by Cassie Maria
“Shut up!” I throw a pillow at him, which begins an epic pillow fight.
****
Two weeks later
We’re rocking in our hammock when he gets around to asking me what’s on his mind.
“Do your parents know about me?”
“That’s what’s been bothering you for two weeks? Jeez Ethan you had me worried.” He’d been acting nervous and withdrawn to the point that even Ava knew something was off about him.
“Well?”
“They know I’m dating but not the specifics.”
“My parents want to meet you and I want to meet yours.”
“You do?”
“Absolutely. I want my parents meet my girl.”
“Are we ready for that?”
“Ready or not you piqued my mom’s interest and she’s determined to meet you even if she has to fly to Delaware to do it.”
“Where do your parents live?”
“Florida.”
“Florida?! I can’t go to Florida!”
“Why not? Tell Kate you need a weekend off and we’ll fly down and have a mini vacation.”
“What if I can’t get off?”
“Kate loves you, she’ll give you a weekend off.”
He’s right. I help Kate out with different odd jobs around the bar so she would let me have off with no questions asked.
“I’ll let her know tomorrow.”
“When do I get to meet your parents?”
“Are you absolutely sure that you want to meet them?”
“Darlin’.” I can hear he’s getting impatient so I finally give in and agree.
“I’ll give them a call later and set up dinner on Sunday.”
“Great.”
We snuggle up together and the hammock slowly rocks us to sleep. I wait until Ethan leaves the next morning before I call my parents.
****
“Hi Daddy, is Mom home?”
“Hey princess, you wanna talk to her?”
“I want to talk to both of you. Can she grab a phone too?”
“Sure.” I hear him yell for mom to pick up the line.
“Hi Ma.”
“Is this my Amelia?” My mom can be dramatic when she wants to.
“Who else would call you ma?”
“You never know, I was pretty wild in the ‘80s wasn’t I David?”
“Eww guys, please no weird sex stories today.”
“Oh come on you have time for one. Okay let me see, which one should we tell Dave? Have you heard about the jellyfish room in the aquarium? Well-”
“I met someone and he wants to meet both of you,” I say in a rush in an attempt to cut her off before she can get into her story. Its quiet for a long time and I know they’re staring at each other having a complete conversation that no one else is privy to. Finally my mom breaks the silence.
“David she’s bringing home a boy.”
“Mom, Ethan isn’t a boy and can you please not embarrass me?”
“How else will we get to know your gentleman caller if I don’t embarrass you?”
“That’s exactly what I mean! Please control your weirdness at least until our one year anniversary.”
“Amelia I taught you better than that! You get them hooked in the bedroom and they’ll never leave.”
“Mom,” I whine
“Okay Celina, leave the girl alone. We promise to be good as long as you tell us about him.”
“Thanks Daddy. He’s an anesthetist, home owner, has a car, is twenty-eight years old, has no children, and is very sweet.”
“Blah, blah, blah. Give me some details on how he looks.” Of course my mom wants to know how he looks.
“He’s tall, hazel eyes, dark hair, and Caucasian. I’m only telling you that he’s white because I know that Mom doesn’t handle surprises well and will start asking weird questions.”
“So I’m a curious person. There is no crime in that, as long as I’m respectful. How do you feel about him? There are a few cultural differences that you’ll have to deal with, are you okay with that?”
“I’m falling deeper in love with him everyday. He makes it difficult not to love him. I know we have cultural differences but we believe in the same God and agree on most moral issues. If we get as far as marriage and babies then we’ll discuss both subjects thoroughly before hand.”
“Babies. She said babies David. We have a chance of spoiling grandchildren.” Mom sniffles.
“Yeah,” Dad says softly. I roll my eyes but I understand their sentiment. My parents wanted lots of children but complications arose during birth and she was forced to have an emergency hysterectomy.
“That is a big maybe you guys.”
“So when are you bringing him by so we can get the ball rolling?”
“What ball?”
“The one that fast forwards you to marriage and babies.”
“Mom we’re nowhere near marriage and babies.”
“So when are you bringing him over?”
“How’s Sunday at six?”
“Sounds great! Is there anything he doesn’t eat?”
“No.”
“A man after my own heart. C’mon Dave we have to go shopping. See you Sunday Amelia.”
“See you Sunday.”
“Later Princess.”
Chapter Twelve
Ethan Embraces the Weirdness
Ethan
I glance over at Mia and see she’s fidgeting with her shirt for the billionth time. “If you don’t stop acting so nervous I’m going to think that you don’t want me to meet your parents.” I see her nervously glance at me out the side of my eye and can’t help laughing at her.
“Ha ha very funny, but you don’t know how extra my mom can be.”
“Baby relax; extra or not, I’m honored to meet the people who gave me you.”
“Remember you said that when she starts with her sex stories.”
