39. 39
39
Dexter
“ H ow old are you?”
“What do you do?”
“Are you divorced?”
“Do you have kids?”
The questions from Tilly’s daughters come fast and furious and I haven’t even been in the apartment for fifteen minutes.
I have never felt fear like this before.
Tilly called an hour ago and invited me over to meet the girls. I wasn’t ready; she had planned to talk to them tonight, but nothing else was supposed to happen. If things went well, there might be a chance that I would meet them Sunday, but nothing is for certain when teenagers are involved.
Now, my carefully laid plan has gone out the window, and after practically sprinting to Tilly’s apartment, I’m faced with two mini-Tillys interrogating me like some sort of special forces espionage unit. Sunday morning might be a moot point because I have to wonder if I’ll get past tonight.
I sit on the couch, flanked by two adolescent females, arms crossed, chilly expressions on their faces and they look so much like Tilly it’s disconcerting.
Except that Tilly looks confused and apologetic and slightly annoyed at the barrage of questions. “Girls,” she chides. “That’s enough of the third degree.”
“Mom.” Eldest daughter Jade’s voice sounds exactly like Tilly—when Tilly is pissed off. “We have to make sure he’s good enough for you.”
Tilly’s expression of concern softens. “Thank you, but I think I can figure that out myself.”
I know this is Tilly’s main worry about our relationship, more so than getting found out by the university that we’re dating.
In a relationship.
In love.
I’m in love with this woman and she’s given me the opportunity to meet her daughters. I can’t mess this up.
“That’s fair,” I say to Jade. “When I met my first step-father, I did the same thing. In fact, the two of you are handling this so much better than I did.”
“Your parents are divorced?” This is from Jordan. I know from Tilly that her youngest is more sensitive than Jade. Jordan sees all, tucking her observations away to mull over and stew.
I get that. “They are, and it wasn’t a good time in my life. They’re both remarried now as well—my mother remarried twice, actually. It all worked out, but—yeah. Not fun.”
Jordan studies me with Tilly’s blue eyes. I have to wonder what influence the ex-husband’s genetics had because both girls are both replicas of their mother. “They’re happy now?”
“They are. My mother met a really good guy. She’s happy with him.” I don’t look at Tilly when I say that. I also don’t mention that it took my mother two more marriages to find Tim.
Now’s not the time for full confessions.
I clear my throat and pretend I’m giving an introduction to a lecture. “So—five facts about me. I have never been married, therefore, not divorced. Also, no children. I’m an English teacher, so I really like books, but also movies and video games. I think that’s more than five. And one of my best friends plays professional baseball. I’m not bragging about that, but I think it’s pretty cool, and it impresses some people. And I’d kind of like to impress you,” I finish with a rueful smile.
“You want to impress us ?” Jordan asks skeptically.
“Well, yeah, because you’re the most important things in your mom’s life. So, obviously, I’d like you to like me.”
“How do you make people like you?” Jade demands. “Because it’s not always that easy.”
“Well.” I draw out the word as I reach for the bag I brought. “First, I offer them cupcakes.” I show the plastic clamshell from the bakery Tilly took me to once, claiming it was a favourite of the girls. “And then I suggest a game of MarioKart, because it’s the only video game I’m terrible at.”
“We don’t have our PS4 here,” Jade says grumpily. “Dad made us keep it at his place.”
I reach for the second bag. “Isn’t it good that I brought my PS5 then?”