Page 41 of Brews & Bartenders

“What do you need? Is it love making or how to romance her?” I choke on the wing I just took a bite of. Those are words I never want to hear out of her mouth.

“Mom. No. Just no.” I cough and take a drink of water to help the food go down. “Something happened today and it has to do with her ex-husband.”

“Oh,” she gasps. “Are you involved in something messy?”

“No,” I sigh and run my fingers through my hair. Maybe calling her was a mistake. “They’ve been over for years, but after seeing us together he seems to be making life hard for her.”

“I see.” She pauses for a second. “Mijito, is this girl worth the trouble? I want you to be sure.”

“Yes.” She’s always trying to protect me, even though I’m grown and capable of taking care of myself. I have a feeling that’s something a parent never stops doing.

“So, what happened?”

“Honestly, she didn’t go into detail just that he showed up at her work and son’s practice. He most likely said something and now she’s upset, but won’t open up.”

Mom doesn’t say anything for a few moments. I never mentioned her having a kid in any other conversations. “The niño is going to make things harder. She will move heaven and earth to make sure he’s protected.”

“I know, and she does. But I need to know that she’s okay and we are fine. How do I do that without being creepy?”

“Have you met the little boy?”

“Not yet. We hadn’t talked about that.”

She sighs, and I can imagine her shaking her head. Yes, I know it’s an important conversation, but I didn’t know if we’d still even be a couple this week, fake or not. “Do you know when he goes to bed?”

“Yes.”

Another voice enters the conversation. “You should wait until he’s in bed then show up at her house with her favorite treat.”

“Mom, do you have me on speaker? Marisol does not need to hear my problems.”

“Yes, we do,” my other sister, Gabriela adds in. Just great. The both of them will give me grief over this for years.

“It’s not a bad idea,” my mom concedes. She’s clearly siding with them. What is up with the women in my life ganging up on me?

I’ll humor them, though. “Do I let her know I’m coming?”

“No.” Both of my sister’s yell.

“It’ll make it more romantic if you don’t,” Marisol stage whispers. “Take her some ice cream and flowers.”

“It’s getting cooler at night, why would I take ice cream?”

“Because it’s good,” Gabby argues.

“Fine. What kind?”

“How are we supposed to know that?” Gabby asks. “She’s your girlfriend. But you can never go wrong with cookies and cream.”

“Why am I taking advice from my teenage sisters?” I say it low, but not low enough.

“I’m not sure if I should be offended.” Marisol gasps. “And because we know romance. You need help, and we want to meet them.”

Do I go through with this insane plan? I mean it’s better than anything I’ve got. The worst she can do is tell me to leave and I’ll have ice cream that melts on the way home. “Fine. I’ll head over there in a couple of hours.”

“Don’t forget the flowers,” Gabby says.

“And let us know what happens.” Marisol adds.

---