Chapter 19
”She has got to go!”
Startled at the sudden command whispered in my ear, I turned around, and it was just in time to see my mother arrive in shorts and cowboy boots. For a few seconds, as I lowered to kiss her, I was concerned about what she was talking about. But when she gave me a narrowed look and then glanced at my father who was busy riding the horse and having the time of his life, I understood that he had tattled.
Sighing, I shook my head and returned my attention to the show. As parents, they had never been particularly close. He had worked a lot, and she had been dragged around states she hated for him to expand his gyms. There had been a lot of tension. But now, given the difficulty we had endured over the past few months, they had become closer than ever.
This was great. I was happy for them, but it was now clear that it meant as well that I would be a victim of their renewed camaraderie.
Sighing, I tried my best to discourage any further inquisition.
”I don”t know what you”re talking about,” I replied, and she bumped my shoulder with hers.
”Want me to refresh your memory?” she asked, and once again I turned to meet her gaze.
Still, I remained defiant and hopeful.
”Who are we talking about? Victoria? Because that”s what Aurora wants as well. Her gone; I mean.”
My mom observed me, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips, then she returned her attention to my dad. I pondered on the best way to address the situation at hand. Should I ignore the fact that she, as well as my dad and perhaps even more people, were aware of what had transpired between me and Evelyn? Or should I insist that she keeps it to herself? This had nothing to do with preserving Evelyn’s honor; instead, I didn’t want to further divert attention from Aurora for the week.
So, I sighed and turned to my mom; she glanced at me, that smile still tugging at the corners of her lips.
”What do you want to say?” she asked, but I redirected the question back to her because I knew her well.
She laughed, and the sound made me quite happy. It had been a while since I had seen her laugh this way, and a part of me had wondered if I would ever get to see her laugh like this again. So now, all I could do was stop to appreciate the beautiful sound. I wished I could pull out
my phone then to record it, but there were a few people around, and I didn”t want to draw unnecessary attention.
”What do you want to say?” I asked, and she leaned her head against my shoulder.
”He”s enjoying himself, isn”t he?” she asked as she watched my dad, and I nodded.
”Yeah, it”s been a while.”
”For all of us,” she said and sighed. ”I want the same for you. I mean, I don’t know what this is between you and Evelyn, but?—”
”Mom, I”ve only met her twice,” I said, deliberately omitting the time she came to my apartment, but no one besides the both of us needed to know that.
”So... I mean, your dad didn’t make it seem that way.”
”You know how he is,” I said, and she nodded.
”I do. So... it”s just a fling then?”
”I”m not in high school, Mom,” I said. ”You shouldn’t be asking me about this.”
”I know,” she laughed. ”It’s just that more than alarmed, I was just excited. I don”t think I”ve seen you with a woman in a long time. Romantically, I mean.”
”I”ve been busy.”
”Of course, and that”s my point. You’ve been busy and troubled, thanks to me especially, so I’m glad that this week seems to be doing you some good. Plus, we’ve had several events in the past where it was required for you to bring a date, and you never bothered. But now, you meet a woman, and on the second date, your dad is hurrying over to me with gossip?”
I stopped then and scowled at him.
”He was excited,” she rubbed my arm.
”Nothing to be excited about.”
”Alright,” she said. ”If you say so. I guess I don”t have to insist that she leaves anytime soon, but you have to be careful. Only your dad is aware now, but I really didn”t want Aurora to find out. It might upset her, and Evelyn seems to be the only one Aurora likes these days.”
”She probably is,” I replied as I curved my arm around her. She leaned into me until eventually, my phone began to ring. I pulled it out of my pocket, and when I saw that it was Victoria, I couldn”t help but be somewhat upset.
”I told her not to call me directly,” I said, and my mother smiled.
”She wouldn”t listen to that. Unlike Evelyn, she hasn”t been able to gain your attention.”
I turned to her, surprised.
”Why does she want it?”
My mom sucked in her breath, and then she shook her head.
”You really don”t know how much of a catch you are?” she said, and I smiled.
”I”m well aware, but I”ve also expressed my disinterest to her several times, so why hasn”t she caught on to this?”
”Because you’re still very publicly single,” she said. I turned away in thought and couldn’t help but think of what Evelyn had said to me before she’d left the library. She’d basically vowed to never let our rendezvous repeat itself, and truly, it intrigued me now more than ever.
”Most women wouldn”t reject me, right?” I asked, and my mother turned to me.
”Who would?”
I smiled.
”I barely note attention, but?—”
”But what?” she asked.
”Rejection is very easy to take note of. Maybe that”s what Victoria should have done to gain my attention.”
”Someone rejected you?” She was shocked; however, my phone began to ring again, thankfully diverting our attention.
”Victoria again,” I said and picked up. ”Yeah?” I answered.
”Are you all at the stables?” she asked. ”I”m sorry for calling, but I couldn”t reach your mom. The cars are ready, and we”re ready to leave for the restaurant soon. Aurora is ready as well.”
I turned to my mom then, knowing fully well her phone was with her. We had mandated that she always be with it so that we could reach her in case of an emergency.
”We”re ready,” I replied. ”Check on Evelyn?” I asked.
She went quiet for a few moments; however, I didn”t notice. I needed to end the call and turned to see my mom”s widened eyes on me.
”Check on Evelyn?”
I wondered what I had done wrong, but slowly and eventually, it dawned on me.
”Oh,” I said and sighed again. ”I didn”t mean anything by it. I just didn”t want her to leave anyone behind. She”s the event planner.”
Shaking her head, my mom leaned away from me and began to head towards my dad.
”Let me go and get him, and you, mister, have to learn to read the room.”
I was amused.
”Your phone is with you, right?” I asked, and she pulled it out of the purse she had in her hand.
”Of course, always.”
”Victoria said she couldn”t reach you,” I said, and she turned the screen towards me.
”Not true. No missed calls.”
”Of course,” I said, and she continued on her way.