Page 48 of The Game Changer

“Have you guys talked about the future?”

“Nothing specific, just things we’d like to accomplish. Marriage, kids, things like that. We did, however, exchange our first ‘I love you’s’ last weekend and, gah! Mom, it was seriously the most magical moment.”

“Oh, honey,” Mom says, reaching out to grab my hand. “I’m so happy that you’ve found someone that loves you just as much as you love them. Hold on to that tight. Love like that is rare and doesn’t come around all that often.”

“I know. I’m enjoying it,” I tell her, keeping things a little vague. I tell my mom a lot of things, but my sex life is off limits.

“As you should.” She winks at me, the all-knowing mother that she is. I’m sure she isn’t dumb. She knows I’m a grown-ass woman who’s in a healthy relationship, and part of that is sex.

“So, you’ve met his sister, and her wife, and nephew. Any plans to meet his mother?”

“Nothing concrete yet. I’d love to take a long weekend and go to St. Louis. Let him show me around and get to meet his mom. I’ve said hello a few times when he’s talked to her on the phone or FaceTime, but getting that actual in-person introduction is different.”

“I’m sure that it will happen in due time,” Mom tells me.

“I know. Do you think Dad’s out there grilling him? Should I go rescue John?”

“I’m sure they’re just having a little male bonding time. You are your daddy’s little girl, after all. He hasn’t had too many boys to grill, so I’m sure that he’s taking the chance to do so.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.” I laugh nervously.

“Give them a few more minutes. I’m sure John is a big boy and can stand up for himself in situations like this.”

“I hope so. He hasn’t had to meet the parents much before. I’m one of his only serious relationships that he’s been in. He was always so focused on hockey that he never made the effort to date.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Mom says. “Sometimes not having a lot of baggage from previous relationships is helpful.”

“I hadn’t thought of that.”

“How are things at work?” she asks, changing the subject.

“Really good. I want to sit down and look at the numbers to determine if I can afford to hire another technician to help work at the main office. With how busy we’ve been, I think if we had a second technician, we’d be able to double our patient load at the office. If that was the case, then adding a second would more than pay for itself.”

“If it would pay for itself, it sounds like a no-brainer.”

“Yeah, I just need to crunch some numbers and make sure what I’m thinking in my mind is really how it would work out. I don’t want to take on more than I can handle.”

“I’m sure that you’ll figure it out and make the best decision, you haven’t gone in the wrong direction yet.”

“Thanks, Mom. I couldn’t do this without your and Dad’s support and help.”

“You know we’d do anything for you.”

---