“I got some prosecco if you want mimosas,” Mom said.
“Yes, please,” Diego and I said at the same time.
Things got a little easier after that; Mom switched the topic to the upcoming Broadway touring season at the Benedum and offered to get us all tickets forBeetlejuicewhen they finally went on sale.Diego relaxed instantly, expounding on the wonders of Alex Brightman’s dual career on Broadway and as a voice actor—which Mom of course found fascinating.
I didn’t have to do much, honestly.Once they hit a topic they both liked, they were off to the fuckin’ races without me.There wasn’t a lull in conversation until Mom was trying to push second pieces of quiche on us.After which she settled into her chair again and said, “So, Diego, why did it take you two so long to become official?”
Diego paused, his cheeks full of mimosa, and shot me a desperate look.
“Mom…” I rolled my eyes.“She’s joking.”
“Joking in the sense that I’m not actually the least bit bothered and realize it’s none of my business,” Mom corrected.“But serious in the sense that I’m curious.”
“Well…” Diego cleared his throat and set aside his glass.“For the record, that’s a thing of the past.I officially changed my relationship status on all my social media, so…”
Mom smiled but pursed her lips in that Mom Look.
Diego cleared his throat again, like he had some orange pulp stuck in there.“We have some, uh, history.”He glanced at me again.
I nodded.“She knows.I mean, the basics.”
“Oh, so not that you invited me over once when she and your dad were out of town?”
I snorted and held up both hands in surrender to Mom.
She laughed.“Did you really?”
“Yeah.I said we had to work on a project.You and Dad were gone for Valentine’s Day.”
“I remember that.We went to Bedford.”Her smile softened.
“I didn’t spend the night, just to be clear,” Diego threw in.
She chuckled.“No one would’ve known.”
I shifted uncomfortably.“Actually, Dad noticed on the doorbell camera.He gave me some shit.”
She waved that off, turning her full attention back to Diego.“So, your past was why you were hesitant?Or…?”
Diego politely but honestly explained that we, being children, had no idea what we were doing and therefore ended up dinging each other in ways that left a mark long after.As I watched him speak, I could see my Dad’s face after he caught Diego leaving in the wee hours on that doorbell footage.How he told me to stay away from the Marshes.The things he said about his dad, his brother.About Diego.
“Honey?”Mom reached out and touched my wrist.
I jumped.“Sorry.I—got lost for a second.What?”
“I was saying you kinda went all in right from the start but I was the one dragging my feet.”Diego’s brow furrowed, and he cocked his head curiously.
“And I said that sounded just like you, doesn’t it?”Mom added.
“Sort of,” I said, trying to drag myself back into the moment.Wasn’t like me to getthatlost.“I don’t think I knew how all in I was until Picklesburgh.”
Mom shook her head and, as if it was some word in a language she’d never heard before, repeated: “Picklesburgh?”
Diego’s brow evened out but he stayed curious.“No shit?Oh, sorry Mrs—”
“We’re all adults,” she said with a wave.“He’s been swearing at me since he was seventeen.”
“Notat you,” I insisted.I would never.Then I turned to Diego.“Yeah, after Toni brought up all that stuff about resources and withholding power.And I went home and tried to work out why it bothered me—”
