The air fryer beeped, and I hurried over, excited to see how the potatoes had turned out. I expected Monroe over any minute, and I wanted everything to be perfect. The air fryer was my favorite discovery so far, making cooking simpler for an amateur like me.
“That smells good,” Jude mumbled, walking into the kitchen rubbing his eyes. He’d been sleeping most of the day since he got home from the lock-in.
“Let’s hope it tastes good too.”
He laughed, having tried many of my crazy concoctions over the past month as I tried to teach myself how to cook. Baking had been the first thing I’d succeeded at so far. Nat had recommended this recipe, though, and promised me it was both simple and tasty.
A knock at the door had me jumping as I tried to finish up the food. When the phone rang as well, I felt like a chicken with my head cut off as I rushed to shake the potatoes and answer both the door and phone. Jude laughed at my distress and I threw him an accusing stare which only made him laugh more.
“Uh, can you get one of them, please?”
He picked up my phone and made a face before setting it back down. “I’ll grab the door.”
Sighing, I knew that meant it could only be one person. My mother.
Jude slid off the stool, a banana in his hand as he went, and I chuckled at the sight. Once he’d gotten comfortable, I rarely saw him without food in his hands. It made me happy to learn these little quirks about him and be the one to offer him stability. I’d found it was the simple things he appreciated more than the fancy stuff anyway. Jude really was a special kid.
Setting down the potatoes, I answered the call, steeling myself to deal with whatever shit she was about to spew. Jacqueline had increased her invasion of my life since the ‘incident’ stating it was an obvious cry for help and my life was in a state of disrepair. She called and stopped by all the time now. To the outside world, it looked like she was a caring mother; to me, I knew what it was—a ploy.
I had a bad feeling she and Brian were up to something. I just hadn’t figured out what yet. There was no reason for them to engage with one another otherwise. They’d never been that close to begin with.
“Hello, Jacqueline.”
She huffed, not pleased with the way I now addressed her. “Seriously, Loren. I think you need to have your head examined again. You’ve clearly lost it.”
“How can I help you, Mother?” I exhaled, trying not to let her ruin my date.
“I need you to—” she didn’t get to finish as Monroe walked in.
“Wow, Lo, everything smells wonderful here.”
Turning, I placed the pan in the sink as I smiled over at Monroe, trying to ignore the irate woman on the phone who had begun ranting the minute she heard him.
“Is that a man in your apartment, Loren? Who is that?” I rolled my eyes at her, Monroe laughing when he realized I was on the phone.
“Did you call for a reason, Jacqueline, or do you have a radar that tells you when to ruin fun things for me? Hmm?”
“Of all the things, Loren! I don’t know why I bother. You’re the most ungrateful child there ever was. And after all I did for you, the sacrifices I made—”
“Yes, yes, you were the perfect mother. Now, can we get to the reason you called so I can get back to my dinner?”
“I do not appreciate your tone, young lady!”
“Good thing you don’t have to then. I’m 32, not much of a young lady anymore, Mom. So, get over it.”
“Agh! And to think I called to see how you were and to invite you over for brunch!”
“I told you I was done with those. Until you accept the choices I’m making, I don’t care to be berated by you over my eggs benedict. If there’s nothing else... “
“Fine. Then I won’t tell you about Brian.”
Dropping my head back, I pulled the phone away from my ear. This was what she did. When she didn’t get her way, she used manipulation and gaslighting. Jacqueline Hanover was a fucking pro at gaslighting. Once I was calm, I placed it back on my ear.
“For the last time, Mother, I have no interest in Brian or what he is up to. He’s my ex. Part of my past for a reason. If that’s the only reason you called, then you clearly don’t care about me. Please refrain from calling in the future. I’ll see you next weekend at the wedding, only because I have to. And if you’re rude to Jude for one second, then we’re out of there and I’ll let everyone know it was because of you.”
Quietness greeted me, and I smiled smugly. “Bye, Mother.”
“It’s about Barkley.”