Page 51 of Losing a Piece of Me

“Yeah, you know. All the 4-1-1. What do I need to know to keep your mom off your back, to make her like me? What does she like, what does she do?”

My nose crinkles up. “She makes my life as miserable as possible, that’s what she does.”

“Give me something here.”

I take a long breath. “Okay.” I sit back and think. “Okay, she likes money. She likes people who act like they have money, so act like you’re too good for everyone and she will be panting at your feet like a dog in heat.”

He looks at me with a twinkle of humor. “I’m not really wanting to fend off your mom this weekend.”

I laugh. “Well that’s how you keep her off my back.”

He joins in on my laughter as I give him directions to my parents’ house.

The massive house at the end of the long circle drive doesn’t even faze him. He parks the car and looks at me. “What?” he asks.

“I want to see where you grew up.”

His brows furrow together in confusion. “Why?”

“Because anyone that can see this house for the first time and not say anything, must have grown up in an even bigger house than this.”

He doesn’t confirm or deny, just shrugs before opening his door.

I meet him around the back of the car. “Okay, so here’s the deal: come in, say hello, have a short conversation, and then leave to check into your hotel. Got it?”

He nods. “Got it. Let’s get the weekend in hell started.”

My instinct to run battles me as we step onto the elegant porch. I ring the bell and wait patiently.

“You ring the bell at your parents’ house?”

I silently glare at him. I don’t need him making me feel even more awkward.

My mother opens the door, knowing it’s me, but her usual look of disapproval disappears when she sees Jeff standing at my side. Suddenly, her face is in meet-and-greet mode. She smiles widely and opens the door wider to allow us to walk in.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you,” she says as she takes Jeff’s hand. His eyes flash to me, secretly asking if I’ve talked to her about him.

I offer him my ‘get real’ smile and quickly shake my head.

His smile gets wider, knowing my mother is lying to try and be polite.

“Please come into the sitting room. Would you like a drink?”

She still hasn’t addressed me, but I don’t mind. Jeff is acting as the perfect buffer.

“I’ll take scotch, if you have it,” he answers before sitting down on the white sofa.

“Of course we do. That’s all Alexis’s father drinks.”

He looks at me and I mouth the words, “Thank you.”

He waves me off and occupies himself with studying the room we’re in.

My mom hands Jeff his drink and then sits down with her own. Her eyes bounce to me sitting next to Jeff. “Oh, Alexis, I’m sorry. I must have forgotten to ask what you wanted.”

“It’s fine, mom.” True to the theme of this house, I offer her a fake polite smile.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get it,” Jeff says, standing.

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