Page 106 of Tell Me What You Want, Or Leave Me

“Don’t worry, honey. I’ve got this,” I say. Without moving from his side, I ask, “Will you please go get me a Coke? I’m going to need it.”

I give him a gentle push, and, when he walks away, I turn to them, feeling murderous.

“Aren’t you ashamed to ask a child something like that? How would you like to have your children cornered by a gang of gossips?” They’re uncomfortable. They know I’m right. “Not that it’s your business, but I’ll tell you I’m Flyn’s mother, and my husband is his father, OK?” The women nod their heads. Before leaving, I ask, “Any more indiscreet questions?”

They don’t say a word. They don’t move.

Suddenly, I feel a hand grab mine and squeeze.

Flyn!

Oh God...he heard what I said. He hands me a Coke, and we walk away while I think about what to say. Poor Flyn. He drinks and looks at me with a strange expression.

C’mon, Jude...C’mon...Think...think!

His penetrating gaze is killing me. I put the Coke on the table and decide to face up to what I’ve done.

“You and I know Hannah is and will always be your mom for your whole life, right?”

Flyn nods.

“Well, now that that’s clear, I want you to know that, from this moment on, and especially as far as those cockatoos are concerned, especially those really rude ones whose beaks I haven’t torn out of respect for you, Eric and I are your parents, understood?”

He nods again as the newly named dad comes up.

“What’s going on?”

I snort.

“I just officially declared you Flyn’s dad and named myself as his mom.”

Eric looks at the boy and then at me.

Then at him again and at me again.

I raise my hands. “Don’t look at me like that; it feels like you’re going to tear me apart.”

“Jude,” asks Flyn, “do I have to call you Mom?”

Oh God...oh God...Why am I such a loudmouth?

The boy’s mother may be in heaven, but he has one, and I just stuck my foot in it.

Eric doesn’t react.

“Flyn, you can call me whatever you want.” Then I point to the women, who haven’t stopped staring, and I speak in perfect Spanish so Eric and Flyn understand me. “But starting today, if those witches want something from you, let them first come talk to your mom or dad, understood? Because if I find out again they’re asking you any indiscreet questions, as my sister Raquel would say, I swear by the blessed glory of my mother in heaven that I’ll go for my father’s ham knife and cut off their heads.”

I take a sip of my Coke.

“OK, but don’t get mad, Aunt-Mom Jude.”

Eric surprises me and smiles and strokes the boy’s head.

“Flyn has always known I’m his dad for whatever he needs, right?”

The kid nods and hugs me around the waist.

“And now I know Aunt Jude is my mom.”

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