Page 47 of Out of Office

“Alright. Okay, you want me to cook?”

“Nah, that’s why I’m coming home early. To cook and for us to have a little time before she arrives. I’ll be home at four, and dinner is at seven.”

“Now you’re speaking my language.” I pulled her close again and made sure she left to work with a significant incentive to return.

Genevieve was late. Dinner with her mom was set for 7:00 p.m. It was 6:15 p.m. and she hadn’t arrived nor texted. Once I’d realized around 5:15 she wasn’t on her way, I’d ventured out to the supermarket a block away, buying some simple ingredients to get dinner going. An hour later, I had diced peppers, garlic and had a pot of rice on the stove. Oil spattered hot in a frying pan, ready for the sliced plátanos I had for the tajadas and I had a salad of lettuce, tomato, and cucumbers sitting on a plate.

The shrimp had been way more expensive than anything I had ever paid for in Panamá, but I wanted to impress Lissette, hoping to make her fall in love with my cooking. Her approval wasn’t necessary to me; Gen’s need for that approval was what fueled me.

The smell of shrimp al ajillo sizzled on the pan as Gen finally made her entrance at 6:45, throwing her heels to the side as she padded into the kitchen.

“Oh my God, I’m so so sorry, I didn’t realize I left my cell in the car, and by the time I realized, I couldn’t leave the meeting, which ended up running so much later than expected.” She sighed getting right next to me. “What do I do?”

“You can set the table and pull the plates and cups. The food is almost ready. You told me your mother was punctual so...”

A knock stopped my words.

“Yup. You were right about that. I love that you remembered.” Gen kissed my cheek quickly, then sped to the door. I pursed my lips and girded myself for the upcoming hours. I followed at my own pace as Gen opened the door.

“Mom, hi,” Gen said as a woman taller than Gen with the same dark brown complexion entered the room.

Lissette Raymond was imposing; I could see where Gen got that aura of command and self-assurance she usually exuded. But where Gen was often vulnerable around me, Lissette currently showcased an impenetrable shell.

“So, this is the young man you have decided to marry impulsively?” Lissette glided into the house, not bothering to remove her heels, until she posted up right in front of me. An aggressive, simmering energy emanated from her, and I realized this night would not go as Gen expected. I gained nothing from antagonizing Lissette, so I kept my calm, unwilling to match her intensity.

“Mrs. Raymond, I’m glad to meet you finally. Thanks for coming tonight,” I greeted her, extending my hand. No hug would be coming, so I didn’t try.

“Mmm-hmm, I come whenever I like. This is my daughter’s apartment,” she claimed and put down her purse on one of the sofas.

“Mom.” Gen’s forceful reminder made Lissette smile, then as if she hadn’t just come into the apartment with fighting words, she sat on the seat at the head of the dining room table.

“It’s alright.” I squeezed Gen’s arm as I walked past her back to the kitchen to finish serving the dinner.

This would be a long night.

We ate silently for a few minutes after a begrudging “this is good” from Lissette.

“So, young man, what are your plans now that you’re here?”

I’m unsure what exactly I’d done to earn her skepticism. But I’d promised myself to keep the peace, so I was honest. I sat across from Gen, whose frown was so loud, I could sense it whispering her displeasure in my ears.

“Not certain yet. I want to find a job that provides me balance to continue to grow our relationship healthily.” I extended my palm to Gen, who grinned apologetically and placed her hand on mine.

“Mom, Adrián owns a small business in Panamá, actually two. They are both...growing, but they are still both his, and together we’re working on ways of expanding them from here too,” Gen explained. Well, that was news to me. She helped set up ads, which had helped get more bookings in Villa Bonita, but I hadn’t realized she wanted to be more involved. It warmed my heart, but the skeptic in me wondered if this was to appease her need for constant success. I wanted the business to provide for my family, while she was using words like expansion. I squeezed her hand in acknowledgment, tucking in my concerns for another day. We had time. We had plenty of time.

“Oh yes, that little motel he has on the beach? Isn’t it just your family house and you rent some rooms? That won’t be enough to maintain a household in this country. As you know, Genevieve works hard, so I want to ensure you plan to do the same.” Lissette stared at me with a challenging glint in her eyes.

“Whatever plans Gen and I have, they are ours, and as long as Gen is good, then we are good.”

Gen’s nervous laughter hit me like a warning bell. She slid her hand away from mine and focused on her meal.

“You know, I had another great meeting today, speaking about expansion. We reached out to the architect company in Panamá where A.D. Nicholson used to work, we’re hoping they reach out to him.”

Fuck. Of all things, this was what she segued with? This whole dinner was a disaster. I should have told Gen before proposing about my relationship with the Tropics, but something continued to block me, and I seldom ignored my gut. There was still healing to be done, for the wrongs I had wrought, but it was my past, and I should be able to tell it at my pace.

When I had proposed to her, I had wanted to tell her before, for her to understand me even better, and now with it dangling over us, I knew it was time. It allowed Gen to make decisions if she needed to.

I hoped she understood my hesitation in telling her because sometimes, her goal-oriented hunger came out and made me wonder if she would ever comprehend the steps I took to move on from tragedy.

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