Page 39 of Weatherman

He waited for the taillights to fade before entering the house. His mother sat in her lift chair. “I like your girl.”

He groaned and ran a hand over his face. “I don’t think you can call her ‘my girl,’ Mom. We don’t know each other very well, and if the truth be known, we started off pretty bad.”

The amused curl of Natalie’s mouth told him he was in trouble. It was the same look she got when she’d caught him making out with his high school girlfriend. “It didn’t look too bad to me from that kiss y’all were sharing. Reckon you’re almost done with the gettin’-to-know-you stage.”

Weatherman felt his cheeks flare up. It had been years since his mom managed to embarrass him. She used to make a point of it when he’d acted out as a teenager. “Don’t think I won’t make a scene in front of your friends if I need to!”

That fiery statement came from a strong woman in her prime, not from someone fighting for their life. That didn’t stop his cheeks from reddening, though. “I didn’t know you could see us through the window.”

She chuckled. “Don’t you remember? I got eyes in the back of my head. Even when I’m not here anymore, I still plan to watch over you, so be careful what you say and do.”

Pain brushed over his chest. “Mom, I can’t.”

Natalie sighed, and the corners of her mouth turned down. “I realize you don’t want to talk about it, but the whole of it is, I may not be here much longer. It’s not up to you or me to make that call, but we still gotta deal with it. I done told you where all the papers are, and I called down to the funeral home to make sure all the plans are in order just in case.”

“Mom—”

She raised a bony hand. “Now hush, sweetheart. Ain’t no sense denying it. I’ve always been a practical person, and I raised a practical boy. I hope I can be here a long time, but I might not. I’ve given you the best gift I can now in that all my arrangements are decided and paid for. That’s one less thing you gotta deal with when the time comes, whether it be next month or twenty years from now.”

She coughed lightly before continuing, her voice growing raspier as she spoke. “Ain’t nothing more to say ’bout that. Only part I got left is what happens to you. I don’t want you to be lonely or by yourself. That’s why I like your girl. I think she’d be a good one to keep after.”

“She’s older than me and has a child.”

“If you think that matters, you ain’t the boy I raised up.”

No, it didn’t matter to him. Not the small age difference, nor the fact that she had a little girl. Motherhood had never been a turnoff to him, perhaps because of his own experience growing up. If anything, he found her more attractive because of herdedication to Pearl. Still, a relationship was not in the cards between him and Opal. “It’s not good timing, Mom.”

“If you’re waitin’ on a sign or for the right time, you might miss out on somethin’ real good. Sometimes you gotta adapt. You hear me?”

“I’m listening.”

“I know that, but do youhearme?”

He inhaled sharply. “I’m trying, Mom. I really am.”

Pearl stayed asleepas I moved her from the car to her crib. Kimmie was out wherever she went these days, and for once, I was grateful that she was gone. I needed to sort my head in a bad way. It was hard, and as I lay back in my bed, I was full to the brim with thoughts of Weatherman.

I’d learned from the talk at the salon that he’d given up his career to come home and take care of his mother. Natalie had confirmed it when I met her the first time. How many children would do that for their parents? Even if I knew where my mother was, I doubt I would consider making that kind of sacrifice for her.

I still didn’t know what possessed me. Some weird demon who liked to play practical jokes, maybe? What drove me to wrap my arms around the man and hug him to me?

“It’s okay,” I’d whispered to him. “I got you.”

I got you.Those words were spoken to me once when I struggled at rock bottom. Someone offered me a hand to lift me out of the quagmire my life had become. I’d grabbed it with desperation and found more joy than I’d ever deserved.

That hand had paid the ultimate price for me.

“I got you,” I repeated with tears filling my eyes. “I got you. I got you.”

He’d leaned his head down to my shoulder and pressed his forehead to the side of my neck. I’d stroked over the planes of his back, repeating the same three words. We were pressed tight as we shared our mutual sorrows. Weatherman was strong and smart, but even he became helpless when facing insurmountable odds.

Life didn’t guarantee happy endings to everyone. Some of us had to work and bleed for the chance.

Then he kissed me.

And I let him!

I tried to find my anger and hate.

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