Page 58 of Reeling in Love

The garden is beautiful as ever, with a couple of garden gnomes, well-manicured grass, and neat bushes encircling it. Mom always loved it and tended to it like it was her child. Guess she still does.

“Takes you back in time, doesn’t it?” Gabs remarks as we approach the door.

“Kinda. Though I hope it didn’t. Not many pleasant memories here.”

“Really? I have quite a few. You stood right here, outside your door, when I first saw you. I was riding my bike and fell off, and you ran over to help me.”

I chuckle. “Oh yeah. I’d almost forgotten. I remember I thought what a stupid boy who can’t even ride a bike.”

“In my defense, it wasn’t every day I saw a girl like you.”

What? What does he mean by this? That he had never seen a girl dressed in weird sweaters? Or in pigtails? Or what? I scrutinize his face, trying to understand what he means, but he looks away.

“You had a bench earlier in that corner of the garden,” he continues momentarily. “Remember, we used to discuss books out there with your mom? And there, the pipe right outside your room window. The one we used so often to climb up and down from your room.”

“And Dad caught you once. He was about to beat you up when Mom came and rescued you, saying we were only playing and she knew you were with me.”

“Oh boy! I remember that. I was so thankful for your mom that day. Of course, I apologized to her later and reassured her we were in reality only talking. I always liked her, y’know. Your mom. She was so unlike mine, who was never present. But your mom was always there for you and for me, too.”

It’s strange hearing a different perspective of the same person and time. Somehow, I don’t remember it like that. I always remember her crying. But he’s right. Except for those days when my parents fought, Mom was always there for us—helping with homework, cooking our favorite dinner, playing with us, recommending books to read, and discussing them later. How could I forget those times?

Why is it that humans remember the hurt and pain more than the happy times?

The door opens as if on cue, and Mom is standing there with outstretched arms.

“Oh, what are you both doing outside,” she says, hugging us together. “Oh, my my. You both seem to have lost weight. The city is taking its toll. You should stay here for some time and I will put you back in shape.”

I hear Carla’s hurried steps approaching. We disengage from Mom and fall into Carla’s hug. Yeah! My people are huggers. Big ones.

Kevin is standing in a corner, wondering if he’s expected to follow the same protocol. Gabs puts him out of his quandary by shaking his hand. Thankfully. I don’t like him enough to hug him.

“I’m preparing pork pie for lunch. I hope it’s still your favorite, Gabriel,” Mom says, walking over to the open kitchen.

“It is. But I have to meet up with some friends.”

“Aw, I was hoping we’d chat a little like old times.”

“Next time. I promise. As for the pie, I won’t give up my share so easily. Nora can pack it up and I’ll eat it for dinner.”

Carla steps up with her hands on her hips. “What? You aren’t spending the day here? Nora spent yesterday with your family. Why can’t you do the same today?”

“Um, well,” Gabs is clearly at a loss. He looks at me for help, but I shrug my shoulders.

He’s still thinking what to say when Carla breaks into peels of laughter, as I knew she would. That’s classic Carla. Make people uncomfortable and then laugh at their faces.

Gabriel smiles. “You got me this time, Carla. Anyway, Nora told me she has a lot to catch up with you guys, so I’ll take your leave. Next time, we’ll plan to spend some time together. All of us,” Gabs says, before hugging Mom and Carla. He turns to me and we get into an awkward handshake, then hug, then kiss routine, quite unsure of what we should do.

“Well,” Carla says, plopping on the couch and pulling me with her once Gabs drives off. “So, how did it finally happen?”

“I always knew it would,” Mom says from the kitchen.

“No, you didn’t,” I retort. “You said the same when I moved in with Rick.”

“Um, well, I did say that to your face, but I knew Rick wouldn’t last. In fact, I’m astonished that the relationship lasted as long as it did.”

“Why didn’t you say so?”

“It wasn’t my place to say. You need to figure out these things yourself.”

---