Page 16 of The Solstice Additions
I closed my eyes and sighed for so long that my lungs emptied and the possibility of passing out was a real concern. JFC. Nora.
“Okay, before you get into a tizzy, let me explain. I told Nora not to say anything to you because—”
“Oh, she didn’t say a word. Antoine did. And that may make it even worse that I had to hear this kind of big news thirdhand.”
At that exact moment, a text came in with a buzz. I swiped up as Mom ranted on to see a message from Antoine that readDésolé! Désolé! Sorry, sorry! I did not know the moving in was secret news. Sorry.
Poor guy. I hit him back saying it was fine even though Mom was chewing me a new one. I like Antoine too much to be mad at him for a simple gaffe.
“Okay, can I say something?” I asked when my mother paused to take a breath. “I only told Nora. That was it. There was no slight to you involved. Kenan and I…this cohabitating thing is brand new and still in discussion. It might not even happen. He might have decided I’m too much of a pain in the ass to live with, or maybe he has had enough geese. Whatever. The thing is, I didn’t say anything to you because I didn’t want you calling him about wedding shit. We are not at that point. Nor are we thinking about babies. I’m not sure I even want kids.”
“Brann, of course you want children. Everyone wants children.”
I rolled my eyes up to the sky. A man with four kids schlepped past. He looked at me. “Wife?” he asked.
“Mother,” I replied.
We shared a dude bonding ‘I feel you, bro’ moment as his wife caught up to the pack of wild little ones and started screeching at them to settle down. One started crying, one stood there picking her nose, one began pounding on the candy machine, and one kicked his sister, which made her wail even louder.
“Yeah, I’m not so sure everyone wants kids,” I told my mother. “But if we decide to do that, then it will be becausewedecided. Not because you hounded us into submission.”
“I do not hound. I only strongly suggest.” I had to snicker. “Even so, I thought we were over this problem, Brann.”
“We are. I didn’t exclude you to hurt you. It was to protect Kenan and me as we work through this very personal decision. The key word being personal, Mom. So do not call him about this. When it’s sorted, I will tell you we’ve got things worked out and will officially be living together.”
There was a long silence on the other end. “I don’t mean to be pushy. It’s just in my nature to be forthright.”
I knew that. And I was much the same, which was why we butted heads so often. Still, on this, she had to back off and let us work it out.
“You are the queen of frankness.”
“And you are the crown prince.”
We both laughed awkwardly. “Brann, I am sorry for being so direct. I know it can be off-putting and I am working on it.”
She really wasn’t, but at least she knew it was an issue for both of us, so that helped ease us over this bump.
“I get it. You want to make sure your kids are happy. But you have to let us handle our lives in our own ways. So, when the call to mingle households is set, then I’ll call.”
“You’ll call me first? Just once, I would like to know something about you that Nora doesn’t.”
“Yes, I will call you first. Feel better?”
“Mostly.”
“Good. Now can I get back on the road? We have baby geese hatching.”
“You and those geese.” She let out a sigh. “Drive carefully. Call when you get home. Send me pictures of the little ones.”
“I will.”
“Human babies would be better.”
“Mother…”
“I’m kidding.”
She absolutely was not, but I let it slide, told her I loved her, and hung up. Five minutes later, I was back on the road rocking out to “Fool for the City” and feeling about as fine as a man could feel.
