I waited anxiously for the water to turn off in her shower, like a lovesick puppy whining at its owner’s door. Pitiful! Even Travis thought so.
She ate her lukewarm eggs and downed a cup of coffee before I dragged them both to the park. It was a crisp winter day, but that didn’t stop the locals from coming out.
I found my favorite spot and spread the blanket I’d brought along for her to sit while Travis and I threw the football he’d found at my place.
It wasn’t long before others joined us for a quick game. A group of teenage boys and men who usually search me out whenever I come to the park.
The kid was in his element. If dance is her thing then it was obvious the game was his. “Not bad kid.” I wrapped my arm around his neck as we made our way back to her when the game was over.
He was smiling, sweaty and happy. “You ready?” I stood over her where she sat on the blanket playing with her phone. I had her bundled up like a newborn with one of my scarves wrapped around her neck twice.
She nodded and got to her feet, gathering up the blanket and the unopened snacks we’d brought with us. Travis regaled her with stories about the game we’d just played and the new people he’d met like she hadn’t been sitting there watching.
She listened to his every word until her eyes started glazing over when he tried explaining a play he’d made to her. The shit was funny.
We spent the rest of the day lazing around the apartment. Travis and I watched Sunday football while she made lunch, and pretty soon it was time to head to the airport to pick mom up.
I was nervous as hell as we stood at the gate waiting for her to appear. I expected her to be tired after the long flight, but she came through the doors loaded for bear.
She bypassed me and went right for Annabelle, grabbing the poor girl in a hug like they were long lost friends. Poor Annabelle looked over her shoulder at me, begging for help with her eyes.
I didn’t make a move. No way am I getting between mom and whatever the fuck she had going on in her head. She’s another hardheaded female who’s stuck in her ways. Once she gets something in her head there’s no use trying to pry that shit out.
It was only then that I wondered what all Tony had told her. I forgot to ask. He was being very squirrely now that she was here, staying to the sidelines. Nosy ass!
When she was done with Anna she moved on to Travis, and by the time we made it back to the car she had them eating out of her hands. She never stopped talking.
I knew I was in for a long night when she decided to head to my place instead of taking her ass home. Funny, I’d been hoping she would help me bring Anna around, but now that she was here I had the sudden fear that I’d bitten off more than I can chew.
She sat between us in the backseat and had a running conversation with Anna about dance and how she liked working for me etc. She dug into her shit better than a trained interrogator.
I just sat back and let her work her magic. Mouthy didn’t dare give her any of her shit like she does me, and I learned more in the hour it took us to get back to the city than I had in all the time I’d known her.
When Travis had said she was a prodigy he hadn’t just been talking scholastically, but also in dance. Someone at Juilliard had actually scouted her. The same someone who’d encouraged her to keep coming back one day a week. Probably in the hopes that she’d come back full time.
I didn’t know mom knew so much about dance, it was obvious she’d hit up Google because she was asking all the right questions. I didn’t know that she was setting the stage for what was to come. I should’ve. She’s a Pro.
Back at my place the five of us went up in the elevator and mom gave me a look. I knew what that meant. She had shit to say. I used the guise of taking her to the last spare room, which she knew very well since it’s hers, to get some private time with her.
“I know everything, just leave this to me.” We’d barely cleared the door.
“What do you mean you know everything? How?”
“Didn’t you tell Tony?” Nough said. I forgot when it comes to her he has bitch teeth in his damn head.
“What do you plan on doing?”
“Don’t you worry, you just leave it to me. And don’t push.” What the hell did he tell her? I followed her back out to the living room where the others were waiting.