“She’s pissed,” Perry chuckled. “She’s probably still mad about the dead frog we left under her pillow last week.”
Between laughing and running, they were breathless by the time they walked up to the front door.
“Were you boys troubling Jordan again?” a voice said from behind them.
Kevin turned to see Perry’s mom carrying two bags of groceries. “Is it that obvious, Momma B?” Kevin asked as he took the bags from her hands.
She kissed Perry, then him before opening the door. “You’re gonna miss her when she leaves.”
“Which is why we gotta torture her as much as we can now, Ma,” Perry shot back.
She sighed, shaking her head as she walked into the kitchen. “I’m gonna make us all some lunch and then I’ll take you to the hospital, okay?” she said, looking at Kevin.
His jaw clenched. “I’m not going. I don’t want to see her.”
It was a lie. He did want to see his mother. He just didn’t want to see her in the hospital.
“Kevin…” Her voice was gentle yet firm, almost a warning that he shouldn’t argue. Momma B had always been stricter than his own mother, but not by any means less loving. “You are going to eat and then I am taking you to the hospital.”
The volatile mood he’d been trying to suppress all day began to surface. “What difference does it make? She’ll be home by tomorrow and…she’s fine.”
Taking out bread, butter, ham and cheese, she began making sandwiches. “She wants to see you.”
“I don’t care.”
And with the vision only a mother possessed, she saw that it was just the worry talking. But that didn’t mean that he wanted to go. He would see his mother when she was back at home, where she belonged.
“She wants to see you, so you’re going,” Momma B said sternly.
“I’m not going!” he snapped. “And you can’t make me. I don’t know where you get off telling me what to do. I don’t have to listen to you because youarenotmy mother!”
He’d had disagreements with Momma B before, yet never had he said anything so despicable to her. That comment made her really mad really fast. She walked across the kitchen and slapped him. It was too restrained to cause pain, but hard enough to get his attention and let him know she was pissed. He glanced over at Perry and he just shrugged, giving him a look that said:Well, you had it coming.
It wasn’t the first time she’d slapped him, but it was the first time she looked like she was genuinely disappointed in him.
“You shut your mouth,” she hissed. The tears brimming in her eyes told him that she wasn’t just angry, she was hurt, making it clear that Momma B had just earned the first nail in her log. “You have the nerve to say something like that tome? Who takes you to your swimming lessons? Who makes you soupevery time you get sick? Who picks you up from school every other day?” She paused, and when he still didn’t respond, she became more agitated. “Answer me!”
“You…” He cleared his throat. Shame was weighing his voice down. “You, Momma B.”
“That’s right. I’m there, every day. Twenty-four-seven, I’m there. Anything you need, I’m there. The same way your mom is there for Perry. I’ve been there for every school concert, every little league game, not just for my boy, for you too. I haven’t missedoneof your swimming tournaments. Not one.” She grasped his chin, forcing him to look at her. “Iamyour mother and it will do you good to remember that.”
A weight lifted off her chest as soon as she said all that and she continued making sandwiches like nothing happened. She said what she needed to say, forgave him for what he said, and went back to being the sweet, loving woman that she was. He exchanged looks with Perry because they both couldn’t understand how women could just flip the switch like that.
“Now we are going to eat,” she said sprightly. “And then afterwards, we areallgoing to the hospital whether we like it or not.” She glanced at Kevin with a look that cautioned him not to argue again and then said the most motherly phrase ever. “Because I said so.”
Kevin was torn at that moment, not knowing whether to smile or roll his eyes. Mothers!
November, 14
Las Vegas, Nevada to Grand Canyon, Arizona
“Okay, Kevin,” Jasmin said, closing the car door. “Before we officially leave Vegas, I want to give you a once in a lifetime opportunity. Do you wanna get married?”
He pretended to give it some thought. “I’d love to, Jazz, but I can’t. I’ve always dreamed of my future wife being…you know…sane.”
“Well, your loss.” She started the car. “I can make a mean pot of curry. I’m just putting it out there so you know what you’re missing.”
“Regret is building up inside me already.” Glancing over at her, he did his usual check, and sighed his annoyance. He hated that he had to tell her the same thing every time. “Seatbelt, Jasmin.”
