“I hope you’re being safe.”
“Mom!”
“What, honey bug?” She nudged me. “I’m just saying, guys did not look like that when I went to community college for the time I did.”
“Oh, that’s nice. I’m sure Ben would love that.”
She play shoved me. “Now, I’m not talking about Ben and you know that. I’m just saying. If you’re having sex, just make sure you’re taking care of all that.”
I so was not having this conversation with her right now, my face way too heated and though she obviously noticed that too at least she ignored that fact. She rinsed another dish before handing it to me, shrugging. “It’s just nice that it seems like he’s okay is all. He’s been dealt a rough hand in life, that boy.”
“You mean his parents?” I asked. “His mom?”
“You know about that?”
I nodded. “He actually took me to see her recently. Thought it might help me with my paper for psych class.”
This seemed to surprise her completely, as she turned around and rested her hip against the counter. “You mean, she’s still around? It’s just been so long. I figured…”
Probably what most would, that eventually they might take her off her life support. I wet my lips. “He said it’s been twelve years.”
Mom frowned, tsking before shaking her head. “I always hoped for the best for him. That can’t have been easy, and right after his dad passed. Poor thing.”
I hadn’t heard much about his dad besides the fact he’d had a riding accident. She’d obviously kept that and details of his mom away from me, and I guessed I wasn’t surprised because of the tender age I was when I knew him. I just always figured his grandpa raised him, didn’t think about much else really.
Our dishes clanked as we kept loading dishes. I took one from Mom. “And you’re not mad about what happened? I mean, he basically got you fired.”
She tsked again before rolling her eyes. “Bug, he was child. And… sometimes things are just complicated.”
“How so?”
She placed a hand on the counter. “Just complicated. And as far as I’m concerned, a boy loses his family that young and acts out I don’t blame him. I don’t blame him for a lot of things, and I’m definitely not mad.”
She nearly scolded me, and I felt bad, staring away.
Mom squeezed my shoulder. “Anyway, I think we need to go save him from Ben,” she said, nudging me with a smile. “Finish up in here, and I’ll serve the pie.”
She took it off the counter, store-bought but so good none of that mattered. My mom always made do for us, was completely awesome and more so than I believed. She really held no ill will, sympathetic where I might not have been if I’d been in her situation.
But I guess now I knew all the facts too.
After I started the dishwasher, I wiped my hands, deciding to check my phone before heading back out. I got an email so I checked it, really surprised to hear from Professor Hershel at all, least of all so soon. I’d just sent him an email with all my research notes earlier that day from my phone since I had the file saved to the Cloud.
Professor Hershel: Good work on this paper, Ms. Michaelson. I just finished it and loved it. I can’t post grades until I finish everyone else’s, but yes, it was outstanding.
A little happy dance I jigged on the inside, reading on.
Professor Hershel: And I went over your notes. Excellent stuff too, which makes sense why the paper was so good. You might want to consider a degree in psychology or even further, going the route of a medical doctor. You’ve obviously taken to all this.
Never thought I’d hear that. I smiled on, but the expression left a little by how he left the email.
Professor Hershel: Also, I think I might have heard you wrong before when we were talking. You said your friend’s mom was in a coma due to a head injury, but from what I can see with what you gave me, her coma is medically induced.
What?
Professor Hershel: Though maybe I don’t have all the facts or you jotted something down wrong error-wise in your notes. Either way, excellent work, and I’ll see you back in class next week.
Knight