I pull the car up to a two-story farmhouse with a tree swing and I wonder how she ever left this place. I mean it looks like it belongs on the front of a Christmas card. I look over at her and notice that she has tears in her eyes. I have no idea what’s wrong and I know she’s not going to tell me. All I can do is reach over and hold her hand until her tears dry up.
“I’m sorry,” she says while wiping her eyes, “every time I come here I miss it.”
“How old were you when you left?”
“Twenty.”
“Why’d you leave?”
Her eyes start to water again. “I had to grow up sometime.”
I watch her for a while and know that it goes deeper than that but right now is not the time to probe. Once she has herself together she smiles at me before picking up her purse and opening the car door. I take a deep breath before climbing out of the car and take her hand as we walk towards the house.
Before we can make it onto the porch the door flies open and out comes an excited woman and laid back man. The woman resembles Mia in looks and stature so much its kind of creepy. The man is tall, with not one grey hair in sight, and is very muscular. No wonder she didn’t date much in high school. I’m about to introduce myself when Mia’s twin takes notice of her outfit. Her eyes slowly wander over Mia’s black top, skinny jeans, and heels that have some type of straps on them.
“Dave is that our daughter wearing heels and carrying a purse?”
“I’m not sure.”
They’ve never seen her dressed up?
“Wearing heels and a purse and we’re not on our way to church?”
“No, this can’t be my princess. My princess would be wearing sneakers and a t-shirt.”
“Welcome to the family Ethan! Any man who can get her in that getup and isn’t a rapist, molester, or murder has my blessing.”
“Dramatic much Mom?”
“Oh David, it is our Amelia!”
“Ethan this dramatic woman is my mother Celina and this is my daddy David.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. and Mrs.
Stevens,” he says shaking their hands.
“Please call us Celina and David and the pleasure is all mine. With a voice, tattoo, and hair like that no wonder she kept you all to yourself.”
“Mom you promised.”
“What? I haven’t even told him about having sex on a camel.”
“Dad!”
“Lina lets feed him before you start making him uncomfortable.”
“Well if I must.”
It’s obvious that Celina does things to get a rise out of Mia, and I have to admit that it’s funny to watch. David leads us all into the dinning room where Celina begins telling me stories about her wild days before settling down with David.
****
Mia
“A lot of my friends began doing drugs and was lost to me. They weren’t themselves anymore. Their entire lives were ahead of them and they threw it all away for a high. Some of them died from overdoses and others were forced to live on the streets. Seeing them made me realize that life is too short and it can change with every breath you take. I didn’t want to look back and regret letting life pass me by so I lived it to the fullest. Some have called me loose but I prefer being called a free spirit. I moved from state to state and didn’t stay too long in one place until I met David.”
“Mom please stop telling stories about your hoe days.”
“I wasn’t a hoe. Although the fact that your natural hair is curly is a cause for concern.”
I turn wide eyes to daddy and everyone laughs except me. “That wasn’t funny Mom.”
“You should’ve seen your face princess. How could you doubt that you got that mellow personality from anyone but me?”
“Well there was a guy named George that was a lot like you that I met a few months before I got pregnant.”
“Mom stop already!”
“You always were an easy target.” My mom laughs as I roll my eyes and finally changes the subject. “So Ethan where do your parents live?”
“They’re in Florida and I’ll be taking Mia down there soon to meet them.”
“Excellent! Soon you two will be getting married and making gorgeous babies.”
“Mom I told you that is a big maybe.”
“As soon as she relaxes enough to trust me with her heart then I’ll pop a ring on her finger and have her spitting out kids as fast as we can make them.”
“What’s wrong Amelia? Are you holding back because of that boy?”
Noah had officially become that boy after our first break up and my parents still refuse to speak his name. “No Mom, we’ve only been dating for a few months and I don’t want to jump too soon.”
“Amelia look at me.” We lock eyes for a few moments before she speaks softly. “We only have one shot at this life and my advice to you is to jump as often as possible. You may think that I was a hoe but I had a fantastic time and what did it get me? A beautiful home, a loving husband, and a daughter so perfect that God saw fit that she was the only one I needed. So live your life and jump baby, cause trust me the rewards are sweet.” Mom rarely is serious enough to give advice but when she does, it’s the best advice you will ever get.
“Okay Mom,” I whisper.
“Good. Now that that’s out of the way who wants to play some cards?”
For the next few hours we sit around playing cards and having a great time but eventually Ethan and I have to leave. We say our goodbyes and I see my dad slip Ethan his number. I know it’s his way of making sure that Ethan is taking care of me and I love him wholeheartedly for it. I watch as they stand on the porch, waving goodbye to us and I miss them already.
Chapter Thirteen
Surprising Ava
Four weeks later…Saturday
Steve made good on his promise to buy Ava a ring but he made her wait eight weeks before he actually proposed. He has a friend who designs video games and asked him to create a special one for his proposal. Steve offered to pay extra for a rush order but his friend refused.
