“Well, you must have had a very educational upbringing. Probably nothing like the one we had.”
“Do you know my father?”
“Mmmm-hmmm. Before he was a famous chef, he was just another guy trying to survive home ec.” My mother laughs.
“You went to high school together?” Laney asks, surprised. “He didn’t say anything to me when I told him I was tutoring Kam.”
“He probably doesn’t even remember me. He left right after graduation and never looked back.” My mom’s voice sounds sad. “Anyway, eat up. I don’t want you getting home too late.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Laney grabs the bowl and scoops some shells into her mouth. “Wow. This is delicious.”
My mom smiles. “I’ll take that as the highest compliment, coming from you.”
“I’ll tell you what. I’ll trade you dandelions for macaroni and cheese any day.” Laney strikes a deal.
“Done.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I say as she leaves the room.
“Anything for you, dear,” she drawls from the hallway, causing me to smile.
“Your mom is pretty cool,” Laney comments as she munches away on her dinner.
“Yeah, she’s the best. I don’t know what I would do without her.” I scoop some macaroni into my mouth with my left hand. It’s so yum.
“You’d probably have to learn to do your own laundry,” Laney remarks.
“You’re so funny,” I snark, “I’ll never do my own laundry.”
Laney snickers. “I believe you.”
“Hope you know how to sort.” I leer at her.
Laney pauses with the spoon by her lips, her mouth slightly open. “I’ll never do your laundry, Kam.”
“We better hire a housekeeper then.”
“Keep dreaming, all-star.” She smiles and then continues eating.Cock-blocked every time.
After a small conversation reprieve, I ask, “So, the country is finally growing on you?”
Laney shrugs. “I guess. I can appreciate the open landscape and living by the lake.”
“The lake is definitely a bonus.” I agree.
“I also like that my dad is happy.”
“He wasn’t in New York?”
“No. Toward the end of my parents’ marriage, things were really bad. I’m probably the only kid in the world who breathed a sigh of relief when they told me they were getting a divorce. I just didn’t know my father had plans of leaving the state once it was over.”
“Where’s your mom? Why didn’t you stay with her?”
“What’s today’s date?” she muses, “I think she’s in Bangkok. She travels a lot, like all the time. That’s why I’m with my dad. He has full custody. All those spaghetti dinners? It was just the two of us.”
“Do you get along with your mom? Even though you don’t see her?” I don’t know if I’m prying, and I’m sure Laney will let me know once I step over the line, but she seems comfortable enough talking about her mother, so I’m going to push it as far as she’ll let me go.
“Yeah, actually, she’s great. We talk all the time. I wish I saw her more.” She stabs her spoon into the bowl a few times.
