Page 82 of Come Back to Bed
After ten minutes of calling around different hospitals and clinics in Burlington and being put on hold, she finds out that Steve Farmer checked out of an urgent care clinic half an hour ago. When she hangs up, she is both relieved and frustrated. She looks over at me. “I’m sorry. We’re halfway there, do you want to just keep going?”
“I definitely want to keep going. I’m glad it’s not serious.”
“Yeah. I mean, I guess it’s not serious. I’ll give them another half hour to get settled back home and try calling them again.”
I reach over to squeeze her thigh. She holds my hand.
“You sure you still want to meet my parents?”
“Just try to stop me.”
She stares at me, incredulous. I don’t need to ask if she’s ever introduced a boyfriend to her parents before. I guess in her mind, this is the string that could strangle someone. I’m not sure if it’s herself or me that she’s worried about. Vanessa and I didn’t meet each other’s families until a year after we’d moved in together. It was fine. We posed for a lot of pictures that got posted on Instagram.
I don’t like thinking about Vanessa now. I’m realizing that it’s the first time that I have in a while. My brain doesn’t have much room for her anymore, although it does make me a little sad that it’s true. How can someone that I chose to live with for years just disappear from my life like this? I was so wrong about her. I moved too fast. I don’t want to be wrong about Bernadette.
“When was the last time you visited the farm?”
She looks out her window. “Ages. A year and a half, I guess? I didn’t make it home for the holidays last year, because of work. And I never stay very long. Since I moved to New York. I’m a terrible daughter.”
“You’re not. But I’m glad we’re doing this.”
After filling up the tank, I come out of the convenience store with a bag full of disgusting snacks and find that Bernadette has returned to the car with Daisy, who is now curled up in her bed in the back seat. Bernadette is on the phone. As soon as I open the car door, I can hear her mother’s enthusiastic (loud) voice.
Before we’re back on the freeway, I’ve gathered that Steve Farmer fell from the third rung of a ladder this morning while he was trying to replace an exterior lightbulb. It was just a silly accident, but he has a hairline fracture in his shoulder. It hurts, but he won’t be able to raise his arm for a while.
“Okay,” Bernadette says. “So, he’s basically fine.”
“He’s perfectly fine, he’s just mad at himself for not watching what he was doing. How are you?”
“Actually, Mom, I’m driving to the farm to see you guys right now.”
“WHAT?! Wait—what?! You’re coming home? Now?!”
“Surprise.” She rolls her eyes at me. “We’re about two hours away.”
“We—who’s we?”
Bernadette whispers into the speaker. “I’m bringing a boy.”
“Who—Tommy?!” her mother asks, gleefully.
“No.” She looks at me while she talks. “A straight man. A very straight man. His name is Matt. We’re bringing his little dog too.” She covers her eyes and scrunches up her face before continuing. “Matt and I are dating.”
She drops the phone into her lap when her mother starts shrieking.
“Steeeeve! Steve—come over here! No—don’t move! It’s fine—it’s good news! Bernie! Bernie—put him on the phone! I want to talk to Matt!”
“You asked for it,” she mouths to me.
I nod for her to go ahead. She puts me on speakerphone.
“Hi, Mrs. Farmer. This is Matt.”
“Matt! Oh I like your voice, it’s so masculine! I’m Leslie and you are so welcome to come stay with us! Bernie’s room is always ready and waiting for her to visit, and the bed should be big enough for two!”
Bernadette lowers the passenger side window and makes like she’s about to jump out of it.
“Thanks, Leslie, I’m really looking forward to meeting you and seeing whereBerniegrew up.”
