“My apologies,” I amended. I recovered my etiquette—with much mental force—and pulled myself up to my full height. “Though, please do try to be courteous inside his home.”
“I’m not inside his home.” She pointed down at her feet on the doormat.
“Jesus, Mother, just get inside.”
I grabbed her arm, done with the niceties. She was family, after all. I didn’t have to be perfect all the time. I used my taller frame to pull her and my luggage she carried inside his home. It wasn’t a scene we would have wanted the public to witness, though.
When we were done with the struggle—her digging in her heels, me digging in my bare feet—we were both a little breathless.
But I had prevailed!
“That was uncalled for, Mina,” Mother griped and fixed her hair where it had come askew. She huffed in aggravation. “And when did you get so strong?”
“When I turned twelve. I grew taller than you then,” I muttered. I stared at my wrist, a tiny cut there. “Just how sharp do you need your nails to be, anyway?”
“That wasn’t my nails. It was my ring,” she grumbled, twisting her wedding ring to its proper position. “The damn thing catches on my clothes too. Your father is going to buy me a new one soon.”
Mother received a new—and better—wedding ring for every five years of marriage they made it to alive. It was stated so in their wedding contract.
My mother loved jewelry.
Father always found it humorous when the time came to buy her a new one. A new wedding ring for an ‘old’ wife, he would say.
“So, now that you have me inside, what are your plans? Feed your too-short mother to them?”
“Mother!”
She waved a hand in the air. “I’m kidding.”
My brows puckered. I was fairly certain I had offended her. I murmured, “You’re the perfect height for you. And Father seems to like it.”
She snorted…but nodded. “Yes, he does.”
“Is there anything you would like to ask me?” I crossed my arms and leaned back against the doorjamb. “Anything at all?”
“I just want you safe, Mina. That’s all.” Mother opened her arms wide. “You were frightened of him one night, and the next, you’re here. So I’m worried, even if you say he’s a good man.”
“Don’t you trust my judgment?”
“I do. You are the smartest young woman I know. But I’m still worried.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I love you.”
I wrapped my arms around her and tucked her head under my chin, holding her tight. I whispered, “I’m okay. I swear to you. This is where I want to be right now.”
Her voice was muffled against my shoulder, breathless, as she whined, “You’re squeezing too tight.”
I loosened my arms—a little.
Then she hugged me back. “If you’re really going to stay here, then you’ll wear that bracelet your father and I bought today. I want to be able to contact you anytime I want. And for you to call me…daily. Maybe twice a day.”
“Of course, Mother.” I kissed the top of her head.
She didn’t stop hugging me. “Are you sure you’re safe here?”
“Yes.” I hoped.
