Chapter Fourteen #2
“Ok, one, extroverted-ness isn’t a word and, two, he has nothing to do with it. I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Like all responsible soon-to-be adults.”
“Sure, sure.”
I glared at him but before I could come up with a retort, Maria said, “So, did you?”
“Did I what?”
“Figure out your next steps.” She shifted again, and Diego wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. Offering her a biscuit, he turned his attention to me, and suddenly I was stage shy as I realized they were all staring at me.
“Actually, yeah. I’m going to apply to UGA.”
Dalton threw his hands in the air. “Oh yeah! Roomies! Go Dawgs! Uga, Uga!”
We all stared at him, and he gave an abashed grin. Mac shook his head before asking, “What major?”
“Business. I want to open one when I graduate.” I wasn’t ready to tell them my plans yet. Maybe Maria. Maybe later.
Maria squealed and clapped her hands together. “That’s so cool. Will you be able to start with Dalton?”
Dalton had already been to Athens and back a few times, knee deep in football and team bonding shit. I looked over at him and he mouthed, “Uga, Uga!”
I rolled my eyes and reached for another biscuit. “I doubt it. Spring, if I get in.”
“Oh, you’ll get in.” Diego gave me a friendly grin, and I surprised myself when I returned it. Just then, Momma made her way over with a tray laden with food. She laid out the feast, Dalton eyeing it like a man half starved, and winked at me.
“Hey, honey. Haven’t seen you in a hot minute. I’ve missed that pretty face. How’s my girl?”
“What about my pretty face?” Dalton said around a mouthful of fries, earning a grimace from the table and a stern look from Momma. He resumed attacking his burger like it owed him lunch money.
“Hey Momma, looking good!”
“Don’t I know it.” She winked at me and sashayed her more than ample hips. “Now before we were interrupted, you were fixing to tell me what was on that big, beautiful brain.”
“Actually, I was just telling them that I’m going to apply to UGA. Business school.”
“Go Dawgs! Sic ’Em! Woof! Woof! Woof!” This time, Mac threw a piece of fried okra at Dalton’s head and frowned at him.
“Oh, that’s right. Get it, girl!” She beamed at me. “You are going to go far, sweetie.” She turned her attention to Maria. “Hey there little mama, how are we feeling?”
“I need a good lawyer so I can serve up an eviction notice.” Diego handed her a glass of water, and she took a sip before saying, “I love her, but I need her out.”
“You have a name yet?”
“No ma’am, just waiting till I hold her. See what feels right.”
“That’s a good plan, baby. Good plan. It’ll be here before ya know it. Yall enjoy your food, if you haven’t already inhaled it.” She ruffled Dalton’s hair before heading back to the kitchen.
I eyed my chicken fried steak eagerly and tucked into the deliciousness that was Momma Laverne’s cooking. A comfortable silence settled over the table. My mind was still racing, going over a list of things I needed to do to get in to UGA. But this kind of racing was more peaceful, less hectic.
“It’s nice having the gang back together. Look at us. Adults and shit.” Dalton stretched in his chair, having demolished his cheeseburger.
Mac rolled his eyes. “Y’all are not nearly old enough to be called adults.”
Dalton frowned at him. “Oh, but you are old man?”
Mac flipped him off, and Maria laughed. An easy banter started up, and I half listened as I ate. Until a certain name was brought up. My traitorous ears perked up and I looked up, reaching for my tea.
“Yeah, I haven’t heard from him but that’s typical, I think?”
“I got a letter, like once. Letting me know he wasn’t dead but kinda wished he was.”
“He should be back towards the end of September, right? October, at the latest?”
“Pretty sure.”
“Gawd, I miss his ornery ass. Nobody tell him I said that shit, though.” Dalton fixed the table with a glare and Diego chortled.
“Jackson’s coming back?” Everyone looked at me as I tried to force the words to be completely nonchalant. I glanced at Maria and the slight smile I saw on her face told me she wasn’t fooled.
Mac nodded, “Basic is thirteen weeks. Then MOS. Then he’ll be back for a bit before he goes to more training. From what I understand. Mom’s throwing him a welcome home party.”
“Yeah, she’s crazy excited. Still like, over two months away and she’s already planning a menu. BBQ, by the way. If anyone is interested. Mom is sending Dad to get a brisket from that butcher she likes. Two hour drive. For a piece of meat.”
Diego opened his mouth to say something, but just then, Maria groaned and made a slight whimpering sound as she closed her eyes. The entire table froze, and she startled a little when she opened them back up and found us all staring at her.
“Mi corazon?” Diego’s eyes were a mask of worry, but she shooshed him.
“I’m fine, everyone. Promise. Braxton Hicks.
They’re a bitch.” Diego bent closer to her ear, whispering Spanish and she reached behind her head, placing a hand on his neck.
Dalton cleared his throat and started clearing plates from the table.
I stood, and walked to kneel by Maria. She was seated facing the end of the booth, her back resting against Diego’s side.
I could see the pain and exhaustion in her eyes. “I’m fine, hermana. I promise.”
I reached for her, placing a hand on her belly and smiling when I felt a gentle kick in response.
“Hey Lil Bit, you causing your momma some grief? That’s not very nice.
” Maria put her hand over mine and squeezed gently.
