She walks up to an ATM, and with a shaky hand she reaches to the bottom of her purse and pulls out a black card. I only see it for a brief second as she points it toward the card reader. Dad’s name is on the card. “He’s so stupid,” she says. She presses in six numbers for the pin and then types a number so large, I’m not sure the ATM can fulfill her request.
“Mom?”
“I’ve earned it,” she says.
Somehow, the ATM satisfies out her request in the form of twenties. The machine is working on overdrive for what must be two minutes, but she carefully places the wad of cash into her purse and walks away as if nothing just happened. “Where are we going?” She asks.
“To Brendan’s,” I tell her. I’m staring at the side of her face, trying to comprehend everything I’m feeling, but all I can focus on is pride. I’m proud of Mom, and I’m proud of myself.
“How is Brendan? Gosh, I haven’t seen him in years. Is it Brendan? Is he the one you’re in love with?”
I snicker. “No, it’s not Brendan. He’s with someone too.”
“Oh,” she says.
“The car is just over there.” I point to Kalvin’s Lexus.
“That’s your car?” Mom asks with surprise.
“No, it’s Brendan’s boyfriend’s car.”
Her face contorts in surprise and confusion, but she doesn’t glance over at me. “That makes so much sense now.” I can see the thoughts running through her head at a mile a minute. “Good for them.”
“Yeah.” God, I hope they aren’t still fighting when we get back.
I pull into the driveway, hearing the sound of laughing instead of yelling coming from the open front door. Thank goodness.
“Come on in,” I tell Mom.
She follows me up the front steps and I open the door, finding Brendan, Kalvin, and Austin shooting the shit. “Nice of you to come back in one piece,” Austin says. “Where did you go?”
I take my mom’s arm and pull her into the living room. “Everyone this is my mom. Mom, this is Brendan, Kalvin, and—that’s Austin.”
Austin is the first to stand up and make his way over. “Mrs. Thorpe, it’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” Austin lays it on thick and kisses her hand. I’m pretty sure Mom is blushing, which is adorable.
“Oh my, you’re not from around here, are you?”
“No, ma’am. I’m from a little town in South Carolina.”
“Ah, a Southern gentleman. The perfect fit for my daughter.” I knew the words were rolling around in her head, I was just counting the seconds down until she spoke them out loud.
“I guess so,” Austin says.
“Mrs. Thorpe, it’s so nice to see you again,” Brendan says.
“Mrs. Thorpe?” she questions with laughter. “Brendan, dear, it’s okay. You can still call me Rose.”
Brendan shoots Kalvin a glaring look. “Rose, I’m Kalvin,” he says, standing up to shake her hand. It’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you too,” Mom says.
“Mrs. Thorpe, I sure hope I’m not being rude, but would you mind if I stole your daughter for just a brief moment?” Austin asks.
“If you talk to me like that, you can have whatever you’d like,” Mom says. Oh, God.
“Mom.”
“Go ahead, I’ll catch up with Brendan and Kalvin,” she says.
