The Trouble With Falling

SIX

Elijah

The phone callcomes around closing time. I’m locking up and about to head out the back door when my cell phone goes off and I let out a groan. I know without looking that it’s my mom calling.

At least I got a few days of peace before the gossip reached her.

“Hey, Mom,” I say as I press the phone between my ear and shoulder and finish locking up the shop.

“Hey, honey! Are you busy?” she asks, her voice cheerful and I’m instantly transported back to my childhood.

“No, I’m just locking up and about to head home,” I tell her as I pocket the shop keys and make my way over to my truck.

“Headed home? Or maybe home to someone?” she asks, and I have to laugh at her lack of subtlety.

“I see that you’ve heard the rumors then,” I reply as I climb into my truck and start it up.

I crank the ignition, blasting the heat to try to warm the cab up.

“Trish called me this morning. I don’t like that I had to hear about this special someone in my own son’s life from my friend, but your father and I are thrilled that you’ve found someone!”

I can hear my dad grumbling in the background and I grin. I’m sure that he’s trying to rein her in. Silly to even try. Everyone knows that there is no reining in Susan Grove when she’s got an idea in her head.

“It’s not what you think, Ma,” I try to object.

“I heard that you were getting frisky and that you had the girl half undressed in the middle of the Trading Shop,” she replies primly.

I cover my mouth, trying to hide my long sigh.

“Yes, she was topless for a second, but––”

“I hope that you’re treating her to more than a romp in your store,” my mom reprimands me and I contemplate banging my head on the steering wheel. “Anyway, dear, your father and I wanted to hear more about your new girl. Will we get to meet her when we’re in town next week?”

“No, she’s not my girlfriend, Mom.”

“You kids are so weird nowadays. No labels and all of that. I know that you don’t ask people to go steady like they did back in my day, but if you like the girl, you need to make sure that she knows that and that you’re serious about her.”

I buckle up and pull out of my spot behind the shop. It’s not snowing, so I have to wait a few minutes for traffic to pass before I pull out onto Main Street.

“How long have you two been together? What’s her name? Have you told her that you love her yet?”

I listen to my mom rattle off questions as I drive downtown. I promised Patrick that I would pick up some Gatorade for Brennan. The poor kid is home sick with the flu and I know that Patrick is worried about leaving him and he doesn’t want to make the kid go out when he’s throwing up.

“Her name is Hartley. She’s new to town, here to open up a bakery or something, but I’m sure that you already knew all of that.”

“I did, but what I really want to know is how you feel about her. Are you two serious? Trish didn’t know.”

“No, Mom. I’m still single. Hartley was a customer who got caught in a jacket and I was trying to help her pull it off. I accidentally took off her shirt too and that was it.”

“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry to hear that, but don’t you worry! I’ll be back in Honey Peak soon and I’ll help you find someone. I heard that Mrs. Jeck’s granddaughter is back in town. She was always a sweetheart and I’m sure you two would be adorable together.”

I let my mom rattle on as I park in a spot in front of the grocery store. I let her chatter on as dread starts to fill me.

I remember how bad it got when my parents still lived in Honey Peak. I couldn’t go anywhere with them without her trying to introduce me to someone’s daughter or granddaughter or friend of a friend. It got so bad that I had to check with my dad before I went over to their house for dinner to find out if I was about to be ambushed.

I don’t think that I can do that again.

I know that I can’t do that again.