“The very same,” I nodded. “I’m finally glad I got you here. Their stuff is so good.”
She eyed the line outside the café and nodded. “Apparently, it is. But still…to pay so much for eggs on toast.”
“As I said, it isn’t just eggs on toast,” I laughed. “They keep the names simple, too, so that the customer isn’t expecting what they get.”
She still looked skeptical. “Okay…”
As Mom surveyed the menu, I looked at her. She was only in her mid-forties, but her hair was almost completely gray. There were lines on her face that were out of place on such a young woman, but I knew what had caused each one.
She and Dad had spent my entire childhood working their tails off to make sure that they could give me a comfortable life. They had never really got a chance to enjoy the finer things in life because they were too busy saving every penny for my future.
“Maybe I should order for the both of us?” I suggested.
“That sounds good,” she said, obviously relieved.
After I had ordered, Mom turned to me with a little smile playing on her lips. “Guess what?”
“What?” I asked.
“Lisa got engaged over the weekend,” she revealed. “Nancy called to tell me this morning.”
“Oh, wow,” I said. “To Hamish?”
Mom nodded. “They’re hoping for a June wedding next year.”
“That’s great news,” I smiled. “I’m glad for Lisa. And for Aunt Nancy – she’s been waiting years to plan a wedding.”
Mom laughed. “They’re going to have fun. You’ll be there, won’t you?”
“For my cousin’s wedding?” I clarified. “Of course, I’ll be there. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
She nodded happily. “According to Lisa, Hamish has quite a few eligible friends,” she said pointedly.
“Oh, Mom…”
“Well, it wouldn’t hurt to meet someone, would it?”
I leaned back in my seat. “I don’t know….”
“Sweetheart, I’ve never met even one of your boyfriends.”
“That’s because I’ve never had any,” I told her.
“Exactly,” she nodded. “Life isn’t just about studies and work – you’re missing out on a big part of life.”
I smiled. “You sound like Missy, now.”
“Missy’s right,” Mom said. “Your father and I are worried about you.”
“Worried?” I repeated. “Why?”
“Because we wonder if maybe we’re to blame.”
“How did you come to that conclusion?”
“We stressed so much on your education,” she sighed. “And, not enough on your social life. You should have been out more as a teenager. You should have gone to a few parties and had a few boyfriends. Instead, you were always holed up in your room, reading and working.”
“I liked reading and working,?