“Why are you calling me?You said all you needed to say to me.”I hear her sigh through the phone.
“I got the invitation to the baby shower.It’s a beautiful invitation, cream and gold.”
“I can’t take credit for it, it’s all Ava’s doing.”
“I didn’t think you would invite me.”
“I didn’t, Ava did.I know how you feel, you’ve made yourself perfectly clear.”It hurts to know how she feels about her own grandchild and me.
“Cat, can we talk?”
“We’re talking now.”
“No, I mean face to face.What I need to say should be said face to face.”
“Look, if you’re not happy about the invitation, rip it up and throw it out.I’m sorry if it bothered you or upset you—”
“Cat, no, you don’t understand.”
“Understand what?”My eyes feel the beginnings of tears coming on by talking to her.
“Cat, don’t get upset, please.I only wanted to say…I’m glad you invited me.I have a lot of things I want to say to you.I know I said some things I shouldn’t.I overstepped, I’ve been looking at this invitation for three weeks, thinking about you and the baby.”
“So what?”
“Would you please come and see me?You’re my daughter and I want to be a part…I want to try and make things better.Can you come over?”
“I don’t know about that.”
“I won’t keep you long.These are things I need to say to you face to face.I want to see you.I miss you.I promise it won’t be like before.”
“Nick’s not here.I’m not sure when he’ll be back, and he won’t like it.”
“Nick needs to get over himself.I’m your mother, he should respect that.”
“He’s the father of my child, you need to respect that.When everyone else in my family deserted me, he was there for me, and he hasn’t left my side.Trashing him is not the way to talk to me.”
“I apologize.Please, it won’t take long—call a cab and I’ll pay for it to wait for you.”
“I can pay for my own cab.Nick takes care of me.Isn’t that what you wanted, a man to take care of me?”I won’t be using Nick’s money.All I want her to know is he takes care of me in every way.
“I’ll see you when you get here?”
I end the call and sit up on the bed.Nick will go through the roof if he finds out I went over there.I want to hear what she has to say.Isn’t this what I wanted?Her to accept me and the baby?I don’t want to get my hopes up too much and be disappointed again.But I wouldn’t consider going if I didn’t think she was sincere, and things could be somewhat the way I want them to be in my mind.One thing to do, call Nick so as to stay one step ahead of him.
“Hey, babe, how’s the meeting going?”I say nonchalantly.
“Good.Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I missed you.”It’s not a lie, I do.“When do you think you’re going to be finished?”
“Unfortunately I think it will be about two and a half hours, then I need to make a stop by the office.He’s a slow eater and his companion is ordering half the menu.I better get back before she orders the other half.”
I giggle.“All right, see you when you get home.”I end the all and put my shoes on.Phew.I can make it to Brooklyn and back before he gets home if I leave now, God willing and traffic is on my side.If I don’t make it back before him there’ll be big trouble.I’ll have to take cover if the shit hits the fan.I’m taking a huge risk, but it’s a chance I’m willing to take to bring my two families together.
I’m so tired I fall asleep in the cab.When I open my eyes, we’re pulling up in front of my parents’ house.I walk up the steps and the door opens before I knock.Then I remember, shit.Is Kate there?
“Hi, Mom.”
