Page 32 of Tailored for Them

Just to start and see how things went from there.

So, I texted her.

And a day later, here I was, loitering in my parents’ entryway, wondering if I was pushing her more than she wanted.

“In the kitchen!” My mom called, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I pocketed my phone with a heavy sigh.

I followed the smell of burgers and chips, and beer. My mom was ripping freshly washed lettuce into a big bowl. Her dark brown hair, streaked with grey, was pulled back into a bun. Her dark eyes hid behind her bright yellow glasses. She wore a romper today, making me suspect that she was gardening earlier. I could see my dad through the kitchen window, standing at the grill. When he and I made eye contact, he smiled and waved hello.

“Need help with anything?” I asked my mom.

She shook her head, nodding for me to take a seat on the countertop.

“I’m just finishing up the salad here,” she replied, “How are you? It’s been a few weeks since we’ve seen you.”

I shrugged, “I’m good. Nothing new going on. Have you heard from Tucker lately?”

Tucker is my older brother by three years. He and his wife traveled more often than not.

“We video chatted yesterday. They had just settled into their Airbnb in Iceland.”

“Ugh, I’m so jealous,” I groaned, “I need to travel more.”

“Us too,” My mom smiled, “Your dad wants to see Thailand.”

I tilted my head in question, “That feels out of left field.”

“Not when you realize we’ve been watching season three of White Lotus.”

“Ah,” I nodded. That was usually where my dad got his travel inspiration from. WhenGame of Throneswas airing, he wanted to travel wherever they filmed that season. Ireland, Spain, Iceland, Croatia, Malta, and even Morocco. When we asked whyhe wanted to go on a family vacation to Hawaii a few years ago, we learned that he had just watchedMike and Dave Need Wedding DatesandForgetting Sarah Marshalland wanted to stay at the hotel where those movies were filmed.

My older brother Tucker and my dad shared the same travel bug.

My mom and I liked to travel, but we also liked lounging at home just as much.

“How was work today?” My mom asked.

“Good. I had one client take their first steps in my office today.” I grinned as I stole a potato chip from a bowl on the counter. “I love experiencing those moments with the parents.”

“How old is the client?” She asked.

“He’s turning three next month,” I replied. “His mom cried. She was worried he never would.”

My mom stopped fixing the salad together to give me a wide-eyed look of appreciation, “That’s so sweet. I’m glad all that kiddo’s hard work is paying off.”

“He met with Adam right after me for PT, too,” I continued, “And showed off his new skills. It was the first time I’ve seen Adam get teary-eyed.”

“What a big ol’ softy,” my mother chuckled. The sliding glass door to the backyard opened, revealing my dad holding a tray of freshly grilled meat.

“These might be my best turkey burgers yet.” My dad puffed his chest out comedically as he presented the patties for my mom and me to awe over, his dark blue eyes that matched mine sparkled as he wiggled his dark eyebrows at the two of us, “You frickin’ like that?”

Courtney taught him that.

It made me simultaneously laugh and die a little on the inside every time he said it.

“Yum,” I grinned at the old man.

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