I pulled the sheet pan of bacon out of the oven and placed it on top of the stove, my stomach growling as the scent filled my nose. If the bacon hadn’t been sizzling, I would have risked scalding my tongue and stuffed a piece into my mouth. But that didn’t stop me from staring at it longingly.
“Don’t do it,” Garret advised as he finished arranging the tray with the sliced fresh fruit and the flowers he’d brought with him. “The last time I saw you do that, you couldn’t taste anything for two days because you burned your mouth so bad.”
My brother had arrived at the crack of dawn. The plan was to make Mom breakfast in bed and surprise her with Garret’s visit for Mother’s Day. We’d discussed it for a few months, but he hadn’t been sure if he could make it because of how crazy work had been for him recently. But at the last minute, he’d said fuck it and came anyway.
“But I’m so hungry,” I complained.
“Here.” He picked up one of the strawberries from the container that he had washed but hadn’t yet sliced and stuffed it in my mouth. “Now, stop your whining.”
I chewed happily and started making eggs while he placed bread in the toaster. By the time it popped up, everything was ready, and Garret picked up the tray. “Grab the presents and lead the way.”
Upstairs, I knocked cautiously on our parents’ bedroom door then listened, making sure we weren’t about to walk in on something we would need therapy to recover from. All I heard was a loud snore from Dad, and I grinned.
Cracking the door open, I stuck my head in and saw that they were both still sound asleep. Mom was on her side facing the window, Dad spooned behind her, his arms wrapped so tight around her it was a wonder she could breathe. For as long as I could remember, that was how I had found them asleep every time I’d come into their room in the middle of the night. It was as if Dad had this unconscious fear that Mom would disappear in the middle of the night and couldn’t bear to let her go, even in his sleep.
I turned to Garret and lifted my finger to my lips. He grinned and nodded, the two of us quietly entering their room. But even as quiet as we were being, Dad still sensed us before we got halfway to the bed and jerked awake. “What’s going on?” Then his eyes focused on us and his face lit up, but he didn’t ruin the surprise.
Mom grumbled unhappily in her sleep and turned onto her back. “It’s Sunday and still early. Go back to sleep.”
“I guess I’ll eat all this crispy bacon all by myself, then,” Garret said.
Mom squeaked and sat upright. Dad turned on the bedside lamp, and as soon as Mom’s eyes landed on her son, tears filled them. “You’re here.”
“Happy Mother’s Day,” he said, placing the tray over her lap and kissing her cheek.
She cupped his face in both of her hands. “But you said you were busy. And with everything going on, I thought…”
“I missed your birthday. I wasn’t going to miss this too. Ryan and Zayne can handle everything for a few days without me.” He kissed her again and straightened. “I’d ask if you’re happy to see me, but your blubbering
tells its own story.”
She laughed and nodded. “One of the best Mother’s Day presents you have ever given me.”
I nudged my brother out of the way to hug her and placed the gifts in her hands. “Save the tears for the presents. Open them, open them!”
Garret dropped his arm over my shoulders as we watched her open first the envelope that had not only a Mother’s Day card in it, but also a trip for two to Mexico for two weeks. Garret felt so bad about missing Mom’s birthday that he’d splurged and paid for a vacation for our parents.
Whatever was going on with him and Cali—or whoever she was claiming to be—had changed him for the better. He was more affectionate, even from the other side of the country. He called Mom at least twice a week, and he even texted me once a day just to ask how I was doing. At first, it was weird, and I hadn’t completely trusted his concern for my well-being, but after the first month or so, I’d actually started looking forward to his texts.
Reminding myself to thank my friend for whatever spell she’d put on my brother, I watched as Mom’s eyes nearly popped out of her head when she realized the amount of money and thought Garret had put into his gift to her. He’d sent everything to me a few days before, thinking he wouldn’t be able to give it to her himself, but I was glad he was here now. It made it even more special for Mom.
“This is too much,” Mom said, dashing at her continued tears. “You shouldn’t have spent so much money, Garret.”
“I’m not hurting for it,” he assured her. “I’ve got a cushy bank account. This trip didn’t even put a dent in it.”
“Okay, then. Thank you, honey. I can’t remember the last time your dad and I had a vacation on our own.” She beamed up at him. “This is perfect. I think it’s exactly what we need after Nova graduates in a few weeks.”
“I figured you would want to wait until after the shrimp was gone,” Garret teased. I elbowed him in the ribs, causing him to groan, his arm tightening around me as he ruffled my hair.
Sticking out my tongue at him, I turned back to Mom, who was opening my present. “My present isn’t nearly as extravagant as Garret’s. But since you’re going to the beach, I thought you might want a day at the spa to get prepared. Facial, mani, and pedi. Haircut and wax. Whatever you want. I got the same thing for Aunt Raven as well, so the two of you can make a day of it together.”
“You two are the best,” she said, holding open her arms.
Garret and I both leaned down to hug her again. “Love you, Mom,” I whispered, kissing her cheek.
“Yeah, we love you, Mom,” Garret seconded as we straightened. “Now, eat before the food gets cold.”
“Wait,” she called as we started backing toward the door. “You’re not going to eat with us?”