If I was the type to whine. I would whine about this situation. Maybe it’ll be too busy, and Marco won’t see me. Maybe he’s not working tonight. He’s the owner. Owners don’t have to be on site all the time. There’s still a chance of luck.
At least the thought of running into Marco distracted me from thoughts of facing Mom for a few minutes, but everything is quickly coming to fruition when we find a spot on the side of the street, just a storefront away from Chez Tru, right behind Mom’s SUV.
“Are sure nothing happened today? You seem very stressed.”
“I felt sick earlier. I’m okay now.” I reach for the door handle to step out of the truck, but Brody grabs my left hand. “Hold on.”
My gaze floats to his hand holding mine then sweeps up to his eyes filled with a look of concern. “Did the doctor’s office call you with appointments?”
“Yeah, both are next week.”
“Good. Will you be able to eat tonight?”
“Yeah,” I say, feeling unsure.
“You’re really this stressed out about your mom? I wouldn’t have purposely caused you—”
“No, it’s not what you’re thinking. I talk to my mom all the time. I’m just having trouble finding the nerve to fess up about her assumptions regarding my health.” It will upset her and it’s the last thing she needs.
“Everything will be okay, I promise,” he says, his eyes growing wider with an aura of guarantee.
Brody releases my hand and I step out of the truck, walking toward the front door of the restaurant which is much emptier than I hoped. Mom is sitting in the waiting area, scrolling through her phone. I reach for the door, but Brody gets to the hand before I do, welcoming me into this brand-new chic restaurant with Marco standing tall at the host podium. “Well, well, fancy meeting you here,” Mom says, standing up to give me a kiss on the cheek. “If I didn’t run into Brody yesterday, who knows much longer you would have gone without seeing me?” She’s being dramatic, but it’s the game she plays, teetering on the edge of joking but letting me know she’s feeling something beyond humor and it isn’t laughable.
“I’m sorry. I’ve been crazy lately,” I say.
“Mmhm. Maybe just a little caught up?” she repeats.
What’s the difference? She knows the difference.
“I made reservations,” Brody says, giving Mom a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Marion. You’re looking lovely as ever.” He smiles and walks toward Marco.
“What a charmer,” Mom sighs. “Both of the Pearson boys have already won over my heart.” It still feels weird that Melody and I are—whatever it is Brody and I are doing alongside his brother and my sister.
“I guess he straightened out,” I tell her, trying to avoid looking toward Marco and Brody.
“Straightened out?” Mom questions.
“Yeah, he was a big troublemaker back in the day. That’s why he was never at a lot of the family get-togethers.”
Mom gives me an odd, confusing look. “Sweetie, I don’t know where you heard this information, but Brody wasn’t a troublemaker. He was missing from events for a much different reason.”
“What reason?” I question.
“You know what. It’s in the past. Let’s just enjoy our dinner tonight, okay?”
Of course. Past secrets. My favorite.
Marco has a waitress take us to our table and I do my best to look in the opposite direction to avoid eye-contact. He wanted to meet me after the edits were complete. I guess he wanted to go over some of the details, but I told him to send me an email with the changes he was requesting. He never responded.
We’re seated in the far corner of the restaurant, surrounded by dim lighting and a subtle orange glow from dozens of votive candles decorating each table. The waitress welcomes us to the restaurant and hands us our menus. “I’ll give you a few minutes to decide on a drink order,” she says.
Mom must quickly spot whichever type of wine she has in mind because she places the drink list down and folds her hands down on her menu. “So, are you two dating?” She comes right out with the first intruding question.
“We have gone on dates,” Brody says, “So, I think it’s safe to answer your question with a yes.” Brody doesn’t look over at me after answering Mom, probably out of fear for whatever look is on my face.
He’s only missing out on the smile I’m desperately trying to conceal.
“I’m glad you two have found a friend in one another. I heard you paid Adam a visit too,” Mom says to Brody.
