I don’t know what I was expecting after all that, but when she turned the key in the door and we walked in I got the feeling of warmth.
“Who’s that?” The woman who came from the back of the house drying her hands on a dishtowel was obviously her mom. She had the same natural beauty and those dimples in her cheeks. Her eyes lit up when she saw us and she rushed her daughter.
“Alana?” She looked from her daughter to me and back with a quizzical brow. I’m sure she didn’t miss the hand holding since my wife had a death grip on my hand.
“Mom, um, I’m…” She seemed scared all of a sudden, and I finally understood the enormity of what I’d asked her to do.
“Hello, I’m Chance, can we have a seat and talk for a minute?” She took the hand I offered before turning and heading for the couch.
I chose the loveseat and pulled Alana down beside me. “Now before you get upset, it was all my doing. I’m the one who rushed her into doing things this way.” Shit, now I was nervous.
I’ve sat in boardrooms with some of the nations leading CEOs and never had flop sweat. Sitting in that homey little living room with all its warmth and color though, wow. Mother in laws really are scary.
“What things? What’s going on?”
“We’re married.”
“Excuse me?”
“Your daughter and I are married.”
“When did this happen? I spoke to you a week ago and you didn’t mention even seeing anyone.” She sounded more curious than angry and I relaxed a little.
“Well it sorta happened kinda fast momma.” Was that my ‘ride or die’? Her words not mine, who was sounding like a preschooler on the first day of class?
“Where did you two meet?”
“He came into the restaurant.”
“Alana didn’t I tell you about picking up stray men in restaurants?”
“Mom hush, you’ll give him the wrong idea.”
“What? Look what happened! So, you can afford to eat in that overpriced hole in the wall, okay Mr. Big-shot, what all are you planning to do with my daughter?” She smirked at us and I got the feeling she didn’t believe us.
“It’s like I said we’re married…”
“Wait, is this that thing where that boy jumps out with a camera and says ‘You’ve been fucked?’
“MOM, it’s Punk’d.” She buried her face in her hand and I was at a loss.
“Same thing, well is it? Personally I think y’all need to find something else for that boy to do with his time, that’s the dumbest show I’ve ever seen. I think it’s the old pussy that turned him stupid.”
“What’s she talking about?” I whispered out the side of my mouth because I was suddenly thinking I should’ve paid more attention to her angst earlier. We’d been talking for five minutes and I still didn’t know what the hell the conversation was about.
“Oh my goodness MOM quit acting up. Don’t pay her any mind Chance, she does this to get a rise outta people. She’s talking about that guy that does the prank show, because he used to be married to an older woman.”
“That old pussy done warped that boy’s brain.”
I wasn’t sure if to be mortified or laugh my ass off. All I kept thinking was this woman and my mother at the same dinner table would be a show I’d pay good money to see.
“Come here baby.” She held out her arms to her daughter.
“You’re married, for real?” My wife nodded her head yes and it was only then that the older woman got misty eyed.
“You know what you’re doing, you have a good head on your shoulders. I’ve always told you to grab life by the balls and hang on tight, but damn girl I didn’t mean marry the first dick you ever had, good grief. Anyway what about school? You’re still going to finish right?”
“Yes she is, I’ll see to it.”
“Okay then, I guess you’ll be staying in Georgia when that’s all done instead of coming back here.”
“You’re coming too.” I threw that out there spur of the moment like. But since I’ve been going with my gut since meeting my beauty, I figure what the hell.
She turned and looked at me. “What? Me, you wanna take me to live in Georgia?”
“Yes, if you’ll come, you and your son can live with us or get a place of your own.” She retook her seat.
“Son, you ever heard of mother in laws? We’re a whole other breed; you better be sure you know what you asking for. Besides, this might be my time to kick up my heels and have some fun, now that I won’t have Ms. Goody two shoes under foot, watching my every move.”
“Mom cut it out.”
“Why? It’s true. You know you married a stick in the mud son? I don’t know how you got the stick out her ass long enough for her to say I do.” These two were amazing. Anyone else looking in from the outside might see dysfunction. I saw the love and acceptance under every volley of words.