Huh.
“Right.”
“So where are you, sweetie?”
“I’m in the market picking up some things for dinner. I’m cooking tonight too.”
“Oh, that’s nice. What’s on the menu?”
“Vegetarian chili.”
“That sounds interesting. I’m sure Troy will like that.”
While I am making this dish, hoping Troy will enjoy it, I realize that there’s something about my mom’s comment that rubs me the wrong way.
“Well, sure, he probably will like it, but that’s not the only reason I’m making it. What’s more important is that it’s the healthier option.”
“Of course, dear. You’re right. I heard many people lose weight on those vegetarian diets.”
I roll my eyes.
“That’s not why either, mom.”
My mother changes the subject because I get touchy when she alludes to some sort of problem with my weight. I am built very much like my stocky paternal grandmother and not at all like my mother’s waif thin side of the family. A fact I’ve accepted long ago, but one she never lets me forget.
“Listen, sweetie, your cousin wanted me to double check that you can attend her bridal shower.”
“Of course I can,” I say with an attitude. “I already told her that I was coming.”
My first cousin Cecily is the biggest pain in the ass since she got engaged. She is a classic Bridezilla, wanting to control every single part of the planning of her wedding. I have told her on three different occasions through text messages I was confirmed for her shower, but that isn’t good enough for her. Now she’s getting the moms involved. Our mothers are twin sisters and very close, but Cecily and I couldn’t be more different. In fact, we barely tolerate each other.
“Don’t get so frustrated with her, Adrienne. The date of the shower is right around the corner and you work a lot. She just wants to make sure that all of her family is there. When you finally start planning your big day, you’ll see how much of a monumental task the planning is.”
My mom places a slight emphasis on the wordfinally, because in her opinion Troy and I should have planned our wedding a long time ago. Cecily and her fiancé got engaged after us and will be married before us, and she never let me forget that either. I don’t think my mom is necessarily embarrassed by it, but she is definitely concerned, especially with my track record with men being what it is.
“I hear you, mom. I will call her so that there is no doubt that I’m confirmed, okay?”
“Perfect. I’m sure she’d love to hear from you.”
I seriously doubt that.
“Do you need anything while I’m at the store, mom?”
“No, hun’, I’m just going to get back to my chops, then maybe watch an old movie.”
“Are you watching anything I might like?”
“I think I’m going to watch Bye Bye Birdie. I haven’t seen that musical in years.”
“Oh, that’s a good one. I love the old musicals.”
“Me too.”
“Alright, talk to you later, mom.”
“Bye, sweetie.”
When I pull up in front of my place, I can see my tabby cat, Mittens, sitting in my home office windowsill, which is weird. She normally only goes inside that room when I have to put her away because someone with allergies has come over but maybe she’s sitting there because she senses that I’m coming home. Cats are smart like that.
