Page 20 of The Grinder

“Oh, I know that look.” Vivi shook her head. “You better answer it because if you don’t, she’ll call me and you know I’m not picking it up. Then she’ll call the police because she’ll think we were murdered in our sleep or some other horrible thing and I’m not dealing with it.”

Because her sister was right, Aly took a deep breath and answered.

“Hey, Mom. How’s it going?”

“Did I wake you? It’s almost ten. I figured you’d be up by now. Were you out late last night? I know it’s Saturday but I know you don’t sleep in. Now, your sister…”

Aly rolled her eyes and sucked in a deep breath, hoping for patience as her mom continued to talk for the next thirty minutes.

She finished the pancakes while her mom relayed every ailment she and her dad had endured that week, in more detail than Aly ever wanted to know. Unfortunately, she was used to it because this was how almost every week’s call went.

Mom would start with the health update. Sometime she’d stick to just her and Dad’s health. If it was a slow week for them, Mom would throw in an update on the neighbors, all of whom were around the same age. The condo complex they lived in was mostly seniors but there were a few younger people. Younger being a relative term. Anyone younger than fifty was a kid to her mom.

After the health update, Mom would complain about the weather. Too hot, too windy, too rainy, or, oh my god, hurricane season. Aly would counter with the fact that, hey, it was Florida and they didn’t have to deal with snow or cold.

Then Mom would ask what was going on at home, and if Aly didn’t have enough to talk about, her mom would want to know what was wrong. Sometimes she’d ask specifics, like about work or she’d want to know what trouble Vivi was getting into.

If Vivi happened to be around, her sister would sigh, shake her head, and conveniently have somewhere else to be.

And sometimes, if Aly was really lucky, her mom would ask if she’d met anyone.

Yeah, that was fun. Especially when her mom decided she’d found the perfect guy for Aly. All she’d need to do was move down with them.

Apparently, it was Aly’s lucky day.

“Oh, and I met finally met Susan’s son. You remember Susan, right? She lives at the end of the first floor. Lost her husband to cancer a few years ago. Her son moved down here to be closer to her. He’s got a job with some insurance outfit in Tampa. Seems like a nice guy. When you come down, you should meet him. I think you’ll like him. He’s only a few years older and he’s handsome…”

Aly let her mom talk, replying when necessary. Her mom meant well but, oh my god, she was tired of this constant pushing. Her mom was convinced Aly would eventually move to Florida, marry some nice man—whom her mom would find for her, since Aly apparently couldn’t meet nice guys on her own—and provide grandchildren.

Aly wasn’t sure she even wanted to have kids. Especially not if she became just like her mom someday.

Sighing, she turned to Vivi, who was shaking her head and had her hand over her mouth so their mom wouldn’t hear her laughing and want to talk to her.

Vivi never got the “I met this man you should meet” speech from their mom. Vivi was convinced their mom was afraid she would actually procreate and her children would be just like her.

Aly had always been the “good one.” Good grades, never in trouble, college degree and job right out of college.

Vivi… Well, the local cops knew Vivi by name. And after the third or fourth time they’d shown up at the door asking to talk to their parents, Vivi had become the “difficult one.”

It was a distinction that still pissed off Aly, even though Vivi had gotten past it years ago. Hell, she’d pretty much embraced it.

Which left Aly as the one her parents relied on. The one to visit her sick aunt in the hospital and help her cousin move into her dorm room and be sure she remembered everyone’s birthday and went to every wedding and anniversary to represent “the family.”

Everything she would’ve done anyway because that’s what family meant to her. Hell, she didn’t even know why being considered reliable pissed her off.

Maybe…maybe she secretly wanted to be a little less reliable and a little more wild. Like Vivi.

Maybe that’s why she liked Riley. Because he wasn’t a guy her mom would ever think she’d date.

“And I told him when you come down at Christmas—”

“Whoa, wait. Mom, I’m not sure I can come down at Christmas. I told you. Julie’s probably getting married around the holidays so I can’t make any plans.”

“Oh.” Her mom paused. “Well, I didn’t honestly think that would last. Julie’s always been so flighty.”

Oh my god, her mom was going to drive her crazy.

Aly’s friend, Julie, was marrying a smart, handsome guy who happened to be black. Aly’s parents hadn’t raised her and her sister to be prejudiced, but their own prejudices were deeply ingrained.

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