Page 21 of It's in the Contract
“Mama, let me introduce you to Callie,” Zeke says, gesturing toward me.
Zeke’s mom turns to me with an enormous smile that lights up her entire face. Her hair is dark brown and loosely wavy, thick, with a few gray streaks at her temples. She’s tall and gorgeous, even though she doesn’t fit the body type that my mom so desperately chases. Zeke’s mom looks like she’d be more at home in the kitchen baking cookies than doing sit-ups in the gym. She wears a flowery pastel pink and green dress and a sky-blue apron.
“Callie, what a pleasure to meet you!” She grasps my hand in both of hers and looks into my eyes like she can read my soul. Her skin is a lighter shade than Zeke’s—more of a caramel color than a rich coffee. “I was afraid Zeke was never going to bring a friend home.” She glances sideways at her son. “She’s pretty, too.”
I blush, and it’s hard to tell with Zeke’s brown skin, but I think he does, too. “Callie, this is my mama, a.k.a. Caroline.”
Caroline sighs over her cookies and rests her elbows on the countertop. “I’m practicing for the church bake sale, but I can’t seem to get any recipe quite right.”
Zeke puts a hand on her arm. “You’re an amazing cook. Just keep trying.”
She glances up at me. “You don’t happen to know anything about baking, now would you, Miss Callie?”
“Only a little,” I say modestly.
Caroline gives me a tiny nod. “Well, if you ever want to help me out, I wouldn’t say no.”
“We don’t have time today, Mama,” Zeke says. “Callie’s here because I’m tutoring her.”
I feel a moment of mortification, but I try not to show it. I don’t think Zeke’s mom is one to spread gossip, but what do I know? I force a smile.
Zeke’s mom frowns. “Oh. So . . . she’s not . . .”
Zeke shakes his head. “No. Sorry, Mama.”
Caroline takes her cookies off the tray with a thin spatula and throws them in the trash. “Well, I better let you two get to it, then.”
“C’mon, Callie.” Zeke grabs both our backpacks, and we head toward the living room. “We can study in my room.”
“What was that about?” I whisper.
Zeke sighs. “Mama keeps pushing me to make friends. She’s disappointed that you’re only here for tutoring.”
“Oh.”
I follow Zeke through the living room with worn, plush couches and a large TV on the wall. We pass the little girl with the super curls sitting on the couch, her face slightly tear-streaked. She’s wearing a glittery cream skirt over blue, pink, and orange striped pants. She’s in the process of taking My Little Pony stickers and putting them on the arm of the couch, one by one. I wonder if Caroline is okay with that.
“Who’s this?” I ask.
Zeke turns and smiles at his little sister. “This is Mia.”
Mia looks up with a grin. “Zekie!” She runs and throws her arms around him, and he catches her in a hug.
“Now we’re never going to get anything done.” Zeke laughs.
“Come see what I made.” Mia drags Zeke over to the couch, where she points out each sticker. Zeke nods and exclaims over each one.
Mia’s huge brown eyes examine me.
“Mia, this is Callie,” Zeke says.
I extend my hand for her to shake, and she only looks at it, so I take my hand back.
Mia looks up at me with a solemn face. “Every day my mama tells me the F-word.”
I choke back whatever I was going to say and hear a cry of shock from the kitchen. “I do not!” Caroline shouts.
Zeke covers his mouth, suppressing a laugh, and I smile.
