The Summer House by Lee Moore Page B

suddenly everything was all right in the world.  A mother’s hug when it’s truly meant is always warm and welcoming.  That’s how it felt that day.
     
    Later on that evening, as we were eating dinner, we finally broached the subject of our argument the previous week.  Mother agreed that she had been out of line, and I apologized for being disrespectful and cussing her out.  I did point out I felt justified for standing up for myself and my beliefs.  Before my mom could object to that, Dad said the matter was put to rest.  I just nodded and we finished dinner.
     
    As my mom was heading to bed my cell phone buzzed, and I checked it to see what it was.  A text message from Janice.
     
    WTF?  Everything ok?
    Yes, we all apologized, mom has chilled out
    How is she?
    Dad says her cancer’s back. Sucks
    Ya, it does.  I got home and you weren’t here so I wanted to check in with you.
    Things are good here, mom is going to bed, and I think dad is too.
    Want to go out and blow off some steam?
    Yes, that sounds great, and I haven’t heard from you in forever!
    Great!  Should I invite some male type company?
    You can invite your boyfriend.
    I meant for you silly, Caroline, I have a hot friend I want you to meet.
    How hot?
    HAWT
    ??
    Hugh Jackman hot!
    What should I wear?
    Anything, meet me here and we’ll figure out where to meet him.
    K!
     
    I laughed and headed to my bedroom, a smile on my face.
     
    “Who was that, baby?” my dad asked, seeing me walk by with a grin.
     
    “Janice; I’m going to go over to her house, she has a guy friend she wants me to meet, so it’ll be like a double date, but it’ll be a blind one for me,” I told him.
     
    “Are you sure that’s how you want the world to see you?” he asked me and my heart dropped.
     
    “You and Mom had an arranged marriage, Daddy, it worked out for you,” I pointed out and he grimaced for a moment.
     
    “Yeah, but things with the church were different back then, and this has nothing to do with the church,” he said.
     
    “Daddy… you promised this stuff was over,” I told him, starting to get pissed.
     
    He held his hands up, palms out. “Sorry, sorry, old habits.  It makes me feel old to think of you dating; pretty soon we’ll be grandparents,” he said ,and I laughed out loud.
     
    “Grandpa Smith, I kind of like the sound of that.  Someday when I find Mr. Right and settle down, we’ll worry about grandkids.  OK, Dad?”
     
    “Just make sure that when you do settle down, you bring him here to meet us before you tie the knot,” he said simply.
     
    “Daddy, you know I would,” I told him, confused slightly.
     
    “A week ago, I never could have imagined that we’d drive you away, possibly forever.  I’ve been dealing with that reality shift, and I’m an old man; change is hard, and I’ve done a lot of soul searching.  We’re part of the reason you’ve been unhappy over the years.”
     
    I threw my arms around him in a hug, trying not to cry, “You’re not old, Daddy.” And I left the rest of it unsaid.  If Mom went back to the way she had been, I would leave again, in all probability.  With nothing else to say, I let him go and ran to my room to look for something to wear.
     
    Slutty or classy?  I pulled out my cell phone after looking through the clothing I had unpacked.
     
    “Caroline, please don’t tell me you are backing out on tonight already?” she asked me with a smile in her voice.
     
    “Oh hell, no!  I have a wardrobe question.” I was slightly miffed she’d even think I was going to flake out on her.
     
    “Clothing?  Oh, shoot!”
     
    “OK, so I know we’re meeting at your house, where are we going from there?”
     
    “Does it matter?” she asked me.
     
    “I want to know, slutty or classy?”
     
    “OMG, what’s gotten into you?” she gushed.
     
    “I want to know if I should wear some ‘Fuck Me’ clothing, or are we going somewhere classy, say a piano bar,” I told her