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I turn to look at him as he leans forward to set his glass down on a coaster on the table.
“What’s so funny, Junior?” Richard asks.
“Nothing,” Riley answers, clearing his throat to stop his laugh. “Nothing. Congrats.”
“Mom,” I say, too shocked to smile, let alone laugh. “Two days?”
“I know it’s sudden,” Mom says.
“Guh-huh.”
“But we’re sure,” she says, their hands entwined. “We care about each other. We love each other and we want to spend the rest of our lives together.”
Beside me, Riley exhales hard through his nose, but doesn’t say a word.
“We were going to elope last night in Big City,” Mom says, looking at me. “But I couldn’t go through with it. Not without you, honey. Without both of you.” She smiles at me. “We alwaysused to fantasize about our weddings, remember? Our perfect days. But I didn’t care what my day looked like, as long as you were there, so… will you be there, Tish?”
“I…” I take a breath, still unable to fully process this. Her and Richard. Riley and me. “Of course I’ll be there, Mom. I wouldn’t miss your wedding.”
She happily pushes off the loveseat to come over to me. I do the same, meeting her in the middle and throwing my arms around her in a firm embrace.
“Congratulations, Mom,” I say.
“Thank you, honey,” she says, squeezing me tighter.
I look at Richard and Riley over her shoulder. They’re staring at each other, communicating silently. My mother and I do that often, though it looks like their father and son telepathy isn’t as playful as ours is.
The oven timer goes off in the kitchen.
“Oh!” Mom says, shifting back. “That’s dinner.”
“I’ll help you,” I say.
She grips my hand and we excuse ourselves to the kitchen, leaving them to talk alone.
But, oh… to be a fly on the wall.
When we sit down to dinner a few minutes later, the air is noticeably warmer. Whatever was said between Richard and Riley was enough to soothe whatever tension was beneath the surface, and the four of us have a nice dinner together.
Things between me and Riley, however…
Still crackling.
Unfortunately, Riley doesn’t stick around long once dinner is over, stating that he has a late shift tonight at Sparks and excusing himself.
While Richard, Mom, and I head to the kitchen to clean up and do the dishes, my phone vibrates in my pocket.
Hot New Bartender
Meet me outside.
“What’s that, honey?” Mom asks, standing beside me at the sink.
“Uh…” I angle the screen away from her. “Just Bruno,” I lie. “He wants to know if I can cover for Lottie next week.” I dry my hands on a dishtowel and step back. “I’m just gonna go call him really quick. I’ll be right back.”
“We’ll be here,” she says, focusing on the dishes.
As I step away from the sink, Richard takes my place. Instantly, my mother brightens, her smile warm and genuine with him by her side. For a moment, I watch them, feeling so very happy for her all over again. It doesn’t last, though, the thoughts quickly shifting toward Riley.
