At Thanksgiving last week, Noah said he’s been dealing with on-set drama between his client and the other lead. It’s so bad, apparently, that he almost skipped the holiday completely. Mom would’ve killed him, though.
With wedding planning and an already packed schedule, I don’t even bother calling Henry, Jr, and I worry anything I’d say to Cory would eventually get to Kendra through Denise. They live together now, after all.
My brothers are busy living their lives. My teammates from before were always more coworkers than friends. I doubt Coach Paulson wants to hear about my lady troubles. So who does that leave?
The answer comes to me while heating up leftover sausage dressing and BBQ turkey wings. She answers on the second ring.
“Damon! To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Her warm, singsong voice that’s never really lost the Rhode Island accent immediately loosens the knot in the pit of my stomach. She’s got the phone on speaker, and I can hear her stirring something. She’ll know what to say.
“Hey, Mom. Do you have a minute to talk?”
She must be able to tell my mood through the phone, because she moves somewhere quiet—probably the parlor—and takes the phone off speaker to talk with me directly.
“What’s wrong, hun? Is something going on at work? Or with that pretty girlfriend you didn’t bring around for Thanksgiving?”
Her tone is chiding, but I can hear her smile too.
“I told you she had to work. She was so bummed she couldn’t make it.”
She grumbles under her breath, and I can’t help but snicker.
“Anyway,” I say, changing the subject, “what does it mean when a woman hangs with you all the time, acts like things are getting serious, but never introduces you to her parents?”
“Well,” she says with a sigh, “it could mean a lot of things. It could mean she doesn’t think you’re serious enough to meet thefamily. Just because you were willing to invite her, doesn’t mean she was there yet.”
I gulp. That’s the worst-case scenario.
“It could also be because her schedule makes it really tough to coordinate visits with her family. Isn’t she on location right now?”
I nod before realizing she can’t see me.
“Yes, she is.”
“Lastly,” she finishes, “she might not have a good relationship with her family.”
I rub my hand over the back of my head.
“I honestly didn’t think of that,” I admit, embarrassed. “It’s just that her ex and her dad are practically BFFs, and with the ex trying to rekindle things, I feel like he’s definitely got an advantage.”
Mom lets out a distinctly unladylike snort.
“Women don’t often divorce men they’re considering ‘rekindling things’ with. What does Kendra say about all this?”
I wince. Of course she’s going to suggest talking to Kendra. That’s the adult thing to do. But it’s so much easier to obsess over what Kendramightthink of me than to have the difficult conversation.
“I don’t know,” I mutter. “I haven’t exactly talked to her about it.”
Mom tsks.
“And why the heck not?”
“What if she says she’s not ready?” I nearly whisper, afraid to voice my biggest fear lest it come true. “What if after everything Andre put her through, she’ll neverbeready?”
“I assume Andre is the ex-husband?” Mom asks.
“Yes.”
