“Jackson’s coming back?” Everyone looked at me as I tried to force the words to be completely nonchalant. I glanced at Maria and the slight smile I saw on her face told me she wasn’t fooled.
Mac nodded, “Basic is thirteen weeks. Then MOS. Then he’ll be back for a bit before he goes to more training. From what I understand. Mom’s throwing him a welcome home party.”
“Yeah, she’s crazy excited. Still like, over two months away and she’s already planning a menu. BBQ, by the way. If anyone is interested. Mom is sending Dad to get a brisket from that butcher she likes. Two hour drive. For a piece of meat.”
Diego opened his mouth to say something, but just then, Maria groaned and made a slight whimpering sound as she closed her eyes. The entire table froze, and she startled a little when she opened them back up and found us all staring at her.
“Mi corazon?” Diego’s eyes were a mask of worry, but she shooshed him.
“I’m fine, everyone. Promise. Braxton Hicks. They’re a bitch.” Diego bent closer to her ear, whispering Spanish and she reached behind her head, placing a hand on his neck. Dalton cleared his throat and started clearing plates from the table. I stood, and walked to kneel by Maria. She was seated facing the end of the booth, her back resting against Diego’s side. I could see the pain and exhaustion in her eyes. “I’m fine,hermana. I promise.”
I reached for her, placing a hand on her belly and smiling when I felt a gentle kick in response. “Hey Lil Bit, you causing your momma some grief? That’s not very nice.” Maria put her hand over mine and squeezed gently. Mac and Dalton had cleared the table, taking plates to the kitchen, but returned with several pieces of pie in to-go containers. “You, and me, pizza night before Lil Bit gets here?” She nodded eagerly and held both hands out to me. I pulled her to her feet, steadying her as she wobbled a bit.
She wrapped me in an awkward hug and said, “Yes, absolutely. My place? It’s not much but…I wanna show it off.”
“Hell yeah, I’m down with that. You can help me edit my admissions essay. You were always better at writing than me.” She smiled at me and I bid everyone goodbye before grabbing a piece of pie and heading for the door. Momma hollered a farewell from the kitchen, telling me to behave myself, and I winced as I stepped from the cool interior of the restaurant into the smothering heat of a Georgia summer. As I slid behind the wheel of Sally, I put the AC on full blast and, despite my best efforts, thought of Jackson. I don’t know why I was so shocked he would be coming home. It made sense. I guess I had just wrapped myself in a little cocoon or something.
Whatever. Not like it was a big deal. Whether he was here or there, he had made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with me, so, my confused heart could just take a chill pill. I had bigger things to focus on.
When I got back home, I shouted a hello to Mom as I headed up the stairs. Before I got too far, she stopped me. “Hey! How was lunch?”
I turned to her, frowning when I realized she had something behind her back. “Good. Everyone says hi.”
She nodded and then whipped out a little red bag that was overflowing with glittery gold tissue paper. I turned, headingback down the stairs and grabbed it from her. “Turns out Georgia is really big on school pride. It was surprisingly easy to rustle up some goodies while you were out!”
“I was only gone for a bit…” I trailed off as I pulled a black hoodie from the bag. “Georgia” was emblazoned across the front in bold red lettering. I dug further, pulling out a fat stuffed bulldog and a rather hideous hat with a big red pompom on top. “Mom, I haven’t even gotten in yet.”
“Oh, pish-posh. Technicalities. You’re gonna do great things. I always knew it.”
I eyed her for a minute, not missing the irony that Momma Laverne had literally just said the same thing. She waited for me to say something, but I couldn’t help but wonder if she had really let me down or…if I had just been a hurt kid looking for someone to blame. I don’t know. Call it my era of healing. But I was happy. I had friends, a future, and, whether I liked it or not, parents who loved me and were stubbornly a part of my life. I held up the stuffed dog, “Uga, Uga.”
Mom tilted her head, “Huh?”
“Something Dalton wouldn’t shut up about. Their mascot, Uga.”
“Oh.”
“Thank you, Mom. I appreciate it. And…I’m sorry. That it’s taken me so long. To, you know, see it.”
She blinked furiously, and clasped her hands in front of her to hide the tremble, “See what?”
“That you love me.”
Her bottom lip trembled, but she didn’t make a move to embrace me. “Always. And I’m sorry too.”
I hesitated before taking the last few steps and embracing her. I genuinely couldn’t remember the last time I had willing initiated a hug with my mom. But, maybe, this was how healing happened. Not loud, not sudden. Just small, little moments thatfixed what was broken behind the scenes. “I’m going to go work on my essay, get started on the application.”
She rubbed my back and a singular tear slipped down her cheek as I headed to my room. I had my pie in one hand, my mom’s gift bag in the other. Time to focus on the future. Make something of it. Of myself. I tossed the bag down on my bed and sent another text to Maria.
Me: Pizza, Friday?
Her response was immediate, as always.
Maria: If I last that long. Be prepared to take me to the hospital. Might want to put some plastic covers on Sally’s seat.
Me: Hey, I love Lil Bit but we are going to have beef if she messes up my car.
Maria: LOL I’ll be sure to let her know Auntie Holly’s car is off limits.
