“For one, I need to know who this woman you’re dating is,” she says. “Where did you meet her? How long has this been going on? When are you bringing her up to meet the family? Is she coming to the wedding? And why are your sisters and parents finding out about her on the news rather than directly from you?”
I groan inwardly. I knew this phone call was coming, but I’ve beentoo distracted to worry about it.
“Sorry,” I say. “I’ve been a bit busy lately.”
“Too busy to let your family know you met someone, and a university professor at that?” she counters.
I had a feeling Gray’s job would score some points with Inga. She always looked down on Grace and the other women I dated because they didn’t fit her definition of a strong, successful woman. The only woman she liked was the VP I dated for a while. If she knew what that woman let me do to her in the bedroom, though, she might have changed her tune.
“I was going to call this week,” I lie.
“Bullshit,” she says. “You finally meet a woman with brains, and I have to find out about it on the internet.” She pauses. “Although if she’s dating you, maybe I have to rethink how smart she is.”
“Fuck you,” I tell her. Inga and I have always had an antagonistic relationship, but I know she’s just teasing me.
“When are you bringing her up to meet everyone?” Inga presses.
“I don’t know. We’re in the middle of the season. I’d have to find a stretch where we don’t have a game and then see if I can work around practices. I’m not sure I can swing it anytime-”
“Ash?” My mother’s voice comes on the phone, and I squeeze my eyes shut. Inga called in the nuclear option.
“Hi, Mom. How are you?” I say, softening my voice. “I miss you.”
“I miss you too,” she says. “We’d love to see you if you can find a little time to come up.”
I open my mouth to answer, but she goes on before I can.
“Make sure you bring your pretty new girlfriend,” she says. “What’s her name?”
“Gray, Mom,” I say. “Her name is Gray.”
“Oh, that’s fun,” she says. “Ash is a shade of gray.”
That stops me, and I huff a laugh. The color connection between our names never occurred to me.
“Listen, Mom,” I try again, but Inga knew what she was doing puttingmy mother on.
“I know you’re busy,elskan mín,” my mother says, using her Icelandic endearment for me, “but it’s been a while since you’ve been home, and your father could really use some help with a few things if you have time to come up.”
I sigh heavily, realizing I’ve lost the battle.
“I’ll see what I can do,” I say. “Gray may not be able to get the time off, though. She has to teach class.”
“Oh. But, isn’t the American Thanksgiving coming up in a few weeks?” she asks. “She’ll get a break then, won’t she?”
My mother may pretend to be sweet and innocent, but she’s as sharp as a tack.
I make one final attempt to get out of a drive up to Canada.
“Yeah, but she may want to spend the holiday with her own family. I’ll have to see.”
“I know you’ll do your best,” my mother says, and I will, because disappointing my mother is never an option.
“I…I’ll find a way to make it happen,” I say. “I have to go now. I’ll be in touch soon.”
“Oh good,” she says. “But I think Inga still-”
“Bye, Mom. I love you!” I hang up the phone before she can put my sister back on and head to where Gray and Kelsier are waiting.
