reaches her eyes, causing the corners to crinkle. “I like you.” She leans forward just enough to cup Avalon’s cheek like she’s done to me so many times before. “If I didn’t raise this boy, I’d probably tell you you’re too good for him.”
The anxiety in Avalon’s shoulders dissipates.
“And I wouldn’t blame you. She is too good for me.”
“Alright, I think it’s time for presents. What do you think?” my mom asks, and I nod.
“The perfect time. Takeout will be here soon, so we can go ahead and get it out of the way.”
“Zeke’s horrible at receiving gifts. He’s always hated Christmas because of it.”
“Really?” Avalon raises an eyebrow.
“I don’t like everyone watching me, and I always feel like my reaction isn’t what they want, you know? I’m much better at giving gifts.”
“One day, I’ll be the judge of that.” Avalon scrunches her nose as my mom reaches into her drawer and pulls out a tiny box.
“It’s nothing crazy, but happy birthday, sweet boy.”
I open up the box and see my favorite key chain. I glance up at my mom, confused as to why she’s giving me the same thing she gave me when I got my license.
“It’s perfect,” I say, partially concerned that she doesn’t remember giving it to me.
“What is it?” Avalon leans over my shoulder, peaking into the box.
“It’s my mom’s favorite bible verse, Matthew 11:28.”
“Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Avalon smiles, looking at my mom and then at me. “That’s beautiful.”
“I’ll add it to my key ring right away; thank you, Mom.” I stand up, leaning over to give her a kiss, but she puts her hand up to stop me.
She laughs. “You already had the key chain.”
“So, you bought me another one?” My eyes narrow.
“No, I took the one I already gave you,” she continues.
“So… you’re regifting it?”
“Flip it over.”
I pull it out of the box, feel something on the other side, and flip it over.
“Mom.” I pause, running my thumb over the cross on the back. “It’s your necklace.”
“You always loved it, but I know you don’t like wearing necklaces, so I thought—”
“This is yours. I can’t take this.”
“I want you to have it. I haven’t been able to wear it in nearly a year. The chain started irritating my skin, so I thought you’d get better use out of it. Rather than it just sitting in my drawer.”
My dad bought this necklace for my mom after I was born. Her name is on the bottom of the cross vertically, and my name is across it horizontally. The “E” in her name is the first “E” in mine.
It’s melded on the back of my keychain now.
“It’s perfect, Mom.” I squeeze the keychain in my hand. “Thank you so much.”
This time, when I lean forward to kiss her on the cheek, she lets me.
“I’m happy you like it.” I pull out my keys and put the keychain back on. I don’t know how I didn’t realize it was missing.
My phone buzzes, alerting me that our takeout is here.
“I’ll go get it,” Avalon says, standing up and squeezing my shoulder. “So, you guys can have another minute alone. I’ll be right back.”
“I know I already said this, but I like her, Zeke. She seems really good for you,” she says the second Avalon’s gone. “I haven’t seen you like this in a long time.”
“I’ll be even happier when your tests come back clear.”
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.” She takes a deep breath. “I’m going home.”
“What?!” I jump out of my chair, grabbing her hand. “You got your test results back already? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’m telling you now.”
“You’re going home!” I exclaim. “I feel like I’ve been waiting for this moment for years.”
I feel like a little kid again, getting giddy on Christmas morning, excited to see what Santa brought me.
My mom’s going home.
She’s finally going home.