“You’re hilarious,” she grumbled as I held the door open for her.
As soon as we walked inside, we were bombarded with the smell of food cooking. I’d recognize my mom’s famous chicken casserole anywhere. She’d really gone all out to meet Emma.
“Oh, wow. Something smells good,” Emma said as I closed the door behind her.
My mom stuck her head out of the kitchen, and she smiled when she saw Emma. “Just in time! I’m just taking dinner out of the oven.” “You guys eat dinner at nine thirty?” Emma asked.
“Well, I usually work late shifts, so Jesse has to fend for himself.” “Oh, I see,” Emma said politely.
“Mom, this is Emma. Emma, this is my mom,” I said as I gestured between them. This is so weird.
“It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Daniels.”
My mom wiped her hands on her apron as she walked out of the kitchen.
“It’s nice to meet you, Emma. Please call me Trish.”
“I can do that.” Emma smiled at my mom. She was bouncing her weight from foot to foot as we all stood in the entryway, staring at each other.
“Why don’t we all head into the kitchen to eat?” my mom asked.
“Sounds like a plan,” I said.
I placed my hand on the small of Emma’s back as I steered her into the kitchen. It didn’t go unnoticed by my mother. I watched her try to hide a grin when we walked past.
Emma and my mom sat across from each other at the table while I was in the middle. Emma was trying to hide her nervousness, but she kept fidgeting in her chair. I supposed I should have warned her that my mom might be home, but I never thought about it. My mom was rarely home, and I hadn’t expected her to actually be here.
My mother made me say grace tonight. I knew there weren’t a lot of families who said it anymore, and I didn’t want Emma to think we were strange. She didn’t seem to mind though as she bowed her head right along with us. Everyone was quiet afterward as we filled our plates with food.
It was starting to feel awkward, and then my mom finally spoke up. “Has my son been behaving himself in school?”
Emma glanced at me and smiled. “He has with the exception of yesterday. He’s actually pretty quiet.”
“He always has been. Even when he was little, he’d keep to himself rather than play with the other kids.”
“He’s a hard nut to crack, but I think I finally managed to get him to like me.”
“I’m glad. You just take care of my baby, okay?” “Mom, really?” I asked as I rolled my eyes.
“Yes, really.”
Emma laughed. “I will. You have nothing to worry about.”
“I’m glad to hear that. So, what do you like to do in your spare time? My son kept quiet about you until last night, so I know nothing about you.”
“I’m pretty boring. I don’t do much besides school and cheerleading. Jesse has been trying to teach me to surf. Keyword there is trying. I’m not very good at it.”
“It takes time. I don’t know how many times Jesse had come home bruised and discouraged before he finally got the hang of it. Don’t let him give you a hard time, or I’ll bring out baby pictures, so we can laugh at him together.”
“I have no words for where this conversation is going,” I groaned before I started shoveling food into my mouth. I needed to get Emma away from my mom fast.
“Oh! I’d love to see those sometime. I might even make copies and pass them around at school.” Emma stuck her tongue out at me.
“I like this girl, Jesse. You need to bring her around more often.”
“So that the two of you can embarrass me? No, thanks.”
“Oh, hush. We’re bonding,” Emma said as she squeezed my knee under the table.
“So, what do your parents do?” my mom asked.
“Well, my dad is part of the band, Seducing Seductresses, and my mom is a retired model. They’ve been divorced since I was little, so I don’t get to see my dad that often.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. At least you have your mom around though.” Emma snorted. “I wouldn’t go that far. She’s not much of a mom.”
“That stinks. I had a rocky relationship with my mom when I was a teenager. Hopefully, you two can learn to get along,” my mom said.
“I doubt that. She isn’t worried about being a mom.”
“Well, you’re welcome here anytime. I mean it. Even if Jesse is in one of his moods, I’ll let you hide out here.”
“That’s very kind of you. Thank you.”
“Of course. I swear that I’m not one of those mean moms who make the girlfriends miserable.”
Emma laughed. “I’m glad. I could use a nice mom once in a while. Speaking of nice moms, I have a question for you. I’m not sure if Jesse told you or not, but my dad is flying me over to London to see him this weekend. He told me that I could bring a friend, and I was hoping that I could bring Jesse with me.”
“To London?” my mom asked as her eyes widened.
“Yeah, it’s only for the weekend, and we won’t be on our own either. We’ll be in the same hotel as my dad, so you don’t have to worry about us getting in trouble.” Emma looked at my mom hopefully.
She was pleading with her eyes, and my mom had to say yes to that look.