I winked at them both and then looked towardthe house. “Is Mom still asleep?”
Alexis nodded. “Yup.”
“I have news,” I said, and looked at the twoof them. “Payton’s moving to Ohio with us in the Fall!”
Alexis grinned and Todd let out a whoop. Ilet out a breath and bit my lip. “Do you think it’s going to beokay? All of us, living together?”
Alexis looked at Todd, and then Todd lookedback at me. “What’s your mom have to say about the whole thing? Imean, we can get away with it because our parents just don’t care,but your mom… well, I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“I didn’t really think about it. I mean,it’s Payton.”
“Have you told your mom about Todd yet?”Alexis asked. I cringed.
“Yeah, no.”
Todd winced. “Seriously?”
“It never came up.”
“I think it’s time you talked to her aboutthis whole thing,” Alexis said, and then leaned in toward me. “I’mhappy for you. Payton’s a good guy.”
“Yeah.”
“I like him,” Todd said, “and I don’t likemany people.”
Alexis swatted him on the shoulder. “Youlike everyone.”
Todd shrugged.
“So, I guess I’ll take you two to theairport then?”
Alexis nodded. “Yeah, that would be great. Iwas going to call a cab, but since you’re home…”
“I’ll go get some clothes on.”
Just as I said that, Mom came outside withher eyebrow hitched. “Seriously?”
My ears reddened as Alexis and Todd were inhysterics.
An hour after dropping off my twoother best friends at the airport, I was back at home and sittingdown in the living room with my mom and brothers. Mom was nervouslyfidgeting with her hands again, and I was messing with my shirthem. I didn’t want to tell her about Todd, and I sure as hellwasn’t sure how I’d bring up the whole “me living with Paytonsituation”.
“So, what did you want to tell me, Keri?”Mom asked, and I jumped.
I cleared my throat. “Well, it’s… You know,Payton…”
“Please, God, don’t tell me you’repregnant.”
I looked up at mom and then over to mybrothers. I couldn’t have been more shocked if I tried. I hurriedlyshook my head. “Uh, no. I just…”
“Oh, thank God. Anything you have to tell menow will pale in comparison.”
Well that’s good. “Well, I just wanted totell you that I’ve been living with both Todd and Alexis for thepast year, and Payton’s going to move in with us in the Fall.”There, I blurted it all out, and Mom was still alive. Noproblems.
Mom’s eyes rounded. “What do you mean you’vebeen living with Todd for a year?”
I shrugged. “He had horrible roommates, andhe was a good guy. He stayed a lot anyway, and then he just sort ofmoved in.”
“So, you ladies were paying his rent?” Momasked.
I shook my head once more. “Todd helped out,and contributed, but his dorm was already paid. It was a badsituation. We opted for an apartment this year on campus, and weare all going to help pay. At least that’s the plan,” I said,knowing that my mom was the chief financial officer in thisequation, and I couldn’t afford to piss her off anymore.
Mom huffed. “You should have told me a longtime ago.”
“I know, but the year was kind of bad.” Iflinched as I thought of what I’d just said. Yeah it was bad. Itwas the worst year of my entire life. Dad, Payton, a million otherthings. “Sorry, Mom.”
Mom nodded. “Well, I don’t like the idea ofyou living with him before you’re married, if that’s even yourplans, but you’re over eighteen now.”
“Yeah, but you’re…”
“Keri, If I were you I’d shut up,” Sethcommented, and Jack nodded his head in agreement.
“Okay.”
Mom had to laugh at that, and then she puther hands together once more. “Listen, I have to talk to you guysabout something. It’s not easy for me.”
And here was the other shoe, I could feelit.
“I met someone,” Mom said, and it couldn’thave shocked me more.
“What?”
Seth and Jack just sat there, and I feltsick. Mom looked down, ashamed it seemed.
“I met someone. I didn’t mean for it tohappen, but it did.”
“Who?” I asked, and looked at both Seth andJack. They weren’t saying a word. “What’s going on?”
“Jeffrey Walters.”
My eyes couldn’t have gotten any wider.“Patti’s dad?”
Mom took a deep breath and then let it outslowly. “Yeah.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
Mom didn’t look like she was kidding.
“But what about Dad?” I asked, and Mom puther hand up to her head. I felt like a child, and I was, but itseemed way too soon. Dad hadn’t even been gone a year.
“He’s not coming back, Keri, and I’m… I hatethis. Being alone.”
I looked at Seth and Jack. “Why aren’t youguys saying anything?”
Mom looked at me and then tried to smile.“They already know. I told them a few months ago.”
“Wait, you’ve known for a few months and youhaven’t said anything?”
Mom nodded, and I felt sick. What the hellwas happening?
“I didn’t want you to be even more upset.Things weren’t going all that well with Payton, and then, ofcourse, he was dating Patti.”
As stupid as it was, the only thing Icouldn’t stop thinking about was what if my mom married Patti’sdad? We’d be sisters? “Oh, God.”
“Just figured it out, eh?” Seth asked.
“Mom?”
Mom looked at me and shrugged. “Well, howabout you let me off for this one little thing, and I’ll continueto pay your room and board, even though you lied to me for anentire year?”
I couldn’t help it, I smirked.
Mom 1. Me 0.
I left after the whole crazyconversation and family meeting. I walked out to the fort, hopingto do a few last minute details, and I was happy to see that Paytonwas there.
“Yo,” I said as I came up to the steps.
“Uh, Keri, I don’t want you to be mad,”Payton said, and I could tell that it was something that was goingto piss me off.
“And why is that?”
“Because I’m here,” Patti said as shedescended the stairs.
I huffed as she made her way down and lookedat Payton with my mouth wide-open.
“You can’t get mad,” Payton said. “I’mcompletely innocent.”
I quirked my eyebrow, and then looked atPatti. “And what’s your excuse?”
“I just found out about our parents,” shesaid.
“Oh, yeah? So did I.” I
