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A middle-aged woman with thick dark hair, warm brown eyes, and naturally tan skin joins us in the kitchen holding a laundry basket on her hip. She greets me with a welcoming smile that eases the nerves in my stomach.
“Jackson burns toast before he even puts it in the toaster. Jason’s the one who’s always helped me cook growing up and now knows all my secret recipes,” Natalia tells me, a sparkle of affection in her eye as she regards both boys.
Jackson humphs, though there’s no real outrage behind it. “I thought you could tell the difference between us this whole time?”
Natalia picks a rumpled shirt from the hamper she’s holding and throws it at Jackson. “Well, put on a shirt, whoever you are, you’re being rude in front of Jason’s girlfriend.”
I feel my face heat and know it’s beet red, but I do nothing other than awkwardly smile at her while standing stiff as a board.
Though we’ve never had the “what are we” talk, Jason doesn’t correct her when he says, “Natalia, this is Siena.
Siena, meet my mom.”
“Hi, Natalia. Thank you so much for letting me stay here. I’m sure it won’t be for long, and I’ll be out of your hair soon.”
“Oh, don’t be ridiculous.” She waves me off, shoving the laundry hamper into Jackson’s arms. “You’re welcome here for as long as you want to stay. You’ll have your own room since my son Mason moved out—I just changed the sheets for you—and I’ll finally have a full house again, except now I won’t be outnumbered by boys. Can I give you a hug? I’m a hugger.”
I was not expecting this level of acceptance and welcoming, so I take a second before nodding.
She engulfs me in a tight hug, holding me to her and rubbing my back affectionately. It’s a mother’s embrace, one I haven’t felt in years, or maybe ever, and it makes me feel safe and loved though I’ve just met Natalia. She makes me feel welcomed and cared for despite the fact she doesn’t know me, and now I see why Jason’s eyes soften every time he talks about her.
From over her shoulder, Jason mouthsStraysat me with a crooked smile as he butters a slice of bread.
She pulls back, and her hands squeeze my arms before releasing. “If you need anything at all, let me know, all right?” She reclaims the laundry hamper from Jackson.
“And don’t let the boys team up on you to get their way.
You’ll get stuck watching four plotless action movies based on a stupid video game in a row if you allow them to outvote you.”
“Return of the Zombie Aliensisn’t stupid or plotless!”
Jason defends the video game with the admittedly stupid-sounding name.
“Yeah!” Jackson adds, stealing some of the cheese Jason is grating and dropping it into his mouth. “You clearly weren’t paying attention. There was talking between all the shooting and killing.”
“If you say so,” Natalia says placatingly, also reaching for Jason’s pile of cheese and stealing some.
Jason glares at the two of them, “If you guys keep stealing the cheese as I’m grating it, there’s going to be nothing left for the sandwiches. And why are you all done up?
Where are you going?” Jason directs the last part to Natalia, who I’ve just realized has her hair and makeup done.
“I’m going out for lunch. I’ll be back for dinner; maybe we can order takeout to celebrate Siena arriving.”
She wants tocelebrateme being here? Every other time I’ve moved somewhere, it’s been very clear I was unwanted. I wrap my arms around myself to contain my swirling emotions.
Jason and Jackson don’t pick up on the importance of her words like I do, and Jason asks, “With who?”
“And is it a date?” Jackson adds. Both have demanding, protective frowns on their faces.
“None of your business times two,” Natalia says, sending me an amused smirk. “I swear, it’s like I’m the teenager here, living with my father again.” She backs toward the hall and nods at the laundry in her arms. “I’m throwing these in the machine, then I’m taking off. One of you remember to put them in the dryer when they’re done, all right?”
“Got it,” Jason says from where he’s placing the assembled grilled cheese on the pan, and Jackson frowns and sniffs the shirt he just put on. He must decide it’s not the dirtiest because he shrugs and steals some more grated cheese.
“Make yourself at home, Siena,” Natalia says sweetly, then orders, “Be good, boys!”
“Bye!” they call out simultaneously, and with her gone I suddenly remember how to function and take my place back on the stool. When the washing machine beeps and what I’m assuming is the door leading to the garage closes, Jackson deadpans, “I bet it’s Alan. She’s been spending an awful lot of time with him since he got you and Siena out of jail.”
Jason grimaces like he doesn’t want to remember the time Officer Liu wrongfully arrested us. “If it is Alan, then he’s a good guy. She’s dated a lot worse.” He slides two grilled cheeses onto plates and places them in front of me and his brother.
