“I haven’t eaten here in years.” I peruse the menu, trying to remember what’s good. Honestly, most pub food is good as long as you don’t try to get too fancy and order a steak or seafood.
“It’s because you never come home.” Mom sounds bitter, but I get it. “Paige loves the steak fries here.”
I decide quickly on a burger, fries and a chocolate shake, and set my menu down so I can focus my attention on the woman across from me. For the longest time, she was my best friend and cheerleader, and while she’s still my number one fan, something has shifted. Since Christmas, she’s been unusually quiet and I have a feeling it’s because of the situation I’m in.
As soon as she puts the menu down, I lean toward her. “Talk to me.”
“I’m fine, Noah.”
“Rule number one,” I start to say, closing my mouth as the waitress arrives. We give her our orders and once she’s out of sight, I look at my mom and smile. “As I was saying. Dad has always preached if a woman says fine, you know she’s not. Don’t make me use the word.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“I would. I so would.”
Mom squints her eyes as she looks at me, testing my resolve. I cock my eyebrow at her and smirk. “Mommy, please tell me what’s wrong.” My lower lip juts out as her willpower crumbles. Only, she ends up covering her face. Her shoulder shakes and there’s a soft whimper coming from behind her hands.
I’m up and out of my seat, sliding into her booth and wrapping her in my arms. “I’m sorry, Mom. Whatever it is. I’m so sorry.”
She pulls her hands away and wipes away her tears. “I’m fine, Noah.”
“Clearly, you’re not.”
“I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”
“Hurt them. I don’t care.” It’s not like I’m feeling much these days anyway.
Mom takes a deep breath. She looks at me before she stares down at her napkin. “I don’t like Dessie. I never have. I think she treats you poorly, is self-centered and I’m questioning if she’s even pregnant.”
My gaze lands on what was my seat until I moved to comfort my mom. The torn and worn out pleather shows its age. The inside lining of the booth is threadbare and it’s only a matter of time until there’s nothing left of the cushions. Her last statement replays through my mind. I can’t make heads nor tails of it.
“Dessie told me you didn’t like her, but I didn’t believe it.”
Mom shakes her head. “I’ve tried, Noah. I really have, but something about her rubs me the wrong way. She’s superficial. I’m not the only one who sees it. Both your grandmothers feel the same way.”
My jaw clenches. Wonderful. All the women in my life can’t stand the soon to be mother of my… “Wait, why do you think she’s not pregnant?”
“Because I’ve been there, Noah. Twice. There are signs and she doesn’t show any of them.”
“Everyone is different though, right?”
Mom nods but doesn’t say anything else as our food is brought to the table. I excuse myself and slip back onto my side, picking at my fries. Mom takes a few bites of her cheesesteak and puts it down. “Noah, I love you more than life. I’ve been trying to tell myself I need to get over these feelings I have for Dessie, but I can’t. Yes, everyone is different, but she shows very little signs of being pregnant. I’ve cooked garlic, onion, tomatoes – she’s helped and eaten everything. When I was pregnant with you and Paige, garlic upset my stomach. I find it strange that she seems to be okay with everything, that nothing seems to make her feel queasy or she has no pregnancy-related sickness of any kind.”
“Are you trying to make her sick?” I don’t want to believe my mother would do something like that, but I’m starting to second-guess how well I know her, and I never thought I’d think that of my mother.
“I would never. But your girlfriend has been in the hot tub, and I’m sorry, but anyone who is pregnant knows you can’t go in the hot tub.”
“Maybe she forgot.”
Mom nods and goes back to eating her food. The rest of lunch is done in silence, and so is the drive back to the house. She gets out of the car and instead of going to the front door, she runs down the back steps where my dad’s studio is.
I contemplate going in and asking Dessie but have a feeling each answer will be opposite of my mom’s and that’ll force me to pick. Instead, I head back into town and stop at Nick’s office. Inside, the receptionist he’s had for years smiles.
“Hi, Noah. Your dad is with a patient. I’ll let him know you’re here.”
“Actually, Jody. I’m here to see Aubrey.”
Jody smiles and presses the buzzer for the door. “You know where to find her.”