Page 88 of Rumor Has It

“He’s a moody teenager,” Mom replies in bored monotone.

“Give him a break.”

My brother’s gregarious, but at this age he only wants what every other kid does, for his mom to cut the apron strings. Which is too bad for a kid whose mother’s life achievement was raising me. Mom wanted Isaiah 2.0 and Ezra is inclined to follow his own path.

This is one reason I prefer for everyone to think Aria belongs to Cassidy. Kylie’s success casts a huge shadow. There are no superfluous expectations of Aria as a Cavanaugh. She can have a normal childhood. She can grow up and become whatever she wants.

I grin, taking my last mouthful. Chewing, I recline on the banquette and put my arm behind Cassidy’s back.

“Cassidy,” Mom addresses my girl, testing her. “Do you have any pictures of the three of you?”

“Oh,um.” Cassidy’s eyes widen, searching for an appropriate response.

Aria is seated off-camera and I haven’t moved my laptop to show my mom how stinkin’ adorable Aria is. I have faith in the decisions Cassidy makes about the baby in my absence, though she defers to me whenever I’m around.

“I think your phone is in the bedroom. Don’t worry, I gotchu.” With Cassidy looking over my shoulder, I find the album on my cell and send an older one.

“This is beautiful… You used a professional. For the holidays no less,” Mom says as it arrives. She zooms in and out, inspecting every square inch.

“The photographer works for my uncle and is one of the best music industry photographers,” Cassidy toots her cousin’s horn. “Isaiah mentioned you were his manager at one point. Do you know Cris Sanchez, ma’am?”

I kiss her cheek for understanding name dropping will win my mother over. Plus, it’s the explanation I would have gone with had I felt I owed my mother one.

“Oh,” Mom claps her hands together. “Tell me you’re writing with Sanchez and Ballantine! The dream of a lifetime!”

“We composed the new single together. Cass and I met through her family. The label is contracting with that same photographer to do my next album cover shoot.”

“Oh, oh, my darling boy. So many sad, sad moments this past year. I am so happy for you.” Mom returns to the image of the three of us. “Your daughter is exceptionally beautiful, Cassidy. What’s her name?”

“Thank you,” Cassidy replies. She’s gotten better at hiding her fluster. “Her name is Aria.”

“You chose a perfect name, considering. Maybe the fates understood you’d soon meet my son.”

“They did.” My girlfriend beams confidently at me. Despite her next statement, Cassidy’s proving to my mother she’s not going anywhere. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a baby with sticky fingers and a messy face to wipe. It was lovely talking to you.”

She attends to Aria and then zips her into the bunk to play with her toys. While I finish the call with my mother, Monty and Dillon bring their plates to the sink. They exit to unload the stroller and various bulky items Cassidy needs to occupy Aria during the two days we’ll spend here.

We learned right away we should have packed the borrowed spinny seat and had one delivered. The only thing Aria loves more than standing tall and dropping to her bottom to make it bounce is pressing the keyboard on Cassidy’s laptop as she’s trying to meal plan or order groceries. Now that we have another baby-distractor, Cassidy can also sift through her recipe box without the fragile old index cards getting chewed on.

Cassidy is loading the dishwasher and I stand to bus my plate and upend my mug. Our domesticity seems out of place when compared to the pyrotechnics and the massive video wall displays surrounding the stage. But performing and waking to this have become equally important. I couldn’t be doing what I am without a partner as supportive as she is.

I grab her soapy hand as she sets the last knife in the silverware tray and pull her into a tight embrace. “You played that beautifully, chou.”

She presses her forehead to my chest admitting, “I was so nervous. I thought I’d have time to prepare when I met your mother. I feel like I have to be more convincing next time or she’ll see through the act.” Cassidy looks up at me.

“What act?” I cup her cheeks. “You tell me all the time I’m the only father Aria knows. Same goes. You’re the only mother Aria knows. That little girl loves you as much as I do. Us? We’re not an act. Not when it comes down to it. I mean, how are we any different from a couple who fosters a baby and then adopts them?”

“She has a parent out there,” Cassidy reminds me.

“And if we never find them,” which I’m betting we don’t, “she has parents right here.”

Chapter Thirty-five

CASSIDY

“Are you sure you don’t want a beer with your lunch?” I ask Dillon, placing his plate in front of him on the table.

In each city, band members have selected local microbrews. Many have found their way into our refrigerator.

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