“Honey?”
“Yeah, I’m still here,” I muttered, pouting.
“You’re going to have to cancel a few classes tomorrow.”
“Why?”
“We’re meeting Brian’s family at his home for brunch,” she explained. “He wants us to live with him. I know I’m being selfish but would you do this for me?”
Everything was moving too fast. It’d barely been a week since they announced their engagement. How could she already be married to him and wanting to live in his house?
“What’s all the rush about?” I slowly asked. Mom wasn’t the kind of woman who expected much from life. She was content with what she had. This sudden impatience in her was starting to make me feel uncomfortable.
“There’s something I need to talk to you about,” Mom said in a soft voice. “I’ll come to your apartment early morning. We’ll talk and then we’ll go meet Brian’s family.”
“Mom...”
“We’ll talk tomorrow.”
She switched off the call. The gesture worried me more than any of the news she sprung on me. She never cut off a call without telling me she loved me at least a couple of times and then hearing it back.
I blinked through a haze of sleep, wondering who could be at the door so early. The sky visible through the light curtains was still gray. Glancing at the bedside clock, I saw the time was close to seven A.M.
Throwing the quilt away, I moved toward the tiny living room area. My hands rubbed against my arms, trying to drive away the chill of the morning.
I peeked through the peephole and saw my mom standing in the hallway outside. She told me she was coming over today but I didn’t expect her to be this early.
I opened the door.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Mom said, moving forward to hug me with a single arm. Her other hand carried a few big bags. “Were you sleeping?”
“Yeah,” I said, stepping back and letting her come inside. “You didn’t say you’d come this early.”
“I couldn’t sleep the whole night,” she said in a somber tone and walked inside my bedroom.
Closing the door, I followed her into my room.
“Is Kendra home?” she asked.
“Nah,” I said. “She’s visiting NYU with a group of friends. I think she’ll be applying for a master’s course there.”
“Good, good...”
Mom looked super nervous. She was wearing a beautiful white dress printed with gorgeous lavender-shaded roses. The fit was perfect and the fabric was luxurious. I didn’t have to be an expert to know that the dress came from an exclusive boutique store.
Brian, I thought immediately, knowing he must have bought it for her.
“You look great, Mom,” I said, grinning.
She returned my smile but within seconds, went back to looking glum.
“Do you want some coffee?” I asked, wondering what was making her so anxious.
“Sure, honey.”
I gave a nod and went out into the tiny kitchen I shared with my flatmate. Mom’s nervousness and hesitation were starting to worry me.
She was happy about being with Brian. They were married.What else could be worrying her?I wondered, waiting for the coffee to be ready.