Page 105 of Loathe at First Sight

“How did she end up in Miami if you grew up in Minnesota?”

“When I signed my contract, she decided to move to be closer to me. Well, she said it was to be closer to me, but I think she was excited about the warm weather. Notice how when I moved to the Pacific Northwest, she didn’t follow me? She didn’t want to give up that sunshine.” I laugh. “But I understand. She moved into this retirement community and has a ton of friends that she hangs out with. She goes to classes and has hobbies. I’m glad that she’s living life on her terms now instead of constantly worrying about if I’m okay.”

“And she doesn’t know that you’re in town?” She asks.

“Nope. I wanted to surprise her.”

“I’m sure she will like that.”

“I hope so.”

When we get to the tiny community of small condos, Liz and I walk down the sidewalk until we come to my mom’s. A lady who is next door, watering her tulips gives us a friendly wave.

“Do you know if Judith is home by chance?” I ask. “Or is she down at the community center?”

Her eyebrows raise. “Oh, I think she’s home. I think she and a friend are playing Bridge, so you may want to knock.”

As we walk away, I mutter to Liz, “Kind of a weird thing to say.”

We get to the door, and I reach for the handle.

Liz asks, “Aren’t you going to knock?”

“It’s supposed to be a surprise, remember?”

We walk through the copper-colored door and into the cute condo. She loved these places the first time that she saw them. She argued that they were out of her price range, but I decided to pay half of it. Of course, she’d never ask for my help, so I worked it out with management that I would just send them my half directly each month.

As Liz and I turn the corner into the living room, I see something that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to unsee.

My mother.

Bent over the couch.

With some random man behind her going to town.

“Oh my God, Mom!” I scream.

Liz and I both shield our eyes as my mother jumps up and quickly tries to find her pants. “Jackson! What on Earth are you doing here? And why didn’t you knock?”

“I wanted to surprise you! Your neighbor said you were just playing Bridge! I thought that meant it was safe to enter!”

The gentleman, who is now buttoning his pants, laughs. “Yeah, that’s a little code word that we all use around here when people are getting it on.”

“Oh, good God,” I say. “I’ll never be able to look at playing cards the same way ever again.”

Liz still holds her hand up to her face to shield her view but looks over at me, mouthing, “Wow! I told you we should have knocked!”

“Not the time to gloat, princess,” I mouth in return.

“Just once, you could listen to me!”

I give her a blank stare. “Do we really have to have this conversation when my mother was just being taken to pound town by…”

“Joseph,” the man offers. He walks over and holds out his hand.

I look down at it. “I think you can understand why I’m not going to shake that right now, Joseph.”

Mom comes over and gives Joseph a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll talk to you later, hon. Thanks for the fun.”

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