“Apollo’s birthday party and at work.”
“Yeah.” Melanie looked down, shyness or something I’d never seen on her before. Then again, I’d never brought her somewhere that she didn’t have some sort of advantage to.
“Just so you know, mom has not said anything since I got here.” Greg brought me back to why we were here, for Melanie to meet mom.
“Nothing?” Now I was worried. Even when she was mad, mom still made small talk. It was the Southern in her. Hospitality meant everything to her.
“Nothing. Lilly stayed home since Jonathan is getting sick. I walked in an hour ago, she looked up from the stove, and then went back to cooking. Dad said she’s been like that all day.”
“Shit.” I grabbed for Melanie’s hand before walking through the front door. There was no preparing her for this. We just needed to get the initial introduction over with and then I’d be able to deflect based on needs. Mom was going to question Melanie regardless but I could stop her from being crude about it.
“Ma!” I called out into the house. My dad turned around in his chair and waved to me. “Hey, dad.”
He stood, grabbed a hold of me in a hug. When he let go, he turned his attention to Melanie.
“Dad,” I brought her in front of me, wanting to show her off, “this is Melanie, my girlfriend.”
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” Melanie held out her hand and my dad looked from it and up to her, then he did the unthinkable. He took Melanie in an embrace. We were a hugging family. Normally we only did so once we got to know someone but dad wasn’t having that.
“It’s so great to finally meet the woman who made an honest man out of my son.”
“Dad,” I tried to scold him but it didn’t work. Melanie snickered and started some small talk with him. I took the chance to break off and make my way into the kitchen. My mom hadn’t answered me when I walked into the house but I knew exactly where she was going to be.
Barbecue filled my nostrils when I entered the kitchen. Mom was standing at the stove flipping chicken on the baking sheet before putting it back in the oven. She then stirred the mac and cheese on the stovetop.
“I know you’re there.” She didn’t look up from the pot when she spoke to me.
“Ma.” I walked over to her and placed a kiss on top of her head before leaning against the counter next to her. “Greg says you’ve been silent.”
“Rightfully so.”
“Ma.”
“Don’t ‘Ma’ me.” She turned the stovetop off and leaned down, taking the chicken out of the oven. Dinner was ready but this conversation was far from being over.
“You’re the one who’s not talking to anyone today.”
“You’re the one who brought that girl who broke your heart into this house.” Her finger was pointed to my chest and out of the corner of my eye I could see my dad and Melanie standing in the doorway of the kitchen.
Mom platted the mac and cheese in a glass pan and brought it to the table, ignoring the fact that she’d insulted Melanie in front of me. Silence filled the house as I tried to help my mom set the rest of the table. Melanie worked with my dad to get the plates and silverware while Greg grabbed drinks. It was single syllables as we all worked around each other until dinner was set and mom took her seat first. Dad and Greg grabbed the seats next to her and Melanie and I sat on the other side of the table.
Greg plated his food first and then passed the food around, allowing everyone to take what they wanted. I looked across the table to my mom who was refusing to make eye contact at our end of the table. Melanie’s hand was in mine and I squeezed it, trying to let her know I was here for her.
This was not how I expected the night to go.
I took another bite and watched as my mom leaned in to whisper something to my father. That was it, I wasn’t going to let Melanie be treated like this. She was here tonight to be introduced as part of the family, not be treated like a leaper.
“Enough,” I slammed my fist down on the table.
“Jackson Lee Moran,” Mom raised her voice, standing from the table and throwing her napkin on her plate. She only ever used my full name when she was upset but I had more of a right to be upset than she did.
“No.” I stood up, matching her stance. “You don’t get to say my full name, Ma. Not when you’re blatantly ignoring Melanie.”
She shifted her gaze away from me at being called out.
“I brought Melanie here tonight for you to meet her and I expect you to treat her like a guest, Ma.”
“No.”
