“Of course I do,” she fussed as she reached out to shake his hand. “You and Nolan are friends. It’s so nice to see you again. And please, call me Joan.”
“Joan,” he said with a nod. He turned to me and gave me a smile that sent a zing of happiness through me. “Hi.”
Everything about the moment felt important and I was totally unprepared. I mean, did people who were just having fun introduce their fun-partner to their parents? But I already knew Pat and Gerard so I guess it leveled the playing field for him to meet my mom.
I realized that they were both staring at me. “Um, we’re decorating!”
“After we eat,” my mom added so my non sequitur made sense. “Please join us, there’s still plenty.”
Andrew watched me for a beat and I felt my face getting hot remembering the night before. “Would you mind?”
I shook my head and did an embarrassingly flourishy gesture to the extra chair at the end of the table. “Please.”
I felt awkward and obvious, like I was back in high school again and trying to hide hickeys from my mom. But they didn’tseem to notice my nerves as they chattered about the best places to get pizza.
“I totally forgot my whole reason for stopping by,” Andrew said, finally looking away from my mom. “Mike texted me about bringing someone to look at the property after hours tonight, around nine. This is the second time the person is coming, so it sounds like they’re serious.”
“Oh, is this about someone buying the building?” my mom asked as she took a demure sip of beer.
“Yeah, unfortunately,” Andrew said. He tossed his crust on the paper plate in front of him. “Can anyone think of a way to sabotage the place so they won’t want it?”
My mom pressed on even though I was sure she could feel me shooting laser eyes at her. “Did they say what they want to do with the building?”
He shook his head. “No. It feels like things are starting to move faster now, though. I’m getting worried.”
“Andrew signed a month-to-month lease because Mike is the literal worst,” I explained, giving the situation more air than I was comfortable with. “That way the building looks more attractive to potential buyers. They have Roz’s space open in the middle so they could keep it or jack up the rent and try to find a tenant, then there’s me anchoring this spot for the next year and a half, and if they want to they can keep Andrew or kick him out immediately.”
“That’s awful,” she said as she looked back and forth between us. “And you just opened. What are you going to do?”
“Mom,” I said sharply. “That’s a big question, let’s keep it light, okay?”
“No, it’s fine,” Andrew said. “I’ve been looking around andthere’s nothing comparable. I’ll definitely have to downsize. And I’m trying not to think about relocation expenses. It’s basically a nightmare.”
A shadow passed over his face, but I knew better than to ask if something else was going on with him.
“What a predicament,” my mom said. “I’m so sorry to hear it, Andrew.”
“Thanks.” He reached down to pet Edith, who’d materialized beneath the table.
She shot me a questioning look and I shook my head at her, widening my eyes menacingly. There was nowaywe were going to get into the possibility of me buying the building in front of Andrew. She sighed and took another sip of beer.
“Anyway, would you like to come see it, before I have to shut it all down?”
“Stop,” I said to Andrew, more forcefully than I’d meant to. “That’s not going to happen.”
“She’s right,” my mom added. “Maybe you’ll get lucky and someone wonderful will buy the building.”
I glared at my mom, but she pretended not to notice.
“Let’s hope. I could use a Christmas miracle.” He stood up. “Shall we?”
As expected, Andrew made my mom fall in love with him. Her newfound gym enthusiasm combined with his understanding of the senior brain meant that he had her hoisting free weights six minutes after she walked into the place. Edith and I stood by and watched as he showed her how to use a foam roller to treat her lower back pain.
“I love it here,” my mom exclaimed as the tour and miniworkout came to an end. “Do you have people my age training with you?”
“I do. My clients range from eighteen to eighty-five.”
My mom glanced around the place again. “If I didn’t have my exercise ladies over at Wismer Fit I’d come work out here. You aresoknowledgeable, Andrew!”
