“Every time we’d have one of these gatherings, they would try to fix the two of them up with their daughters or granddaughters. When Avian and Marco started dating, then got married, they lost a prospect, and now that you’ve tied my son down, they’re down another one,” his mom informed.
“I don’t think they realize we don’t always like what our moms do,” Eri said. “So, while it’s a loss to them, it might not be to their daughters and granddaughters.”
“That’s true,” Avian agreed.
Elias couldn’t help but agree in her and Marco’s case. His cousin was not someone her mother would have ever chosen for her for many reasons that were, in his opinion, ridiculous.
“That doesn’t apply to me,” Eri said, looking at him. “I’m almost positive my mom would have loved you, and probably asked about you more than she did me.”
“The way mine completely ignored me in favor of asking where you were?” Elias countered playfully.
They stayed there for a few more minutes before venturing off to where there were games set up. As they walked through the crowd, he introduced her to a few people who stopped them, but kept the conversations short. People liked to be too nosy nowadays, so he wouldn’t give them the opportunity to be.
“Did you get things situated with your client?” he asked as they began a game of corn hole.
“I did. What they wanted wasn’t translating in the messages they were sending, and I thought it would be better for them to call me when they could.”
“They weren’t detailed enough in their messages?”
“They aren’t great with description. What they submitted made little sense to me and seemed to contradict itself. I didn’t even try to start it. I wanted to talk to them first because I knew there was no way I could produce what they were asking for with the information they submitted. It would have been a waste of both of our time.”
“They conveyed it better over the phone,” he stated, and Eri nodded.
They played a few rounds of the game and then moved on to a couple of other games until all the food was ready. He made them both plates while Eri grabbed drinks and sat atone of the tables with Avian, his mom, and his aunt. The four of them joined them a few minutes later.
“Eri, was your dad unavailable?” his mom asked after a couple of minutes.
“He’s out of town for work, but he said he wouldn’t miss Thanksgiving at whoever hosts.”
“That sounds nice. We haven’t decided who will do it yet, but will let you know,” Lorna replied.
“Speaking of dads. Where’s yours, Avi?” Eri asked.
“He said he had a prior engagement. Which I’m sure means he’s spending time with whatever woman hestillwon’t tell me about.”
“Do you need to know?” Marco asked. “Or are you just trying to be nosy?”
“Both, of course,” Avian responded, and the group shared a laugh.
“He’s probably not telling you because he’s enjoying not being tied down and might be dating multiple women,” Matteo said.
“Ooh, that might be true. Your daddy is fine after all.”
“Ew, Eri,” Avian replied as Elias cut his eyes at her. “Your boyfriend is also right there.”
“She isn’t wrong,” his aunt said at the same time his mom said, “But he is attractive.” Avian groaned.
“My boyfriend’s fine too,” she shrugged, leaning over to kiss him. “And we’re just messing with you, Avi,” Eri replied, laughing.
“Sure, sure. But if he’s going through a hoe phase, I support it. He deserves to live his life,” Avian replied.
“Did you extend the invitation to your mother?” Lorna asked.
“Nope,” Avian replied. “I did to Aunt Willa and Mickey, but they’re spending the day with her.”
The conversation shifted, and a few minutes later, Javier, Nesiah, and Ricardo joined them, pulling up chairs. After greetings, his aunt told them about a trip the four of them were going on in a few weeks. This sparked his girlfriend, Avian, and Nesiah to suggest they all take another trip together. Elias was sure that before the week was out, they’d have a destination and an entire itinerary for where they were going.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
