Page 10 of Your Pucking Mom

6

auburn

I was running late—just another chapter in the story of my day. Despite texting Austin about the long line at the sushi place, I hadn’t received a response from him. Trying to find parking was insane in Austin’s neighborhood, and I refused to pay an overpriced dime for the valet at his building, so I hadn’t bothered to check my phone when I got there.

Grateful I found a spot a few blocks away, I grabbed the bag of sushi and my purse, but unfortunately, in typical Chicago fashion, it had started raining, and naturally, I had no umbrella. Rushing from the car, sushi bag in hand, I hurried toward the front door of his building.

A persistent buzzing came from my purse, so I pulled out my phone to see Austin was calling.

Taking shelter under the building’s awning, I answered his call with a mix of guilt and relief. “Austin, I’m so sorry. I got caught up in the rain, and the sushi place was packed.”

He sighed on the other end, his voice tinged with concern. “Mom, I was getting worried. I thought something might have happened to you.”

“I’m fine, just a bit soaked,” I reassured him, glancing down at the damp sushi bag. “I’ll be up in a minute. Let’s catch up over dinner, okay? I want to hear all about your first preseason practice.”

There was a brief pause. “Actually, Mom, I was calling to let you know I’m going out tonight with some of my teammates. I tried reaching you to make sure you weren’t waiting.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Don’t be mad.”

I closed my eyes, a mix of frustration and disappointment filling me. I was annoyed I hadn’t checked my phone and frustrated by the effort I’d put into getting us food, finding parking, and coming here when, truthfully, all I wanted was a quiet dinner with Austin.

“I’m not mad. I promise,” I conveyed, attempting to adopt a tone that masked my true feelings.

Austin paused on the other end. “Are you sure?” he asked hesitantly.

I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. “No, sweetheart. I’m not upset,” I reassured. “Where are you going, though?”

“Just heading to a teammate’s house, Mom. They invited me out after the dinner yesterday, and we bonded,” he replied casually. I reminded myself he needed to grow up, though my first instinct was to coddle him.

“Alright, just please be safe. Keep your mind in the game and don’t get into any trouble, okay?”

He chuckled, and it tugged at my heart. “Mom, I’ll be fine. You worry too much. Love you.” And with that, he hung up.

As I put the phone down, a surge of worry welled within me. It was normal for moms to be concerned when their kids ventured out on their own, especially for the first time. At the ache of separation mixed with the age-old instinct to protect, I couldn’t help but mull over the countless times I had reminded him to be safe and stay out of trouble. It was a mantra ingrained in the fabric of parenthood, a plea that transcended distance and time.

Memories of the past few years flooded my mind. Austin had a knack for finding trouble, drawn to a crowd that found themselves at parties and participating in late-night escapades. Despite his talent on the hockey rink making him popular, it became a double-edged sword, attracting the wrong kind of attention.

One particular incident stood out vividly in my memory. I had been working double shifts, struggling to make ends meet, when I received a call every parent dreads. Austin had been caught drinking underage at a party. Panic had seized my heart, imagining the worst scenarios for his future.

I’d rushed to the police station, praying it wouldn’t be the moment his promising hockey career crumbled before it began. Understanding the situation, the lieutenant had opted not to formally arrest him. In that instance, I was grateful for small-town politics. The police officer had gone to school with me and knew I was a young mom trying my best. He took pity on me and confined Austin to a cell, allowing him to sober up without the stain of a permanent record.

I’d hoped it would be a stern wake-up call for Austin, a pivotal moment that redirected his path. For the most part, he became more focused on his hockey career, channeling his energy into the sport he loved. It wasn’t an easy journey, but it forged a resilience within him that extended beyond the rink.

The rain pelted down, and even though I was under the building’s awning, the sushi bag was soaked, so the food inside was probably inedible at this point.

“Stupid biodegradable bag.” A lone tear fell down my cheek. I was exhausted and disappointed, feeling displaced.

“This must be fucking cosmic.”

My head whipped around, and walking up to the awning was the guy from the cafe. He was absolutely correct. There must’ve been some meet-cute forces in the air that somehow brought us together, because this was wild. Two times in one day? In just a few hours?

“What a strange circumstance.”

“Wait a fucking minute.” A smile crept up on his lips as if he held some secret I was finally catching on to.

“This isn’t the second time we are meeting, is it?”

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