“Come on, Mom. Is this how you snaggedDad?”
“That’s a low blow,” she snaps back, narrowing an eye atme.
“Seriously, though, you think I’m going to ask him if he's looking to settle down and have kids on a first date that neither of usinitiated?”
“At thirty-one? Yes, I do think it’simportant.”
“You’re delusional,” I tellher.
“And single,” she remindsme.
“See? Maybe if you took it down a few notches, you'd find someonetoo.”
“You’re annoying,” she tellsme.
“I’m you,” I addin.
“That’s for darn sure.” She jogs over to me and wraps her arm around my neck, then plants a wet kiss on my forehead. “Go start the coffee. We needthat.”
“I’m going to head down to the hospital after breakfast to check on Grams before I have to plant my butt at Starbucks and get caught up on all my work. I can meet you back at the hospital after you get out of work if you want, and I can bring us dinner or something,” I tellher.
“That would be perfect, sweetie. Thankyou.”
Mom plates the pancakes and places them down in the middle of the kitchen table. “So, did he kissyou?”
My head falls into my hands. “Mom,stop.”
“Come on, I need at least a little tidbit ofinformation.”
“No.”
“After everything I've done for you in your life, you won't throw me a small, tiny, little bone to get me through the day. I’m so stressed out about Grams. Just give me something to smileabout.”
“Moms don’t usually smile about their daughters kissingmen.”
“Moms who want their daughters to settle down and give her grandchildrendo.”
“You sound crazy,” I tellher.
“No, I just want the best for my daughter. There's adifference.”
“I just broke up with Mike yesterday; did you forget that? I wasn’t about to jump into bed with someone six hourslater.”
“Okay, wait just a minute. I do not expect you to jump into bed with anyone. I just asked if you kissed. Oh goodness, is that why you didn’t come home until three-thirty?”
“Really? You were waiting up until then and didn't callme?”
“You’re welcome,” she says as if she's done me a favor by not stalking her thirty-one-year-olddaughter.
“Thanks, Mom. It's nice to know you trust me after all this time.” I roll my eyes just so she knows I'm beingsarcastic.
“Do me a favor, though, and make sure he gets tested before you—you do any hanky panky stuff.”Hanky panky. We’re there now. This isfun.
“Yes,Mom.”
“I can’t wait to see him later,” she says, jiggling hereyebrows.
“Okay, now that's weird.You’renot dating him. You shouldn't be excited to seeyourmother'sdoctor.”
