Page 94 of Holding On

"Honey, it's so good to see you," she says to Mike. She hugs him first because he's her favorite. He at least pretends to like her. I don't even try. She lets go of Mike and gives me a quick hug. "Thank you for coming," she whispers to me because she knows I don't want to be here.

"This is Jim," she says, putting her arm around him. He's standing now and isn't much taller than my mom. He looks totally different than my dad, who was tall and muscular, like Mike. I always thought my mom would date someone who looks similar to my dad, but I guess not.

"Nice to meet you." Jim shakes Mike's hand and then mine, which is cold and clammy from being nervous. I feel even more nervous as we sit down and order. I just want to get this over with and leave.

The waitress stops by to take our order. I order French toast but I'm not hungry so I doubt I'll eat it. As everyone else orders, I check my phone and see a text from Ethan.

How's it going?

I just got here and I already want to leave.

Just relax.

I can't. My mom makes me nervous.

Don't let her. Take control. You're stronger than you think.

He's right. I'm stronger than this. I survived her leaving us, so I can definitely survive brunch.

"So, Becca, what do you do?" Jim asks.

"I wait tables and clean houses." I glance at my mom. "It's not what I want to be doing but I need money so I don't really have a choice."

My mom clears her throat and adjusts her napkin. "Becca's going to be a nurse. She's taking some time off from school, but she'll be going back, won't you, honey?"

"Depends on if I can afford it." I glare at her, noticing her expensive clothes and the designer purse hanging off her chair. She has the money to help Mike and me but she refuses to do it.

"How much school do you have left?" Jim asks.

"Just a semester," I tell him. "I'm taking a break from school to help Mike but I'll eventually go back."

Jim looks surprised. Did he not know how much Mike and I are struggling? If so, it makes sense. My mom wouldn't want Jim knowing how she treats us. It'd make her look bad. I'm sure she made up some lie for why she left all those years ago. A lie that made her the good one and my dad the bad guy.

My mom looks at Mike and smiles. "Tell us about your blog." She turns to Jim. "Michael has a blog for veterans."

"It's a podcast," he says. "The blog isn't really set up yet. It just has a homepage and a couple articles. I haven't had time to do much with it yet. But the podcast is doing well."

"I don't even know what a podcast is," my mom says, laughing a little. "Michael knows all about those Internet things. He's very smart."

"I'm not very tech savvy," Jim says to Mike. "Maybe you could teach me a thing or two."

Mike just nods. He seems as uncomfortable as I do. If it were just my mom here, he'd be fine, but having Jim here bothers Mike. He was really close to my dad and I know he doesn't like seeing Mom with someone else. I don't like seeing it either, especially when Jim puts his arm around her like he's doing now. And then he kisses her cheek. I look away, feeling sick to my stomach. It's bad enough I have to deal with my mom, but having to watch her with some guy who isn't my dad is even worse.

She gives Jim a kiss and Mike coughs a little, like he's hoping it'll make them stop. It works and they both turn and smile at us.

"Tell me about your podcast," Jim says.

Mike starts talking, and as he does I see my mom's eye catch on something behind me.

Then I feel a hand on my shoulder as a deep voice says, "Sorry I'm late."

I turn and see Ethan there, wearing black dress slacks and a shirt and tie. I'm so happy to see him I jump up from the chair and give him a hug.

"You came," I whisper in his ear.

"It sounded like you needed me," he whispers back.

I turn toward the table. "This is my friend, Ethan."

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