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“Thank you. If I had known that you were both only going to be here for a short time, I wouldn’t have put out so much food,” she said. “I’m sorry, but my son never told me your name.”
Norah looked over at the kitchen table that was covered with food and back at Colter’s mom. “My name is Norah Waters and I’m so sorry about the miscommunication.”
“Well, my son isn’t the best at sharing,” his mother chided. “I’m Doreen,” his mother said, holding out her hand to Norah. “It’s good to meet you.”
“Good to meet you too,” Norah said.
“Let’s sit and you can tell me all about your work at the accounting firm,” she said. Shit—the last thing Norah knew about was working at an accounting firm. She could certainly make some of it up, but she was sure that his mother would see right through her.
“Oh, she probably doesn’t want to talk about work, Mom,” Colter quickly covered.
“Okay, then tell me where your family is from then, Norah. Where do your folks live?” his mother asked.
“Mom,” Colter started.
“It’s okay,” she insisted. “I don’t mind answering. My parents passed away when I was a kid. I was raised by my grandmother.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Were they Christians?” Doreen asked.
“Mother, that’s not a question to ask someone you just met,” Colter chided. “It doesn’t matter what religion her parents were.”
“They were atheists,” Norah spoke up. Yeah, she knew that she was poking the bear, but she just didn’t care. She didn’t like answering personal questions for personal strangers, but she just couldn’t help herself.
“I see, well, that’s a shame,” his mother breathed, sitting back in her chair.
“Why is that a shame?” Norah asked.
“Maybe we should change the subject,” Colter offered. “This won’t end well if we keep going down this road, Norah.”
“What road is that Colter?” his mother asked. “I didn’t raise you to run from discussions about faith. You do still attend church, right?” she asked.
“Honestly, Mother, I don’t. I haven’t for a long time. I’m not saying that I don’t believe anymore, but I don’t see the need to go to church as much as you do.”
“It says in the Bible, that—” Colter held up his hand as if silently shushing his own mother and Norah wanted to laugh, but she knew better. His mother didn’t seem like the kind of person who would find any of this conversation funny.
“I’m well aware of what the Bible says, Mom. You had me practically memorize it. I just don’t want to discuss religion with my friend here. If you’d like, I can call you later and we can talk about the Bible all you want.”
She seemed to ignore Colter, turning her attention back to Norah. She stared Doreen down as if daring her to ask another question about religion. “How about you, Norah?” she asked. “Do you know what the Bible says?”
“Actually, I do know what it says—well, not every word, but enough of it. You see, my grandmother was a Christian and she used to take me to church. I just never really bought into all of it.”
“Please don’t tell me that you’re an atheist,” his mother mumbled.
“I’m not,” she said. “I’m a scientist. I don’t actually work with Colter. We really are just friends. We met at the beach house that we are sharing with friends and he and I share the same bedroom—but we don’t sleep together, if that makes you feel any better,” Norah said. Colter’s groan filled the small living room and she stood from the sofa.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to see someone about buying an alligator handbag. It was lovely meeting you, Doreen,” she lied. She turned back to Colter. “I’ll get us an Uber. If you want to ride back to the hotel with me, be outside in ten minutes.” He nodded and she picked up her purse and headed to the front door, not bothering to look back to exchange any further fake pleasantries with Doreen. She’d be good with never seeing that woman again, she just felt bad for Colter that he didn’t have the same luxury.
Colter
Colter wasn’t sure if he wanted to stomp out of his mother’s place without another word, or if he wanted to tell her off and be done with her. He hated it when she got this way, but he knew how she was. At least he had warned Norah and given her an out.
“That was uncalled for, Mother,” he chided.
“Me, what did I do?” she asked. “I wasn’t the one who announced that my own son had lied to me and then rudely left. That was all your new girlfriend.”
“I’ve already told you that she’s not my girlfriend, Mother. She’s a good friend and I lied to you to avoid all of this,” he said, waving his arms around like a fucking crazy person. “You know that I had to warn her that you were a Christian. How many grown men have to warn their friends about their mother’s religion before introducing her to them?”
“You didn’t have to warn her. I’m not something that you’d ever have to warn anyone about,” she said. God, he hated when she sounded so hurt after they fought, but he couldn’t let her off the hook—not after how she had treated Norah.
