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I smiled. “I’m sure you’ve heard what’s been going on,” I said.
“Well, I didn’t hear your side of things, so I haven’t heard nearly enough,” she responded. It was a great response.
I took a sip of my coffee and placed it down on the coaster, then sat back in the chair. “You know I didn’t go out looking for someone to love, especially someone that would be the last person Dad would want me to fall for.”
She nodded slightly. “So…it’s love?”
As she asked the question, there was a small smile dancing on the corners of her lips. She didn’t actually smile, but I knew my mother. It was there waiting in the wings for the right moment.
“She gets me, Mom. She’s the best part of me, and yes…it’s love. And having her walk in and see where I come from, it killed me. I hate that she saw that and my heart broke for her. I knew then that this was real. The Neo-Nazi’s aren’t just a group of men loving their race. It’s an affront to the very woman I love. I was going to leave the group for her, but I didn’t get the chance to do that before it blew up.” I shook my head. “Dad wouldn’t understand that. Damon definitely doesn’t understand that, but Mom…they don’t know her.” She listened in silence as I spilled my heart out. “That’s why I’m here. I want you to meet her, and I want you to see the woman that I see in Kemara.” I swallowed the lump in my throat.
After several minutes of silence in the living room, she spoke. “Your father and brother are both stubborn, and you and I know that. I have always known that you were the one with the kind heart, but son this is going to be a hard sell on your father and your crazy brother.”
“Mom, I’m not trying to reach them. I’m done with them. It’s Kemara that wants to meet my family and I’d love it if you would at least talk to her once.”
“Well Son, you can’t help who you fall in love with.” She finally let her loving smile show up in the room and brighten my day. “I would love to meet her.”
I reached out and touched my mom’s hand. “Thank you, Mom,” I said.
We finished the coffee, with me thrilled that after lunch I would bring Kemara to meet her. I had no doubt that my mother would see the woman I fell in love with, and she would help us out with trying to smooth things over with my father. I wasn’t optimistic about him dancing at our wedding, whenever I convinced her to marry me. I just wanted to make sure he didn’t go off the rails and do something evil, like harass Kemara.
I left the house feeling better about her wanting to meet any part of my family. I immediately went back to her place. I didn’t call her. I wanted to keep it a surprise.
When I got there and stood at her door, she definitely looked surprised.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Sick of me already?” I asked, laughing.
She snickered. “No, I was just asking.” She cupped my face in her palms and pulled me to her. We kissed in the door opening. When we parted, she tilted her head. “I didn’t expect to see you back here so soon.”
“Well, you said that you want to meet my mother. There’s no time like the present.”
Her jaw dropped. “Are you serious?”
I nodded. “She wants to meet you and I think now would work.” I reached out and grabbed her hands. For the first time, I saw a bit of nerves on her face. I moved closer to her. “You’ve got this. She’ll love you, almost as much as I do.”
She blushed and slowly nodded. “Okay, then let’s go,” she said. She grabbed her purse and we headed out of her apartment.
The ride to my parents’ house was spent sitting close to one another, holding each other’s hand, and talking quietly about my earlier visit with her. When we got to the house, Kemara wasn’t as nervous as before.
I got out of the truck and went around to the other side to open Kemara’s door. I gave her a reassuring kiss as we stood outside the truck. I took her hand and we went up to the front door.
I rang the bell and within a few seconds, Mom opened the door. She smiled at me, then turned her attention to Kemara. “Welcome, Miss Kemara!”
She held open the door and we entered the house. We went to the living room, and Mom sat down, then offered us both the couch. I held tightly to Kemara’s hand and she didn’t look the least bit nervous, like all her nerves washed away.
“If you don’t mind, I would like to start off by saying something to you, Kemara,” my mother stated. “Is that how you pronounce your name, dear?” she asked.
Kemara nodded. “Exactly.”
I glanced at Kemara. She didn’t flinch that my mom wanted to speak to her first off. “Channing’s father told me what happened at the lodge, and I have to admit that, though I shouldn’t be, I’m surprised. I’m surprised that he wouldn’t hear Channing out and that they acted that way in front of you. And, I’m also surprised that you wanted to be here after it happened.”
Kemara shot me a look and her eyes darkened.
I opened my mouth to argue my mom’s point, but Mom held up her hand.
“I also have known about love for a long time,” she continued. “It’s a living thing that no one has quite figured out. Love has caused me to overlook some bad things in Channing’s father, and even participate in some things. So, I get love. I talked to Channing earlier, and I get the feeling that what he feels is love. If you feel the same, then I do believe there’s nothing anyone can do or say to change your mind.”
