“Mason’s good. He took me out skating at the Frog Pond which was a lot of fun.”
“Oh honey, you finally went skating. I’m so proud of you.” My mom had spent her fair share of time sitting next to me on the bench when I was a kid. “Anything else?” she pries.
“We had dinner.”
“That sounds nice, where did you go?”
“Um. We went over to Mason’s apartment, and he made me dinner.”And we ate your beef stew Mom, and it was incredible, and I’ve definitely fallen for him again.
My mom’s voice notches up several octaves. “Ah so you went over to his place tohang outdid you?” Mason, being the actual 14-year-old he is, can’t control his laughter and hides under the covers. I make to clamp my hand over his mouth, and he responds by grabbing my hand and nibbling on my fingertips. He will be punished for this.
“Was that Mason in the background?” My mom gasps.
“Hi Elaine, how are you?” Mason gives his best I-am-a-polite-young-man voice.
“A lot better now, knowing you’re with Violet,” She beams. “You arewith hernow right? Because I don’t know how much longer I can take with the whole‘will they, won’t they’you two put us through.”
“She’s so dramatic,” I whisper under my breath.
“I heard that, Violet Amin. Don’t sass your mother.” She turns her attention back to Mason. “So…?”
“We’re together, Elaine. And I have no intention of letting her go.” His words are so matter-of-fact that they feel less like a reply to her and more like a promise to me.
“Well, it seems like I have some important news to share with Melissa.”
“Great. First Melissa, then the town,” I grumble.
“Oh, it’s not my fault word travels fast here. I’m sure everyone will be delighted though.”
“You’re impossible. Do you know that?”
“I bet Castle Harbor’s going to be in complete chaos once you finally spread the news, Elaine,” Mason smirks.
I elbow him in the ribs. “Don’t encourage her.”
“You know what else would send Castle Harbor into disarray? If you were to come back home for Christmas, Mason.”
I cringe at her request. This is what I get for answering a call from my mom while still in a post-sex haze. Bubble = burst.
“Elaine.” His lighthearted tone has turned more serious. “I really don’t know if I feel comfortable doing that.”
My mom’s not having it. “Well, Melissa has already talked to Joe about being on his best behavior for Christmas Eve dinner.”
“I don’t know…”
“You can stay at our place when you come visit.” It’s more of a statement that a question.
“I don’t want to inconvenience you, Elaine.”
“Never. Melissa and I have been talking about doing a little stay-cation girls’ weekend for a while now. This will be the perfect excuse. You and Violet can spend some time together and you can be reminded how Castle Harbor used to be home.” She pauses, ready to lay down the final blow. “Plus, you know how much our girl loves spending her favorite holiday in Castle Harbor.”
“Mom. Enough. He already told you no. You promised you would let me ask him and accept whatever decision he made.” I may have to put up with my mom’s pushiness, but Mason sure didn’t.
Mason lets out a deep breath and looks over at me. He’s uncomfortable, I can tell. But he’s biting his lower lip which means?—
“I’ll be there Elaine. Vi and I will work out the details and keep you posted.”
She is satisfied with herself; the sigh on the other line tells us as much. “Okay, now I really need to run and tell Melissa. I love you two. Bye.”
