4
Tessa
How did he know thatit’s my favorite flavor? Maybe he’s just able to read me well. As we devour our ice cream, I can’t help but wonder what else there is to know about him. I’ve heard about his wife, but what about his parents? Did he grow up here?
In the back of my mind, I know it’s trouble getting to know Damon, especially when there are already feelings involved, but I can’t help it. He’s intriguing. There aren’t many good men left out there, and maybe I can overlook his profession. The man did save me and my daughter, so maybe I can cut him some slack.
I look down at my phone, wondering why my mother hasn’t reached out yet. Usually she calls to check in every couple of weeks. Would I even mention the fire or living in a stranger’s house? Probably not. She will think I’m batshit crazy. Instead of waiting on her to call me, I attempt to call her, but she doesn’t answer.
To say our relationship isn’t the best is an understatement. When she does call, it usually consists of her trying to convince me to move back to Oregon. Like that’s ever going to happen.
We continue watching Animal Planet until about nine thirty when Emily’s eyes fade. So I cart her off to bed before she falls asleep on the couch. It didn’t take but maybe five minutes for her to snore a symphony. As I lie back on my pillow, a million things run through my head, causing me not to be able to sleep. How long can we stay here without overstaying our welcome? If Damon refuses to let me pay rent, then would it be enough for me to save up to get another place?
Maybe it’s time I consider moving back to Oregon, even though I don’t want to. Hell no. Getting away is the best thing that’s happened to me, and going back would be a mistake.
As if in a daze, my phone rings and I look at the clock to see it’s almost midnight already. What the hell have I been doing for almost two and a half hours? Mommy slides across my screen as I decide whether to answer it. Surely she realizes what time it is.
Before my father passed, it was always me and him against the world. Me being a daddy’s girl always got to my mother, I think. Of course, after his passing, she tried to make more of an effort to keep up the things we used to do together like fishing, baseball games, and watching the Super Bowl every year.
“Hey, can you hold a second?” I say, whispering into the phone so as not to wake Emily. The bed squeaks as I get up and head for the bedroom door. Crap.
“Mom?” Emily says, half awake.
“I’ll be right back, sweetie. Go back to bed.”
I close the door softly behind me and head out into the living room where I see Damon sitting on the couch doing his usual. “What are you still doing up?”
“Couldn’t sleep. Everything okay?”
“I’m going to take this call outside.” I open the front door and close it behind me, letting the breeze twirl my hair around. It’s not too bad outside, maybe sixty-five.
“Ma? You still there?”
“Yeah, sorry for calling so late, but I saw a missed call from you. Everything okay? Still working at that supermarket?”
It never fails; she always has to comment on my employment, wanting me to find something better, but without a degree it’s hard to do. Most jobs around here pay minimum wage, or a little above. It’s not like I have a whole lot of options in front of me.
“Yes, Mom. Part-time. It’s hard to find a full-time job that works around the schedule with Emily; you know that.”
“If you moved back to Oregon, you wouldn’t have an issue at all. I’d watch her so you can work. Hell, I could take her to school and pick her up.”
The offer is nice, but as she knows, Oregon isn’t where I want to be.
“Not gonna happen, and you know it. Why don’t you move down here?”
It’s a stupid question because I know the answer. The house my parents bought when they first got married is something she would never move away from. It’s paid for and holds all their memories. “I’m not moving.”
“Okay, then. When are you going to come visit? Emily is gonna forget who you are, it’s been so long.”
She scoffs. “Wow, way to make me feel like shit, Tess. You know I can’t afford it yet. I’m saving up and when I have enough, you’ll be the first to know.”
The conversation doesn’t get any better before the call ends.
My mom knows Oregon is the last place I want to be. The whole point of going to college was to get away from that small-town life and find somewhere better. Sure, Grapevine isn’t much bigger than my hometown, but it’s somewhere new and I find that comforting in its own right.
I’m surprised when I go back inside to find Damon still up watching TV. When does he sleep? Maybe he has insomnia or something.
“Would some tea help?”