“That’s a text, sweetheart. Not a call. I needed to hear your voice. How are you enjoying your stay?”
“I’ve been having a good time,” I tell her.
“By yourself?” my mother asks, but there is an underlying tone to her voice.
I roll my eyes and smile, because there is no way in hell I’m telling my mother about Othello. Whatever thisthingis between us feels too fragile. Like it will disappear the second we leave Maui.
“Yes, by myself.”
She lets out a dramatic, sad sigh. “Well, are you gettingoutthere? Mingling? I heard they had parties at these kinds of resorts.”
“I went out the other night, but Mom, I’m not here looking for anyone. I’m just here to have a good time and relax. Remember?”
I can almost hear her rolling her eyes through the phone.
“Try conversing with someone of the opposite sex next time you go out. You know, I talked to Weston the other day. I told him you were in Hawaii. Solo. I told him he should come out and join you.”
“Mom, what? No!” I holler. And now I’m wide awake. I sit up in the bed, my eyes bugged out with panic. “That’s crazy. Do not push him to do that!”
“Relax. He said he couldn’t do it on such short notice. But he did say he would love to take you out to dinner when you get back and catch up.“
My mom talking to my ex is wild. My ex being back in Savannah after he said he’d never come back was even wilder.
“Charli says he was left at the altar, which was why he moved back. Too many bad memories in Japan,” she says as if reading my mind.
Goodie for him.
“I was telling him that you’re still single and not having much luck in the love department…”
My mouth falls open in pure shock. She continues on. “He seemed relieved. I figured since you aren’t meeting anyone, and he’s single?—”
“Mom, you aren’t serious right now, are you?” I quip, cutting her off. “Why would you tell him that?”
“What?” she asked defensively. “It’s not like it’s a lie. Weston is a good man.”
“A good man who broke up with me over FaceTime from another country.”
“Oh, please. You act like that boy committed a felony.”
I fall back into the pillow, clutching my forehead. “I don’t need you orchestrating my love life.”
“I’m your mother. I’m only trying to help.”
What didn’t this woman understand?
“You need some male interactions. The fact that you haven’t met anyone on this trip just goes to show that you are too closed off.”
“I don’t have to meet a man everywhere I go.”
Irritated, I pull the covers off of me and get out of bed before grabbing my satin robe thrown over the armchair. Once I tie the sash around my waist, I open the drapes, hoping that the view will calm me. My mother’s fixation on me ending up with someone is suffocating.
“You’re 32 and still single,” she quips before softening her tone. “Marley, I’m not trying to upset you. I just worry.”
“I know,” I murmur. “But it will happen when it happens. You can’t force love. And there is no age limit on when it’s supposed to happen. I think it will happen when it’s meant to. When I’m not even looking for it.”
The words rattle me to the core. I turn away from the ocean and lean my back against the glass sliding door, my fingers curling tighter around the phone.
“I just don’t want you ending up alone,” my mother says softly. “You spend so much time running that magazine. Taking care of everybody else. I just…” she sighs. “I want somebody to take care of you, too.”
