Until December (Until Her 5)

While she and I are still on the phone, June and July three-way call me, saying they talked to April. I tell both of them what they heard is true, and they make plans to meet me for breakfast tomorrow morning. Not even a minute after I get off the phone with them, my phone rings once more, and I sigh when I see my mom’s name. And I swear that if April ever meets someone she’s even a little serious about, I will pay her back tenfold for opening her big mouth.

“Hey, Mom,” I say as I put my cell to my ear.

“I just got off the phone with April,” she tells me, something I already figured out. “I just want to tell you that your dad and I spent a little time with Gareth at Cobi’s wedding, and we were both seriously impressed with him.”

“Mom,” I start, but she cuts me off.

“I know you don’t need our approval, but I want to let you know we approve. He seems like a good guy, and from what Sage and Cobi said, he’s a hard worker and he loves his family.”

“He has two kids,” I insert, thinking that’s a deal breaker, if not for her then definitely for my dad.

“I thought you wanted kids?” she prompts quietly.

My eyes slide closed. “I do, but there is a difference between having kids of my own and dating someone who already has kids,” I say, feeling a little guilty for admitting the truth. If I’m honest, the idea of Gareth having kids his boys’ ages kind of freaks me out. Okay, it really freaks me out. I know Mitch from spending time with him at school, and he’s a great kid, but that doesn’t mean he’d be okay with me dating his dad. And what if his brother hates me? What if things between Gareth and me get serious, and his boys end up resenting me? Or what if—

“Honey,” she cuts off my rampant thoughts. “You love kids; you always have. And kids love you,” she says softly. “I’m sure you’re freaked. Honestly, I’d be worried if you weren’t.” I listen to her pull in a deep breath. “I don’t know what will happen between you two, but I wanted you to know we like him.”

“Mom.” I sigh, worried she is mentally planning a wedding and preparing for more grandkids, even older ones she can spoil rotten—

“I liked him, honey,” she says, and my chest gets tight, because she’s using the tone she always uses when she really wants me to hear her. “Honest to God, it was a little scary how much he reminded me of your dad when we first got together.”

“What do you mean?”

“At Cobi’s wedding, I saw the way he was looking at you before he approached you at the bar. I saw the look on his face when he finally got your attention, and then—” She pauses. “—I ummm… saw you two together outside.”

“What?” I squeak.

“I promise I wasn’t spying,” she says quickly. “I just noticed you were a little off balance when you snuck out the back exit, so I followed you just to make sure you were okay. By the time I got out there, you were with him, and… well, I could tell you’d be okay, so I left.”

“Oh my God,” I whisper, now completely humiliated.

“It was sweet the way he was holding you,” she says dreamily.

“April was cozied up to a guy all night. Did you think that was sweet?” I ask, wanting to change the subject.

“Your sister is a different breed of woman, honey, and your father and I have come to terms with that. I don’t know what kind of man she’s going to end up with, but we’re praying he’ll be the kind of man who knows how to deal with her.”

“She needs someone to deal with her,” I mumble, still annoyed she called not only our sisters but our mom to let them all know I was going on a date. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s on the phone right now with our cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, letting them know the news.

“Don’t be mad at her. She’s relieved that things are working out after what happened.”

Oh my Lord, I thought this couldn’t get worse, but I was wrong. “She told you?”

“She was upset.”

“I cannot believe she told you what happened,” I hiss. I didn’t mind her sharing with our sisters, or even our cousins who have the same X chromosomes, but our mom?

“She felt like it was her fault.”

It was her fault. Okay, it wasn’t, but still, in my head it kinda was.

“It doesn’t even matter, since you’re going on a date with Gareth tonight,” Mom reminds me, sounding happy once more.

As much as I want to argue, I know it will be pointless. And really, I just want to get off the phone and try to relax before I have to start getting ready. “You’re right, it doesn’t matter.”