10. Chapter 10
I”m having dinner with my sister, Brian, and Liz because because they’re leaving town tomorrow to visit his mom who is in the hospital. Apparently, she and his dad can no longer live alone since she fell and broke her hip, so they are getting ready to move them into an assisted leaving facility.
Brian in an only child and his parents had him later in life. He is their miracle baby after being told they would never have children. So, it”s all on him to take care of his parents, and I know my sister will be right there by his side.
During the week while I work, Liz will be staying with my parents since she has school. Then on the weekend, she will spend it with me.
“So, you think a week will be enough time?” I ask them over dinner.
“We honestly don”t know,” Brian says. “I think moving Dad in will be easy. Then Mom will go there right from the hospital, but the hard part is taking care of their house. Deciding what they will take with them is a top priority. Dad says he”s been packing and sorting, but I won”t know if that”s true until we get there.”
I can see the worry and stress all over his face. I know they hate to be apart from Liz, and I know this can’t be easy on him.
“Well, you take all the time you need. Liz and I will have so much fun, she won”t even realize how long you are gone. And if you need anything, I am but a phone call away. I can be up there in a few hours to help pack, move, cook dinner, whatever you need. Plus, I made some friends that have hulking ex-military husbands who I”m sure wouldn’t need much convincing to come help out.”
“Oh yeah, the girls’ night. Tell me about it!” My sister changes the subject, and I let her. It’s obvious that they both need a distraction.
“It was nice. I was the only single one there, but all the girls have the kind of relationship with their guys that the two of you have. We had fried chicken sliders, and all the sides you”d have at a BQ like potato salad, Cole slaw, baked beans, and cornbread. Several of us brought dessert. I made your brownie recipe, and it was gone so fast.” I smile, remembering how everyone gushed about the brownies.
“You know I didn”t mean the food!” my sister laughs.
“Well, I wanted to hear about the food,” Liz says, giggling.
“I would go back for the food alone,” I say to my niece.
“Carlee!” My sister screeches exasperatedly.
“Okay, okay. Everyone there accepted me from the start. They all talked about everything from kids to their relationships, family, and updates on stuff that had been discussed before. Then I got some good old fashioned liquid courage and brought up Zane. I told them everything that I told you the other night. It”s like now that I told you it just comes pouring out of me. They were so supportive and understanding and offered some good advice about talking to him and being open. Then one girl said I was in a situationship and that finally put it all in perspective.”
“What is a situationship?” Liz asks.
“It”s where you are maybe dating or simply talking to someone. While you are doing all the relationship things, but you two aren”t committed to each other. You aren”t boyfriend and girlfriend,” I clarify.
“Well, that’s stupid,” she says.
“Hey, we don”t use that word,” Brian says sternly.
“I’m sorry, but it is. Aunt Carlee you need to talk to him. Tell him to either lock it down with you or you will move on to the next guy because you are a great catch and deserve better,” Liz says with so much confidence and encouragement, I’m moved.
“Lord, I wish it was that easy,” I say with a halfhearted laugh.
“Honestly, I agree with her.” My sister says just as Mom and Dad burst through the front door.
“I really wish they would knock,” Brian mumbles, but we all laugh.
“We are back here finishing up dinner,” my sister yells.
It’s no secret and we all know my parents are a bit much. My sister and Brian have come to my aid against my mother many times. They keep telling me to stand up for myself yet know how hard that is for me, so they step in when needed. Maybe one day I will be assertive and be confident with her, but until then I just keep my head down.
When Mom and Dad join us in the dining room, we greet them with smiles and hugs as they get seated.
“I brought my banana pudding for dessert. I”m just sorry we couldn”t make dinner. If we had more notice, we could have moved our plans, but Steve and Shirley were only in town for a few days, and they leave tomorrow,” Mom says.
“It”s fine, Mom. We understand. It”s not like we could plan for Brian”s mom to take a fall at a time that was convenient for you,” my sister sasses, smiling.
She gets away with it because she is married and has a child. If I said that, Mom would go on a ten-minute rant about how men don”t want sassy women and I”d die alone.
“I love your banana pudding, Mom. Maybe one day you will trust me with the recipe,” I say, trying to switch topics.
Mom’s eyes shoot over to me like she forgot I was there.
“Until you tie down a man, you shouldn’t be eating dessert. Men don”t like curves. When you manage to get a guy who wants to marry you, I might give you the recipe as a wedding gift.”
“Mom! That was so rude. What is wrong with you?” My sister says, angrily.
“I”m sorry. I”m just worried about her.” Mom says it as if I”m not even in the room. “If she waits too long, she will miss her window to have kids.”
“Mom, I”m twenty-two. I still have over a decade to have kids.” I stumble over my words as my sister gives me a look. I know she is trying to communicate that now is the perfect time to tell Mom and Dad what is going on, but I just give my head a slight shake.
The last thing I want is to get into this now when she and Brian are getting ready to leave town. Liz will have to deal with the aftermath when she goes home with them tonight.
“You know, I really thought college would be a good place for you to meet your future husband. Are you sure that Eric boy won”t take you back? He was so nice,” Mom says.
“That”s enough, dear,” Dad says with a pointed look at my mom.
“Mom, he didn”t call you when I was in the hospital fighting for my life. That”s what you consider nice? Have you lost your mind?” I snap, standing up to storm out of here.
“What are you doing? We just got here!” Mom says.
“I have to side with Carlee on this one. That was over the line,” Brian says.
I’m shocked because he always stays out of it.
“Agreed,” my sister says.
“I’m going. I need to get ready for my art therapy class tomorrow. Call me to let me know you made it in,” I say, hugging my sister and Brian.
“Liz, I will see you in two days.”
Then I kiss my dad on the cheek and don’t say a word. Without so much as a look in my mom’s direction, I leave. Normally, her words don’t bother me so badly and I don’t stick up for myself like I just did. But it seems the more people I tell and who I know are on my side, the more of a backbone I have.