“Oh baby, you don’t know how much I’ve missed your cooking,” Mom said, watching as I cut up the broccoli. “Well, you too. I guess I’ve missed you too,” she corrected with a laugh. “Wes doesn’t know how good he has it… eating like a king every day!”
“Yeah, he actually does. And he appreciates it,” I teased, giving Mom a broccoli stalk to nibble on.
“Oh yeah, I was thinking, you should join the…. What do they call it? It’s letters, but… um, I don’t know, it’s like a gay club or something.”
I stopped and looked up at Mom. Her eyes narrowed, as if she was trying to remember something. “The gay club?” I asked, trying to keep a deadpan expression. “You want me to join the gay club?” I said, unable to keep my laughter in any longer.
“Well, no, I mean…. You know what I mean!” Mom shouted over my laughter. She shook her head and smiled. “Okay, so it’s not the gay club, but what is it called? It’s letters.”
“LGBC?”
“Yeah!” Mom said, her face brightening with recognition. “What’s it mean again?”
“Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Community,” I answered, still chuckling.
“Yeah, that’s it. Well, I’m sure there’s something like that on campus and you should join.”
“I’ll think about it,” I answered, mixing lemon rind, garlic, and dill in a bowl with olive oil. I brushed the filets with the mixture and put them in the oven to bake. I turned on the heat under the rice and put the broccoli in the large saucepot to steam.
Wesley came home at six. He looked cute, as usual, and he greeted me with a simple kiss. Mom watched with a smile on her face and I blushed; I couldn’t help myself. It really felt like we were married and I giggled timidly.
“Ms. Grey, it’s nice to see you.”
“What’d you just call me?”
Wesley glanced at me and then smiled awkwardly at Mom. “M-Ms. Grey?”
“No no no. Not Ms. Grey. Never Ms. Grey. It’s Amanda. Got it?”
Wesley smiled and laughed with relief. “All right, got it.”
“No, come on. Say it with me, Ah-man-dah,” Mom said slowly.
Wesley nodded with a grin. “All right, all right…. Amanda.”
“See? That wasn’t so hard,” Mom said, folding her arms on her chest.
“Dinner’ll be ready in about ten,” I said, looking over my shoulder as I stirred the rice.
Wesley went to wash up and change his clothes while I fixed three plates. I set them down at the table, but we ended up eating on the sofa in front of the TV. Wesley told us about work; a girl had ripped off her back bumper backing over a concrete parking berm by getting stuck, and then flooring it to get unstuck. Then he asked how my orientation went.
“It was boring, but it was okay. I got all my classes scheduled, though. I can’t believe school starts a week from today,” I said, picking at the broccoli. I had steamed it too long.
“What classes are you taking?” Wesley asked. I didn’t think he even noticed that the broccoli was mushy.
I counted off my fingers. “History 105, Psych 101, Bio 103, English Comp, and….” I glanced at Mom and she was trying to remember my fifth class too. “Oh yeah, Pre-Calc. Which I’m gonna need your help with.”
“Cool. Are you excited?” he asked.
“Yeah, I am. I’m a little nervous, too, but more excited. Oh, and, my mom thinks I should join the gay club.”
Wesley looked up at me and I grinned then glanced at Mom.
“The what?” Wesley asked.
“You know, the gay club,” I said, erupting into laughter.
“Oh, shut up!” Mom teased. “I couldn’t remember LGBC and now Toren won’t let me live it down.” She closed her eyes and shook her head. Her body trembled with laughter, but no sound came out.
We finished eating and sat and talked and watched TV for a little while. Mom decided to leave around eight. I took her on a final tour of the apartment, showing her the improvements we had made since she was last there. She gave me a long hug at the door and her eyes began to tear up.
“Baby, I can’t tell you how much I miss you already. You’re just growing up so fast,” she said, wiping at her eyes. I hugged her again and she told me that I would always be her little boy. I knew Wesley was going to tease me about it too.
“Thanks for going to orientation with me. Sorry you had to skip work,” I said, letting her go. She sniffled and smiled at me.
“My little boy is a college man now.” She looked at Wesley and wiggled her finger at him. “Get over here,” she said and threw her arms around his shoulders.
“Thanks for coming…. Amanda,” Wesley said and grinned.
Mom looked at him and smiled. Then she left and Wesley and I watched her walk out to her car. I shut the door and Wesley grinned at me.
“Your mom is so cool,” he said, then went to the kitchen and started washing the dishes.
I smiled proudly. Mom really was amazing. I followed Wesley into the kitchen, turned the water off, and pressed myself against his warm body. I kissed him and grabbed the top of his shorts.
“Leave the dishes for tomorrow.”
Chapter 26
“WE’RE GOING to spend the entire day playing video games,” Wesley announced, sitting up in bed. He looked over at me and grinned. It was finally Monday and Wesley’s first day off in a long time. He was exhausted and deserved a day idly spent playing video games.
“You can spend half the day playing video games. Remember? Alycia and Mike are coming over tonight,” I said, rolling to my side
