My best friend holds his ID and takes a photo. “I'd also like to speak with your mama on the phone. That is if your mama is still here with us. If not, I apologize for your loss.”
Ash and I try to hide our laughter with coughing as we watch Spade’s surprised expression. His eyes find mine across the table, his confusion written all over them. “Do you have something to say?”
I shake my head while pursing my lips. “No, I’m all good.”
“Well, if you want to chat with Maureen Spade, then you probably need her number,” Spade says, reciting his mother’s phone number from memory.
Sally taps on the screen and puts the call on a speaker. It rings a few times before a chipper female voice says, “Maureen Spade speaking.”
“Hi Maureen, it’s Sally from Tennessee. I have your son here with me.”
“Oh, what did my silly boy do this time?”
Spade joins the discussion. “Hi, Mom, it’s me. I’m okay, just having breakfast with my new friends.”
“Good morning, my sweet Eddie and friends. Why aren’t you calling from your phone, son?”
“Sally wanted to call you herself. I’ll leave you to it. Ash, can you show me where your bathroom is?”
Ash nods and the guys leave the room. Sally watches them go as she continues speaking. “Maureen, I called you this morning because your son asked Tanya, a very close friend of mine, to join him on his trip to the coast. They just met yesterday, so I think you can understand my concern. What are your thoughts?"
“If she’s sweet and will treat my boy right, then why not.”
“She will.”
“Then it'll be fine. Sally, sweetie, don’t take offense to this, but Eddie is an adult, so I think he can make his own decisions without my input, yes?"
“You don’t think it’s odd that your son asked a girl he onlyjustmet on a road trip?”
“That sounds like our Eddie if I’m being honest. He has always been a romantic at heart.”
They continue talking while I’m sitting there, my jaw hanging open. I thought Sally was joking at first. She can be a little bit extra, but this is at a new level. I don’t even know what to think about what I’m witnessing in front of me. It’s like I woke up in some alternative reality yesterday morning, as my life isn’t even close to what it was only twenty-four hours ago.
“Anyway, it was lovely to chat with you, Maureen. I’ll make sure your son sends you pictures from their trip."
“Thank you, Sally. You’re such a sweet girl. Is my Eddie around?”
Sally glances at the hallway. “No, he’s just stepped out to use the bathroom.”
“Well, tell that boy to keep us posted. Me and Frank both love to see how our kiddos are doing.”
“Sure, Mama Bear.”
“Thank you, Sally. I hope to meet you in person one day. Tell your friend Tanya to call me if Eddie isn’t a gentleman during their trip.”
Sally giggles. “I think that won’t be a problem. Bye, Maureen.”
“Bye, sweetie.”
Taking another helping of scrambled eggs, I mumble, “Well, that was fun.”
“At least now I know he can’t be a psycho, so safe travels.”
“That’s it?” I hear Spade asking from behind me. The low notes of his voice make my body hum.
Sally arches her eyebrow. “What were you expecting? A full-day interrogation?”
“I just can’t believe you made that conclusion based on a short conversation with his mother, Sal,” I huff.
