Page 83 of A Much Younger Man
“You’re in a very strange mood today.”
“Maybe I want to express the futility of doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
“There’s more to this than you’re telling me.” She was too shrewd an observer of human nature, goddamnit. Since I was her only child, she’d had plenty of time to learn how to read me.
“There’s not.” This was definitely going to come back to bite me. Was I trying to break the news in such a way I had plausible deniability?
“I actually called to tell you that your father and I are coming up this week."
“Wait, what?” In the background, I heard my father say, “We are?”
“Mother, that’s not necessary.”
“We’re not coming for you. I had a hankering for a trip up the coast, and your father’s taking the week off.”
“What? I am?” my father asked incredulously. “Sweetheart, maybe we should discuss this before we make plans.”
“I thought you were coming for the Fourth.”
“We were, but then we realized how much we hate the traffic on holiday weekends.” This wouldn’t be the first time my mother heard something in my voice and decided she needed to look me in the eye to find out what I meant by it. We’re close, and it’s very hard to fool her. Maybe I really had been trying to start something.
“You don’t have to do this,” I said. “Everything’s fine. I’m fine.”
“Of course you are.” She didn’t believe that, or she wouldn’t have changed their plans. “But I need a vacation.”
“Look. You know I’d love to have you whenever you come, but you absolutely don’t need Dad to take a week off right this minute, do you? Won’t you be uncomfortable staying at my place for that long?” I had two spare bedrooms, but they only had double beds. My parents were used to sleeping on a California king, so it would be tight.
“Oh, we won’t be staying with you. I need to be pampered. We’ll stay at The Coastal Harmony Resort just south of where you are. What’s their spa called?”
“Pure Harmony?”
“I’m going to book a service for every day I’m there.”
My father said, “Judy—”
“Do you want me to book you for a massage?” she asked me.
“Sure.” That sounded like a great idea, actually.
“And, Doug, you’ll want a reflexology session.” I could just picture my father’s face as she talked. He’d retired from the navy and taken a contracting job as a security consultant, which meant he basically set his own hours. Since Mom had spent so many of my formative years handling a household and child-rearing by herself while he was at sea, he believed he owed her his time now.
That was why my mother was so determined to marry me off. They were happy. They got along great. They’d shared the same dreams, had the same memories, sacrificed for their future together. So whydidn’tI want what they had? I did. There was just no one I wanted to have it with.
“We’re all set then?” she asked. “We’ll probably spend a shopping day in Solvang and be up there by Wednesday.”
“You haven’t even made reservations yet. What if they’re booked?”
“We’ve never had any trouble booking the resort during the week, but if anything changes, I’ll let you know.”
“Fine.” I knew better than to argue. Mom was a force of nature. “Give me a call when you get in.”
“I will. Can you dine with us on Wednesday? As I recall, the resort restaurant is quite good.”
“We’ll need to play it by ear. If I get finished at the clinic on time, it should work.”
“Smashing. I can’t wait to see you, darling.”
“You too, Mom. Love to Dad.” He probably needed smelling salts as well.
