My Daughter's Boyfriend by Cydney Rax Page A

looked at me with kindness.
    “Why would someone who looks as fine as you be all by yourself on a Saturday night?”
    I opened my mouth in shock, but laughed. “If you’re trying to make me feel good, you’ve done your job. But you know, Aaron, there comes a day when everyone must spend some time alone. We don’t always have to be up under somebody. That alone shouldn’t validate a person.”
    He blinked his eyes like I’d given him too much information.
    “Sorry. It was one of those weeks,” I stated.
    Without specifically agreeing to do so, we walked side by side. I heard the noises of crying babies, laughing children, and loud teens that swarmed around us, but it was like they weren’t even there. Compared to Aaron, those people looked like a blur.
    While making our way through the mall, I was surprised but pleased that Aaron kept a respectful distance. When I’d come a little too close to him due to the crowds, he’d slow down, or spread his hands and point the way so I could pass through. I looked at him in admiration. He noticed my intense stare and had the nerve to blush. I
love
it when men blush.
    “So, how are things going with you and Lauren?” I asked with a tease of a smile.
    “Th-they’re going.”
    “That bad, huh?”
    “They’re okay,” he hedged.
    “I’ll bet I have something to do with how things are going.”
    Instead of responding, he turned to gaze at the mechanical alligator in the man-made pond outside the Rainforest Café, near the front entrance of the restaurant, which boasts a jungle theme complete with towering trees, massive leaves, talking birds, resembling an indoor safari. We laughed at the dozens of children that pitched quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies inside the roaring alligator’s mouth.
    “Hey, have you eaten here before?” I asked.
    “Nope.”
    “Want to join me? I’m hungry.”
    He looked at his watch.
    “Well, I guess it’ll be okay,” he said.
    “Why are you hesitating?”
    His facial expression froze, so I smiled and pulled him by the arm.
    “Come on, son. You’re practically my son, anyway. It won’t hurt you to join me for dinner. Lauren will have a fit when I tell her I ran into you at the mall.”
    He exhaled and didn’t move away when I grabbed his arm. After we were seated, we placed our order, sipped on lemon water, and nibbled on chicken breast strips dipped in honey mustard.
    “You doing a little last-minute Christmas shopping?” I asked.
    “Yep, I already bought Lauren’s gift. Now I need to find something for my parents.”
    “Your parents? How are they?”
    “Doing good. Except Dad’s sugar’s been getting to him. Other than that, they’re well.”
    “I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting them. Maybe you could bring them over one day.” I was trying so hard to be good. Trying so hard to maintain my feelings.
    He hesitated, then said, “Sure.”
    “You have a problem with that, Aaron?”
    “Oh no, no, no. It’s cool. My folks are, well, they’re getting up there in age.”
    “Do they like Lauren?”
    “They don’t care who I date, Mrs. Davenport.”
    “I really wish you’d stop calling me Mrs. Davenport. I’m not a Mrs. Never married.”
    “No?” Aaron asked. “Would it be prying if I asked why not?”
    “Well, it’s not like I didn’t want to get married. Just never met the right guy.”
    “And Lauren’s dad, apparently he wasn’t right for you?”
    “Oh, hell naw.”
    He grinned in a way that could rival Chris Webber’s smile.
    “I don’t mean to make it sound so bad, but ultimately all we did was get together and conceive a baby. At least that’s what it boils down to, in my assessment. Now, if you asked Derrick, he might have a different take altogether.”
    “Was it worth it?” he probed.
    “What? Having the baby?”
    “Not just that, but having a relationship with Lauren’s dad?”
    “I’ve never really thought about it. At the time we met, I’m sure I thought it was worth it. And I