Page 67 of Getting the Grinder
I stop petting Birdie, and she gives me a pleading look until I start back up. She really is the sweetest dog. All she wants is to be near someone at all times, preferably while being petted and talked to.
“Mara, be honest with me. Is he buying your virginity? Your father and I won’t support that.”
I scoff. “Mom, that ship sailed a long time ago.”
“Well, women these days are having surgeries to become virgins again. I saw it online. It’s called a hymenoplasty. Can you imagine?”
“Ugh, no. Just no.”
The clinking sound of dishes in the background tells me she’s unloading the dishwasher. I didn’t tell her about Drake Harn; it would only worry my parents and I don’t want that.
“Have you seen that movie Indecent Proposal? The marriage was ruined. There’s no amount of money that’s worth selling your body for.”
I don’t bother explaining to her that the movie was fictional. “There’s no body selling going on here, Mom. I promise. Leo just wanted to do something nice for you guys.”
“Nice?” She laughs. “This is far more than nice. We’re going to be able to pay off our house. I haven’t known life without a mortgage payment in more than thirty years.”
“I’m so happy for you guys.”
“I may even go get my hair done. I’ve been cutting it myself for years.”
“You should, Mom. Treat yourself.”
“I was thinking maybe we could go together when you’re home for Christmas. You can tell the stylist how to cut it. I don’t know what’s in style.”
I smile, because she’s been wearing her hair in a short bob for more than twenty years. I can’t imagine her with any other haircut.
“What’s in style is hair that makes you feel good. Don’t worry about your hair looking like anyone else’s. And a day at a salon with you sounds amazing, but I can only come for Christmas Eve and Christmas. Salons aren’t open then.”
“You’re bringing Leo, aren’t you?”
I cringe. I adore Leo, but our relationship is still very new. I assume he’ll want to spend Christmas with his own family.
“I don’t think we’re at that stage of the relationship yet, Mom.”
“If he loves our daughter enough to send us three hundred thousand dollars as thanks for raising her, surely he at least wants to meet us.”
“Yes, but?—”
“But nothing. Bring him home to meet your parents.”
She doesn’t ask for much. It’s a lot to ask of him to miss the holiday with his family to be with a woman he hasn’t even been dating for a month, though.
“I’ll talk to him, but I can’t promise anything.”
“Well, I need to know soon. I bought a ten-pound turkey, but I’ll need a bigger one if he’s coming. I assume hockey players have big appetites. I’ll need at least a fifteen-pound one. And they’re all picked over at the meat market.”
Birdie huffs out a sigh from my lap. Can she hear my mom? Is she smarter than I realized?
“Mom, he won’t eat five pounds of turkey. I don’t even know if he’ll be able to come.”
“It’s in four days. I should make another apple pie, too. Does he like apple pie?”
“I don’t know. Don’t worry about making extra food for him; whatever you have will be fine.”
“Aunt Rhonda is making her sweet potato casserole and it has walnuts. He’s not allergic, is he?”
I roll my eyes. “Mom, let me talk to him when he gets home.”
