I must’ve done something right because I watch her inflate with pride. “I’m just so happy you’re here for movie night again! I can’t believe it.”
Dad walks into the room, wearing a Ranger’s jersey. “Can’t believe what?”
“That she’s here.”
“Me either.” He turns to me. “I heard your coach said you can still make senior this fall, even after your time off. That’s great!”
“Yeah.” I fake a smile, trying not to let anxiety rise inside of me at the mention of work.
“I’m just so proud of you for sticking with this job, even when all these challenges have been thrown in your path. You willnotregret staying this long. The things this will do to launch your career?—”
Mom interrupts, looking irritated. “Don’t you have to go? I thought the game started in ten minutes. You’re barely going to make it to the Long Neck in time for the first pitch.”
I breathe a sigh of relief as Mom starts pushing him toward the door.
“Oh, is it 6:45 already? I guess I better get going. You two have fun tonight.” He presses a kiss to my cheek and rushes out the door.
Mom turns her attention back to me. “Are you hungry? Do you want anything to eat besides ice cream?”
“No, I’m okay. Rhett smoked brisket a couple days ago, and we’ve been living off the leftovers.” I can’t help it as a smile spreads across my face at the thought of Rhett. I’m disappointed he didn’t open up to me about the meaning of the song he played last night, but the thought of him playing the guitar for me still makes me giddy whenever I think about it.
“You two seem to be getting along well now. Do you want to tell me what’s actually going on between you two? I don’t buy that a smile like that would be on your face over someone who’s just a friend.”
“It’s nothing, Mom. He’s just polite to me because he cares for you and Dad. Plus, we share a pretty needy dog, so we have to be friendly with one another.”
“If you say so. He’s just so handsome and so kind. He’s the kind of man I always pictured you with.”
“Mom! I amnottalking about this with you.”
“We used to talk about boys all the time on movie nights. Remember when you had that massive crush on that Nathan boy? You used to tell me about all the little details, even if it was just that he asked you for a piece of gum in the hallway.”
The memory causes the smallest flutter of warmth in my chest. “Yeah, I did. I don’t know, though. Rhett is nothing more than a friend.”
As much as I want to repair my relationship with my mom, it still feels difficult to share details of my life with her. What if I share something with her and it has repercussions? Maybe she’d think a crush on a boy would be enough to keep me here in Roots. I don’t want her to be disappointed when I leave.
Her face grows serious, and she reaches out for my hand. “Whether I was in California or Texas, I was always there for you. I don’t know your reasoning for keeping me at a distance over the last couple years, but I never stopped being your mom, and I was always willing to move mountains to be there for you and give you whatever you wanted or needed. I still am. I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom. I’m sorry. I hate what’s happened to our relationship over the last couple years. It’s just complicated.”
She nods. “I’ll take what I can get. I’m happy you’re here now.”
I open my mouth but quickly clamp it shut as my mind starts swirling. I know in my heart I should try to let her in, but there’s still that part of me that has blocked out everyone for so long. That’s not going to go away overnight.
So instead of telling her about that tiny, okay fine, all-consuming, spark I feel with Rhett, I say, “Let’s see what movies you have.”
* * *
Two hours later, the credits of the movie roll while we each dish up a second bowl of ice cream. “Which flavor was your favorite?”
“Oh, I think the Cookies N’ Cream Cone may have won me over,” I say as I pull the top off the carton. “Which one was yours? Have you already tried these flavors before?”
“Actually, I’ve only tried a couple here and there. I think I was partial to the Cookie Two Step myself.”
“Iknewit! You’re such a sucker for cookie dough.”
“Can you blame me?”
“No. What’d you think of that ending?”