“You deserve to be happy and if I get to witness that it’ll be worth all the trouble. Plus if you let me record it, it can open up a new side business for me.”
“Allowing you to record a moment that you helped make special is the least I can do.”
****
On Friday I had to play my part in the proposal by getting her out of the house so the hidden cameras could be installed. I woke her up early Friday morning with a fake emergency work outfit crisis. I made her go through both of our closets before we left to go shopping. We hit the stores hard and because I was unhappy with the outfits she chose we left the mall empty handed.
It was only mid afternoon and she was full of energy so I knew I had to distract her with a new task. I pretended to be depressed over the fact that I still didn’t have an outfit and suggested we go see a movie. I purposely chose a long dry movie that lasted for three hours. By the time the movie was over she was tired and it was time for me to go to work.
On my way to drop her off Ethan called me and instigated a fake argument. Our fake argument prompted Ava to join me for my shift at work where I proceeded to get her tipsy. By the time we got home at 2 am she was too tired to sit in the comfy room and watch TV. I waited until she was in her room before locking the back door, that Steve used to get in, and heading to bed.
****
At 9am Ethan calls to wake me up because Ava never sleeps past 9:30 no matter what time she goes to bed. I stumble down the stairs and vow to give Ethan a key so I don’t have to endure the torture of waking up early ever again. I let them in and Ethan immediately begins making breakfast and Steve starts setting up the video game.
Twenty minutes later Ava is galloping down the stairs ready to eat. After her belly is full, Steve talks her into trying out a new game with him. The avatars resemble Ava and Steve perfectly. She looks at him for an explanation but he never takes his eyes off of the screen. They work hard to fight their way through boards that have rain at night (storms and darkness), extreme terrains (uphill battles), and old enemies (ex’s). After defeating the various boards they are rewarded with immortality. Just when the credits are due to appear marry me appears instead.
I anxiously watch Ava as a frown mars her face. “What kind of game is this?” When no one responds she turns to look at us and finally sees Steve on bended knee holding a ring between his thumb and forefinger.
“I thought of a million different ways to do this. But there is no other way that I would have rather done this than with you in your pjs, hair crazy, laughing with me as we play a game created just for us. We’ve survived our storms, overcome our darkest hours, fought our uphill battles, and I thank God for all of them because they led to this moment; the moment when I ask the girl I fell in love with over the phone to spend eternity with me. This love that we share will last forever, will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she says breathlessly.
“I’m sorry I can’t hear you.”
“Yes baby! Yes!” Ava yells as she wraps her arms around his neck.
“Do you want to see your ring?”
“The ring isn’t important. All that’s important right now is you and this moment.” I watch as his arms wrap tighter around her and I gaze at the 1.5 carat princess cut double halo ring in a platinum band with a split shank design surrounded by small diamonds.
****
Ethan pulls me out of the room so the couple can have this moment alone and we end up on the enclosed deck out back. I stand behind him and rest my forehead on his back as I wrap my arms around his middle.
“That was sweet.”
“Yeah darlin’, it was.”
“They look happy. I hope it lasts for them.”
“Me too,” he murmurs distractedly while rubbing my hands.
“Why haven’t you ever gotten married?”
“I got close once but never made it past the engagement.”
“What happened?”
“Wasn’t meant to be.”
“How long were you together?
”
“Two years.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It was years ago.”
“But you loved her.”
“I did, but now I love you.”
My body completely freezes.
“You do?”
“I do.”
“Me too.”
“I know.” I pinch his stomach, which causes him to laugh and pull me in front of him. “I’m never letting you go darlin’.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
“I never do,” he whispers to my hair and I can’t stop my smile if I tried. As we stand there enjoying the view of the water in the distance I remember that I was going to ask him something weeks ago.
“What do you do on Sundays when you leave here?”
“Sometimes I go to church if I’m not covering a shift at work.”
Well, that was unexpected.
“I’d like to visit your church one day.”
“That would be nice.”
We decide to climb into the hammock and snuggle while taking in the calming vista. By the time we decide to hang out in my room we notice that the happy couple has disappeared. I guess they decided to go back to Ethan and Steve’s place for some privacy.
Chapter Fourteen
Mom Knows No Bounds
One week later
Ethan has just grabbed my bag off the conveyer belt and is now trying to explain to his dad where we are.
“Boy when have I ever not known how to find you?”
We both turn around and Ethan’s dad can easily pass for his slightly older brother. They have the same build, complexion, southern drawl, dark hair, and are the same height. The only difference between them is Ethan’s lips. Ethan and his dad hug and shake hands before they look my way. Before I can introduce myself a petite brown skinned woman taps Ethan on the shoulder.
“Mom!” Ethan yells in excitement as he pulls her into a tight bear hug. Mom? This woman is African American and Ethan doesn’t look like he’s mixed. At all. When he pulls away she has a smile that I’ve seen a million times before.
“Mom and Dad this is Amelia. Mia these are my parents Melissa and Liam Grant.”