Chapter 2
It doesn’t take long for her mother to come sleuthing.
While Ariel may have said she wouldn’t breathe a word about Gage, Minnie knew her mother would still suspect something. Ariel always stays with Minnie when she comes to town. There’s never been a single deviation from this in all the years since the girls moved out of their childhood home.
Never. Until now. Minnie is no fool, and she knows her parents aren’t either.
It’s why she’s almost unsurprised when the glamorous Marla Fray drifts into the library around noon, all finely outfitted in classy beige trousers and a blouse, wearing a handbag that Minnie would never be able to afford, and Chanel pearls at her throat.
Nary a wrinkle in sight on her face; those injections have been working wonders over the years, now, haven’t they?
The blonde woman smiles brightly when she sees Minnie sitting behind the center desk of the library, eyes sparkling. “My darling, how are you?” Marla gushes the words out as she makes a beeline for Minnie, clearly on A Mission. “I thought we could eat together on your lunch hour.”
Minnie feels her eyes widen as she smiles stiffly.
Oh, God. It’s happening already? Her mother is nosey, even though she tries to pretend she is anything but.
“That’s so sweet of you, Mom. This is a surprise-” Charmingly, her mother leans over the counter and kisses the air by Minnie’s cheek.
Minnie splutters out, “Oh, goodness, hi.”
“I brought your favorite!” Marla opens her large carryall and shows the contents, where she has some artfully packed sushi from the local Japanese high-end spot.
Minnie’s mouth waters and her stomach growls in anticipation. Oh, her mother is preparing to butter her up for some serious snooping, she just knows it. She brought sushi, after all.
They go out into the pleasant courtyard, sitting down at one of the picnic tables. They talk about what’s new at home, what Minnie’s parents have been up to these days. The latest cruise in Europe they just returned from. About how Minnie doesn’t call enough and Ariel calls too much.
Sniffing, Marla’s eyes look around at their surroundings. “When are you going to consider a new job? Maybe one of the cute boutique shops in Uptown. That would be much better suited for you, it would give you an elegant edge-”
“Mom,” Minnie says calmly, trying not to get upset about an old disagreement. Her family always expected more from her, and being a librarian was not it. “I like being here. I enjoy it.”
Marla makes a tsking noise and pats Minnie’s hand. “I simply wish you could choose someplace less…tragically homey. How will you find a husband here? Only married men go to libraries, you know.”
Oh, mother. If only you knew…
Minnie refrains from rolling her eyes. She met Gage in this very place. And to call the library tragically homey? Ha. The library is meant to be homey, a place for people to get lost amongst the stacks, find a new world, a new dream, and get absorbed in it.
A place to hide from old nightmares.
After a moment, her mother inhales deep and slow, gearing up for something. Oh, here it comes…
“Your sister is at home, did you know that?”
Throat tight, Minnie wonders how to answer.
Did Ariel say she actually came to Minnie’s house earlier?
Maybe she told them that Minnie texted her not to come, that she was sick.
Crap. What to say to keep the smoke and mirrors alive and well?
Keep it simple, no one can unravel simple. “Yeah, I know.”
“Is there an issue between you two?” Her mother makes a little pout, playing coy.
“She claimed you were sick, but I know my Minerva doesn’t get sick.
” Her eyes drift over Minnie knowingly. “Ariel never stays at our house these days.” Probably because they would question Ariel going out to the bars at all hours of the night, even as an adult woman.
“She prefers to be with you. You know I worry about my girls and if they’re getting along. ”
You’re just prying is what you mean, Minnie thinks dryly, using chopsticks to grab herself some fine nigiri.
“There’s no problem between me and Ariel. She, uh, just wanted to see you guys for a change. Besides, you know she hates my morbid guest bedroom.” The tastefully gothic second bedroom, decorated in honor of Edgar Allen Poe and the works of Mary Shelley.
“Minerva.” Her mother sounds less impressed with Minnie’s bad lying technique.
“It’s hard on my heart, you know, to think you’re keeping things from me.
Besides, you know what stress does to me; it makes me buy more Chanel!
” The spoiled pout intensifies. “Such poor manners to lie to your aging mother.”
Her mother has had enough Botox to not be aging at this point, but go on, Marla.
Sighing in defeat, Minnie shifts her glasses about her face, looking up at the blue sky.
Please don’t overreact, she thinks. She’s got no idea how to break this lightly.
A part of her wants to gush about it, about being so utterly head over heels.
About how Gage makes her feel and how hard her heart races when he looks at her with his fierce hazel eyes-
Best keep it simple. The words tumble out unsteadily. “I’ve been seeing someone.”
Surprise flickers. “Since when? Where on earth did you find him?” A suspicious pause. “And what bearing does this have on your sister?”
Here it comes. “For a while. I met him here, actually. And, he’s been staying over. Ariel didn’t want to intrude…” Minnie trails off weakly.
The look on her mother’s face is near comical.
The level of appalled in her tone reaches new highs.
She briefly clutches at her Chanel. “Minerva! You’re letting some random library man stay over?
Already?! Goodness, have my life lessons been for naught?
This is a scandal. You know what they say about paying for the cow-”
Oh, of course, she heard it her entire childhood! “-when you can get the milk for free. I know. How about you go tell Ariel about that again when you get a chance?” Marla looks so upset that Minne takes pity on her. “I’m an adult, Mom. You know I haven’t had a serious boyfriend in years-”
Ever, really.
Somehow, this seems to worsen her mother’s condition. “Heavens be, you’re saying it’s serious!?” Her mother fans herself with her napkin, huffing. “This is out of control; we haven’t even met him! Who are his parents? Do I know them? Where does he work? What neighborhood does he live in?”
Good grief, this is exactly as Minnie imagined. Perhaps worse.
Minnie opens her mouth to reply, but absolutely nothing comes out. She tries again, saying, “Mom. I’m getting to be a bit old for you to be reacting this way. It could just be a fling, some fun-”
A squawk. “You already said it’s serious!”
Groaning, Minnie slumps at the table, feeling the sun on her spine. “Can we just drop it? You wanted to know why Ariel didn’t want to stay with me; I’ve told you. That’s all there is to it. Please, Mom, don’t make this into some big thing-”
The high-end lip-filler pout is back. “You’re my baby; everything is a big thing when it comes to you.”
Giving some skeptical side eye, Minnie replies, “I’m your oldest daughter!”
“Yes, well. That still means you’re my baby and I worry about you. Think of those poor girls out there who have parents who simply don’t care what sort of dogs they let in their beds!”
Hold the beef. Minnie massages the bridge of her nose, feeling her face redden. “Mom…”
Marla reaches across the table and clasps Minnie’s hand in that endearing fashion that makes it hard to stay mad at her. “And you’re special. You have a delicate history, my dove. We simply want to make sure you’re with someone who will do right by you. When will we get to meet him?”
“Um.” Minnie feels her skin chill at the thought. Gage, in her parents overwhelmingly high-end house? Her mother would clutch her Chanel pearls even more than she already has just in the duration of this conversation. Her father would check the safe behind the family portrait, twice. “Soon, Mom.”
Her mother leans over to kiss the air beside Minnie’s cheek again. Her eyes dance with excitement for Minnie. “Wonderful. We’ll have him over for a lovely dinner. I can’t wait. I’m so happy you’ve finally found someone. You’re such a special young lady. You deserve happiness.”
Anxiety pulls at Minnie’s insides and when she grins, it feels false and strained.
You won’t think the same when you meet him, Mom. But, I’ll hope for a different outcome nonetheless.