Page 103 of All I Ask
“Dr. Hartz?” My mother says while her fork drops, clanging against the plate. “You’re dating Derek?”
“I’ve been on one date.” I leave out the other things because, technically, it’s one date.
“Right, but I heard you guys on the phone again, and Everly said she heard her father telling his parents that it’s going well.”
I used to love my daughter. I really did.
“Can we talk about this later?”
My mother’s head turns to me. “Why can’t you talk now?”
Because I don’t want you to hear this, duh.“It’s between Chastity and me.”
“And you don’t want me to hear this.”
That was freaky. I wonder if she can hear all my thoughts. Maybe that’s why she hates me so much. She knows I’ve killed her a hundred ways…with my mind.
“No, Mom, that’s not it—completely. I think my daughter”—I say with a pointed stare—“and I need to have this conversation in private.”
“Would you like your father and meto step out?”
“Huh?” my father asks, oblivious to the conversation.
I have always envied that about him. He can tune my mother and meout like no one else. We’d have full-blown arguments and he wouldn’t move a muscle. He’d sit in his chair, ignoring us both.
“Just eat, Dad.”
“Okay.”
Chastity giggles once and then looks back to me. “All I wanted to know was if you guys were dating still.”
“What does it matter?”
“You’re my mother…I’m curious.”
She’s baiting us both and I know that as soon as my mother is on the hook, I’ll be reeled right in. Damn kid knows all my weaknesses.
“You know, I’m not sure what it is right now since we’re just enjoying being friends again.” And making out a lot. “So, once I have something to report, you will all be the first to know.”
Chastity gives me a sarcastic smile. “Great.”
Then something she said before hits me. “Wait. You and Everly talk?”
“Well, it would be hard to do the social media project if we didn’t.”
Yes, but they’re talking about more than the project. “I didn’t know that Dr. Hartz and I were part of your presentation.”
She crosses her arms and leans back. “It’s kind of hard not to talk about the fact that our parents are dating.”
I raise my brow and then take a bite of my cake.
“Well,” Mom draws the attention back to her. “I’ll say that if youaredating, which it sounds like you are, it’s encouraging that you’re not going to die alone in that store. Besides, he’s a doctor and was always a good man.”
“I’m glad you approve, Mom.”
“I wouldn’t go that far…”
Yes, why would we ever want to actually go that far? Approval is aberrant to her. “My point is, we’re going slow and taking our time.”
