Those bastards always have to say something ugly in order to get anyone to read their garbage. She hasn’t mentioned it, but I know she’s seen it. In return, I took a picture of her and me and sent it to a competitor’s magazine. It’s a beautiful, perfect picture of us, and if Serenity sees it, she’ll know exactly what I see in her. I’m looking down at her with love on my face and our arms are around each other.
When our schedules finally align for us to have a night together, I want to take her straight to my house and make up for lost time. Instead, my mother insists on meeting Serenity. And the only reason I agree is because I want to make Serenity a permanent part of my life, and part of that is introducing her to my mother.
“Are you sure about this?” Serenity asks me as we walk up the front steps of my mother’s house.
My hand tightens on hers. “Am I sure I want you to meet my mother? Yes.”
She stops and puts her hands on my chest. “We could go home. I haven’t seen you in two weeks. I can do that thing you like.”
Her flushed face tells me how much she’s missed me and God how tempting is she? I want nothing more than to keep her to myself tonight, but I feel like this is an important next step. “In and out. We’re already here.”
She doesn’t get time to answer before my mother is opening the door.
“Dustin, are you and your friend coming in?” she asks us, and I ignore the snide way she says friend. I walk up to my mother and kiss her cheek, whispering, “Be nice.”
“Mother, this is Serenity. My girlfriend.” Serenity’s face lights up at the name and I pull her back into my arms.
My mother gives a little harrumph, announcing that dinner is ready.
She is a difficult woman, but she seems to be minding her manners with Serenity, for which I’m very grateful.
Serenity
I’ve missed Dusty so badly that I would have agreed to meeting that wretched photographer from that awful gossip magazine if it meant I could spend time with Dusty.
“Dinner was really good, Mrs. Burgess. You’ll have to give me the recipe,” I tell her. She’s really snooty and seems a little cold, but I know it must be difficult having a son that is a celebrity of sorts.
She smiles at me, a thin line across her face that I have learned is her smile. “I didn’t cook it, dear. The staff did.”
I fidget with the napkin on my lap, and Dusty reaches over to grab my hand. “Serenity is a great cook too.”
I squeeze his hand, letting him know I appreciate him. I continue to be kind and cheerful even when his mother gives me a look of disdain.
As soon as dinner is over, Dusty apologizes to her that we can’t stay. “Serenity and I both have work and school tomorrow.”
For the first time, a full smile forms on her face. “Sure, son, but can you be a dear? Can you speak to the gardener about the rose bushes? He’s cutting them too far back. And I figure since you speak fluent Spanish, you can explain it better than me.”
I can see the indecision on his face, but I assure him I’ll be okay.
As soon as Dusty walks out the door, Mrs. Burgess turns to me. “You are not good enough for my son.”
I’m stunned. I’ve never come across someone that is just so mean. “Uh, no doubt, Dusty is a good man, but…”
I start to defend myself but I don’t get far. “Yes, he is. Too good for you. But I’m sure this is just a fling and you’ll be over soon enough.”
I walk away from her then. My feelings are hurt and the words that she said to me have been my fear all along.
I walk toward the car just as Dusty comes around the side of the house. “You ready?”
I nod my head at him. He raises his hand to wave bye to his mother and when he gets into the car, he says, “See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”
I take a deep breath, knowing I’m not going to say anything to him about his mother. “Yes, she was lovely.”
By the time we get to his house, I’ve worked out a plan in my head. “I’m sorry, Dusty. I completely forgot about a paper that is due tomorrow. I’m going to have to go home and work on it.”
He wraps his arms around me, and I try not to tense up. “You can use my laptop. I was really hoping we could be together tonight.”
I rest my head on his chest because I can’t look at him right now. “Me too. But I’m sorry. I have to do this.” I sniff and hope he doesn’t hear the sadness in my voice.