moving in. I argued with her, not seeing why she couldn’t stay, but she played the “because I said so” card on me. Needless to say, Myrah had to leave.
Mom and her new husband Richard got married at the courthouse about a month ago, nothing fancy. She met Richard on a cruise with one of her longtime college friends. She said it was love at first sight. I personally didn’t understand the notion. Since the “wedding”, I haven’t seen much of Richard, mainly because he lives all the way in New York, but now that his advertising firm is opening a new branch, he’s switching coasts. He’ll be here every day with us, along with his son, Connor.
I’ve never met his son before, only heard stories here, and there. He used to live with his mother until she was called overseas for a job, and now, I guess he’ll be staying with us. I’m not entirely sure what to think. It has always just been me and my mom, so now that two other people are being added into the equation it just feels…strange. I’ve tried talking to my mom, expressing my fears over this huge addition to the family, but every time I see her smiling or giggling over the phone like the girls do at school, I just don’t have the heart to say anything. This is her one chance to finally be happy, who am I to ruin it?
So now here I am, laying on my bed waiting for Mom to make me go out there and say hi. She made one of those gross looking casseroles for dinner. She knows I hate those. I think she expects us all to sit around the table and act like one big happy family.
Yeah, Mom, that’s not awkward at all.
Light knocking at my door jolts me into a sitting position. The sudden anxiety has my heart beating wildly in my chest. Mom pokes her inside with a cheesy grin on her face.
“They’re here. Come out and greet them, then we’ll all sit down for dinner.” I can hear the excitement in her voice, which only makes me feel like a horrible daughter for not being as happy as she is in this moment.
Is it so wrong that I just want my mother to myself?
How selfish does that make me? It’s all I’ve ever known and honestly, I’ve never once wanted to change the dynamic.
Mother-daughter dinners. Mother-daughter movie nights. Mother-daughter facials. Mother-daughter shopping sprees. All of it is going to change, and I have an inkling it won’t be for the best.
I nod my head at her, faking a smile that doesn’t reach my eyes. She pops her head out of my room, leaving the door cracked. I throw myself back onto my bed, eyes trained on the white ceiling and heave a deep, tired sigh. I’ve been dreading this day for the last few months, and now I’m dreading this dinner even more. I hate awkward situations more than anything. And this dinner? I have an inkling it’s going to be the definition of awkward.
Here goes nothing.
Voices in the living room get louder the closer I walk down the hallway. My heart is beating frantically in my chest at the idea of meeting my new family. I’ve always gotten along with Richard well enough, but I can’t say the same for his son. I’ve also never had to share my space with anyone else but my mother. Aren’t older brothers supposed to make your life a living hell? I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready for that.
“Bea, sweetie, there you are!” My mom’s voice bubbles in elation. She pats the seat on the couch beside her excitedly and I force back an eye roll as I nestle myself next to her. I take in her outfit of choice and silently shake my head. She’s dressed in the brand-new clothes that she spent a fortune on just for this dinner. Vintage lace pencil skirt with a cream ruffled blouse to match.
“Bea, sweetheart, I’d like you to meet Connor, Richard’s son.”
My eyes drift to the boy sitting next to his father on the couch. They look so much alike it’s almost frightening. With perfectly styled blond hair, brown eyes, and preppy clothes, he sits with his back ramrod straight like he’s practicing perfect posture. He looks like a jock, though, I’m sure he’s too refined for a simple sport like football or soccer, no, he was probably captain of a lacrosse