Mac and Dalton had cleared the table, taking plates to the kitchen, but returned with several pieces of pie in to-go containers.
“You, and me, pizza night before Lil Bit gets here?” She nodded eagerly and held both hands out to me.
I pulled her to her feet, steadying her as she wobbled a bit.
She wrapped me in an awkward hug and said, “Yes, absolutely. My place? It’s not much but…I wanna show it off.”
“Hell yeah, I’m down with that. You can help me edit my admissions essay.
You were always better at writing than me.
” She smiled at me and I bid everyone goodbye before grabbing a piece of pie and heading for the door.
Momma hollered a farewell from the kitchen, telling me to behave myself, and I winced as I stepped from the cool interior of the restaurant into the smothering heat of a Georgia summer.
As I slid behind the wheel of Sally, I put the AC on full blast and, despite my best efforts, thought of Jackson.
I don’t know why I was so shocked he would be coming home.
It made sense. I guess I had just wrapped myself in a little cocoon or something.
Whatever. Not like it was a big deal. Whether he was here or there, he had made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with me, so, my confused heart could just take a chill pill. I had bigger things to focus on.
When I got back home, I shouted a hello to Mom as I headed up the stairs. Before I got too far, she stopped me. “Hey! How was lunch?”
I turned to her, frowning when I realized she had something behind her back. “Good. Everyone says hi.”
She nodded and then whipped out a little red bag that was overflowing with glittery gold tissue paper. I turned, heading back down the stairs and grabbed it from her. “Turns out Georgia is really big on school pride. It was surprisingly easy to rustle up some goodies while you were out!”
“I was only gone for a bit…” I trailed off as I pulled a black hoodie from the bag. “Georgia” was emblazoned across the front in bold red lettering. I dug further, pulling out a fat stuffed bulldog and a rather hideous hat with a big red pompom on top. “Mom, I haven’t even gotten in yet.”
“Oh, pish-posh. Technicalities. You’re gonna do great things. I always knew it.”
I eyed her for a minute, not missing the irony that Momma Laverne had literally just said the same thing.
She waited for me to say something, but I couldn’t help but wonder if she had really let me down or…
if I had just been a hurt kid looking for someone to blame.
I don’t know. Call it my era of healing.
But I was happy. I had friends, a future, and, whether I liked it or not, parents who loved me and were stubbornly a part of my life. I held up the stuffed dog, “Uga, Uga.”
Mom tilted her head, “Huh?”
“Something Dalton wouldn’t shut up about. Their mascot, Uga.”
“Oh.”
“Thank you, Mom. I appreciate it. And…I’m sorry. That it’s taken me so long. To, you know, see it.”
She blinked furiously, and clasped her hands in front of her to hide the tremble, “See what?”
“That you love me.”
Her bottom lip trembled, but she didn’t make a move to embrace me. “Always. And I’m sorry too.”
I hesitated before taking the last few steps and embracing her.
I genuinely couldn’t remember the last time I had willing initiated a hug with my mom.
But, maybe, this was how healing happened.
Not loud, not sudden. Just small, little moments that fixed what was broken behind the scenes.
“I’m going to go work on my essay, get started on the application. ”
She rubbed my back and a singular tear slipped down her cheek as I headed to my room. I had my pie in one hand, my mom’s gift bag in the other. Time to focus on the future. Make something of it. Of myself. I tossed the bag down on my bed and sent another text to Maria.
Me: Pizza, Friday?
Her response was immediate, as always.
Maria: If I last that long. Be prepared to take me to the hospital. Might want to put some plastic covers on Sally’s seat.
Me: Hey, I love Lil Bit but we are going to have beef if she messes up my car.
Maria: LOL I’ll be sure to let her know Auntie Holly’s car is off limits.
My thumb hovered over the screen before I sent my next message.
Me: I think my mom and I are getting better.
Maria: Oh yeah?
Me: Yeah, whole ooey gooey moment.
Maria: That’s great. Healing is good. I should know. Still working on my end though.
Me: Yeah.
Maria: Imma take a nap. Diego went back to his mom’s for a bit, so it’s quiet here for once.
Me: Ok, love you. Get some sleep.
Maria: Don’t have to tell me twice. Love you.
I grabbed my laptop from my desk, settling crisscrossed applesauce on my bed.
Scrolling through UGA’s website, I gnawed on my lip as I summoned the courage to open my email.
I was surprised to find a response from Undergraduate Admissions already.
Like I suspected, it was too late for fall enrollment but I could start in spring.
I went through the to-do list they shared with me and decided to start with the shorter of the two required essays.
After a few hours, I was eating the pecan pie when my dad knocked on the door.
I looked up at him as he let himself in.
“Hey, bug. Whatcha up to?”
I gestured to my laptop with my pie. “Admission essays.”
“Fun, fun. Heard you and your mom talked.”
“Yeah, sort of.”
“That’s great, bug. Keep it up.”
I smiled at him as he turned to leave. “Let me know if there is anything you need.”
A few minutes later, I heard my mother’s laughter peal throughout the house as I worked on the paragraph that was giving me the most trouble.
For the first time in a very long time, I was excited for the future.
And when I finally came down from my room to join them for dinner, there was a lightness to my parents that hadn’t been there before.