18. Chapter 18
Chapter 18
When David arrived at his mom’s house on Friday night with Jacob, the little boy was no sooner out of the car before he was running up the front walk with his backpack. Since it was like his second home, he threw open the front door without bothering to knock first and disappeared inside, leaving David to follow behind.
By the time David made his way into the kitchen, Jacob had already spread out several pieces of his preschool artwork on the table for Valerie to look at. As always, she took her time picking a favorite to grace her fridge, making a production out of it. After Jacob had taken down an old picture and replaced it with the new one, he then ran off down the hall with his backpack to his room. Since he had clothes and toys already there, he never had to pack much, but he always brought extra books and stuffed animals ... because he was three-and-a-half-years old.
“So, have you got big plans for tonight?” Valerie asked when they were alone.
David knew when asking his mom to watch Jacob overnight that he was likely going to be subjected to some questions when dropping him off, since it was something David rarely did. Still, he was hoping the questions would be kept to a minimum, mainly because the more she asked, the higher the probability would become that he’d have to lie to her … and his mom could sniff out a lie like a seasoned detective. “I wouldn’t say they’re ‘big’,” he deflected with a shrug. “But I do have plans.”
“Are they with Evan?”
“No.”
“Oh? Then who are they with?”
“I’d rather not say.” His tone was firm, yet pleasant, as he delivered the not-so-thinly-veiled hint to respect his privacy.
“You’d rather not say?” Valerie frowned. “They’re not with Ashley, are they?”
“What? No.”
“Oh, good.” Her relief was palpable. “Then who are they with?”
So, either his hint hadn’t been as not-so-thinly-veiled as he’d thought, or she was simply choosing to not respect his privacy. Maybe doubling down would do the trick. “I’d rather not say,” he repeated, this time more firmly, and a little less pleasantly.
“You know that’s not an acceptable answer for your mother, right?”
He normally didn’t do this, because it seemed oddly juvenile, but it was time to throw down the ‘grown man’ card. And he decided to add ‘none of your business’ for a little extra punch. “I’m a grown man, so yes, it is. Plus, it’s nicer than me telling you it’s none of your business.”
“Why are you being so secretive?” Valerie’s frown deepened, veering into something close to disapproval, which meant that everything he was doing was only making her more suspicious. It also meant she wasn’t going to stop digging; if anything she was going to start digging with a backhoe, instead of a shovel. “You’re not hooking up with some random woman, are you?”
That question was so unexpected that he was speechless for a moment. “I’m not even going to ask how—or why—you know about random hookups,” he said, before holding up both hands and adding quickly, “And for God’s sake, please don’t tell me.”
She crossed her arms and gave him her best I’m your mother look, which was always a little unsettling to him because of their physical similarities. Despite being in her late 50s, she could’ve easily passed for his slightly older sister, with the same wavy, medium ash-brown hair and deep hazel eyes, that unfortunately seemed to miss nothing. “You didn’t answer my question, David.”
When she called him by his name, in that tone, it was always a bad sign and never failed to make him feel like he was twelve. “No, Mom, I’m not hooking up with some random woman.”
“Oh, good.” Again, her relief was palpable. “Because I wouldn’t watch Jacob so you could … do that.”
“And I wouldn’t ask you to. Now, please feel free to stop with the stink eye. It’s unnecessary.”
Valerie tilted her head and examined him from head to toe, taking in his casual, yet nice attire of cargo pants and a navy polo shirt, and the obvious signs that he’d very recently showered and trimmed his beard. “So, who are your plans with?”
David had long suspected his mother was a pit bull in a previous life. “Jesus, Mom. Did you hear the part where I said I was a grown man and it’s none of your business? If not, I’ll say it again: I’m a grown man and it’s none of your business.”
“They’re obviously with a woman, but not a random woman,” she murmured, ignoring everything he’d just said. “So does that mean she’s someone you’re dating?”
He didn’t answer, mostly because he knew she wouldn’t believe him if he said, “No,” and a “Yes,” would lead to another thousand questions and she’d already asked too many as it was. She just apparently didn’t know it.
“That’s a simple enough question,” she said. “It’s not like I’m asking you to explain nuclear fusion.”
He took a deep breath and released it before answering. “I guess technically, yes, she’s someone I’m dating, but only by the loosest of definitions, okay?”
“The ‘loosest of definitions’? What does that mean? You’re either dating, or you’re not.”
“Look, we mostly just hang out together—”
“In other words, you’re dating.”
His mother was worse than Evan, and Evan was pretty bad. “All right. I’m dating her, but it’s casual. Very, very, extremely casual. So casual, in fact, that I don’t know if it will go anywhere and that’s all I can tell you.”
There, that should do it. Give her just enough information to satisfy her, then firmly cut her off—
“What’s her name?” Valerie wanted to know.
That was the last thing he could tell her, so he remained mute, seriously wondering what she would do if he just turned and ran out of the house. God knows, he really wanted to.
“You do know her name, don’t you?” she prodded.
God, she was actually way worse than Evan ever thought about being. “Of course I know her name. I’m just not going to tell you what it is.”
She narrowed her eyes. “David.”
He could narrow his eyes, too. “Mom. I’m not telling you because this woman and I are casual.”
“Yes, you mentioned that already.”
“And it’s worth repeating. Casual.” Then, to hammer his point home (again) he crossed his arms and gave her his best That’s enough look, the one that never failed to make Jacob cease whatever shenanigans he was up to.
Valerie sighed, and David watched as she struggled to rein in her curiosity and her desire to keep pushing. Finally, after what seemed like five minutes, she backed down with a grudging smile. “Fine. You win,” she conceded. “You’re right. You’re a grown man, and it is none of my business.”
He couldn’t believe his That’s enough look had actually worked. “Thank you,” he told her, so relieved it was almost ridiculous. “And thanks for watching Jacob tonight. I really do appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome.” Then, sounding slightly uncertain, Valerie asked, “So, is it okay if I tell you to have a good time?”
Hating that he’d apparently hurt her feelings, he pulled her in for a hug. “Yes, Mom, you can tell me to have a good time.”
“Okay, then have a good time.”
“I will.” He kissed her temple and breathed in the faint floral scent of her shampoo. He didn’t know what brand it was, but she’d been using it for as long as he could remember and it never failed to soothe him.
“Oh, and be sure to tell Paige I said, ‘Hello’, all right?”
“I will—” David broke off, his entire body freezing in horror. Unable to move, because he was afraid to face the giant shit he’d just taken, he almost didn’t let Valerie take a step back.
“I knew it,” she whispered, looking very pleased with herself once she’d extricated herself from his lobster grip.
“How the hell did you know?”
“I’m a pretty smart cookie. If it had been anyone else, you would’ve told me her name. Plus, you’ve spent some time with Paige recently, so I figured it was probably her.”
“It is.” David heaved a giant sigh. “But I meant what I said, Mom. She and I are just hanging out, and it’s casual, okay? Now, repeat that.”
“You’re just hanging out and it’s casual.”
“I’m serious, Mom.”
“You’re just hanging out and it’s casual,” Valerie said again, this time with drawn-out exaggeration. “See? I got it. There’s no need to worry.”
They stood there, looking at one another for several moments. Her expression appeared to be open and honest—innocent even—but he’d just been taken down by the woman, so he couldn’t really say he believed what he was seeing. She’d seemed harmless right up until she wasn’t, after all, so … he didn’t trust her.
David didn’t waste any more time getting the hell out of there.