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“Yeah. He’s nothing like Jeff. He’s older, more self-assured. He’s settled in his ways though…”
“There’s nothing wrong with that. A man who knows what he wants can be such a relief. There’s no bullshit. No headaches when they tell you they need space to ‘find themselves.’ ”
I laugh, “Mom?”
“Yeah?”
“Care to elaborate?”
“No. Dad and I are fine. But I flipped my shit when he came home with that toy car of his without even asking me.”
I laugh remembering when Dad turned forty-five and wigged out. He started dying his hair and tanning. Mom thought he was having an affair with her best friend Betty.
He wasn’t.
He was just having his mid-life crisis. And he topped it off by buying an Audi convertible two-seater.
“So, tell me about the guy?”
I sigh, “It’s complicated. Dee… she’s not well-liked in Springdale.”
“What? She died years ago. People need to let bygones be bygones.”
“I agree. But she… she came between two men who loved one another like brothers. It tore families apart. Brought down a motorcycle club and Mom, did you know I have a half-brother?”
“No. No I didn’t. God, Dev, I’m so happy for you—” She breaks off and I hear the tears in her voice. She’s crying for me.
“I’m scared. What if he hates me? What if he wants nothing to do with me because of who my mother is?”
“Nonsense. I’m your goddamned mother and you are beautiful, inside and out Dev. He’s gonna be lucky and grateful to know you’re his sister.”
I bite my lip feeling the phone slip in my sweaty hands. “I hope so. God, I hope so, Mom.”
“Take care of yourself, honey. I’m always here. I-I miss you so much. But I understand that you needed this. Can I come visit soon?”
“I’d love that. Luce is here now. School starts in ten days. I’m setting up my classroom. Roger, that’s the guy I like, he invited me to an end of summer celebration at a lake house this weekend.”
“You sound so happy. That’s all I could want for you.”
“I just hope it lasts. How am I going to tell them?”
“You’ll know in your heart when the moment is right. I have faith in you sweetie and if anyone thinks they are going to give you shit for something that was out of your control—I’ll fly across the country to kick some biker ass.”
I snort, wiping tears that I didn’t even realize I was shedding at the picture of my petite mother going toe-to-toe with Rog and Federico.
“I love you, Mom.”
“Love you too, sweetie. Maybe I’ll come in a few weeks.”
“I’d love that.”
“Oh… I almost forgot. Jeff’s been coming around.”
“What?”
“Yeah. He invited your father to golf with him in a charity tournament.”
“No?!”