“I haven’t been that instrumental. Ellis is just being nice.”
Ellis runs a finger over his bottom lip as he watches my mother and Aunt interrogate me about the brewery. Then, he grabs the cooler under his seat. “She was the mastermind behind this.” He produces two bottles of the pink beer.
My mother grabs it like it’s an alien head, and studies the bottle, and then sets it back down. “What is it?”
“It’s a beer geared toward women. It’s a strawberry hefeweizen, try it.” He pops both tops, handing them out.
Aunt Carol is the first to respond. “Wow, this is nice. Smooth.”
My mother, more skeptical, takes a tentative sip. “Oh, this is good. And Kiki,” she faces me now, “you thought of this?”
I give a little shrug. “Yeah, well I like beer.”
“And now you’re dating Ellis?”
I smile, with another shrug. “Yeah, I am.” But don’t ask me where it’s going because we haven’t even worked out the details with each other.
My mother smiles. “How did the two of you meet?”
“Yes, we want all the details,” Aunt Carol chimes in, taking another sip of her beer.
Umm. Where do I even begin? Ellis and I exchange a weird look, both of us probably thinking the same thing. How do we even tell our story?
“Well, I saw her, liked her, and kissed her.” Ellis laughs, and my mother and Aunt Carol laugh along as well, not really understanding the whole joke, obviously.
“Mom, it’s a long story. But, we’re happy. And I know now I never loved Henry.”
My mother tears up. “I’m so happy for you two.”
Aunt Carol launches in about her own daughter’s wedding, telling Ellis about every single detail of it. “And we have peacocks,” she says, continuing on with her story.
My mother nods at me. “Let’s use the restroom.”
I feel a bit bad about leaving Ellis alone with my aunt while she brags about Marsha, Marsha, Marsha, but it’s obvious my mother has something to say.
I kiss Ellis’ cheek before I leave.
We excuse ourselves and head in the direction of the restrooms. In the hallway, my mother stops and turns to face me. Her brown eyes searching mine.
“I know I’ve been hard on you…”
“What?” I cut in.
She waves her hand, to let her finish. “No, I’ve been so consumed with Carol and Marsha that I never really asked you what you wanted.”
“Oh, Mom, it’s ok.”
She isn’t finished. “I was a monster,” I laugh a little, “and I never should have put that kind of pressure on you.” She hugs me, tight and true.
“I’m fine.”
“I can see that now. There’s this bright glow all around you, and I can see it in your eyes when you look at Ellis.” She smiles, swiping a tear off her own cheek. “You never loved Henry, and I can see that now.”
I hug her again. “Mom, I really like this one,” speaking about Ellis.
And I really appreciate my mother saying this to me. For too long I’ve felt the pressure of Marsha’s life affecting my own. Many times, I’ve felt I couldn’t live up to the expectations set on me. It’s like a big weight has been lifted and I smile.
“Mom, thank you,” I tell her.
She glances back at Ellis. “I can tell he really likes you, too.”
* * *
Later that night, when I’m tucked neatly into the side of Ellis, which I’m realizing is one of my most favorite places to be, I sigh with happiness. I could really get used to this. I want to bring up Atlanta. I want to bring up all the things of the unknown, and get answers.
But, instead I pop my head up. “Are you sleeping?”
“Well, not now.” He laughs, and I know he wasn’t sleeping. I hope.
“I’m just wondering when you’ll hear from Henry about getting the money to start producing the dog beer and other stuff?” I smile. “And I want you to know I’ll be ordering some of the dog beer for my shop.”
He runs his fingers through my hair when I lay my head back on his chest. “Thank you.” He kisses the top of my head. “Urban says Henry’s been kind of flighty. Like when we call, no answer. So, Urban invited him to Yasmin’s wedding. He props up on an elbow. “I hope that’s ok.”
I nod, hoping the reason Henry’s not answering doesn’t have to do with Ellis and me. “Sure.” I twirl my finger over the six-pack abs he’s got on him. “Are you mad I’m making you go?”
He laughs lightly, his chest moving up and down. “No, it’ll be ok. This is important to you. So, it makes it important to me too.”
“I just know how much you dislike your father.”
He shakes his head. “I was in high school when my father cheated on my mother.” He shakes his head, most likely remembering it all. “How can a man do that to the woman he loves?”