Page 67 of Pause

We set off walking. Mom tucks her arm in mine. “Oh, Marin. I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt this happy. I shouldn’t admit this to you, but I never really liked Blu. He was boring, and he never smiled. I hated his puckered lips, like he just ate something distasteful. He was never much of a gentleman toward you either.”

“Why didn’t I see it? How could I have been so wrong about someone? It makes me doubt my judgment.” A small moan escapes. I’m seriously disturbed.

Mom pats my hand. “Some people don’t show their true colors until it’s too late. It happens all the time. Don’t beat yourself up over it. Blu wasn’t horrible or anything. I never found him impressive, though. Slade, on the other hand, oh my goodness. I met him and my heart just melted. He’s handsome, he’s polite, he has a great smile, and I love the way he speaks of you, the way he touches you, the way he looks at you. There’s so much love in his expression. I know you haven’t known each other long, but my mother’s heart wants him for my daughter. If I could choose for you, I would choose him. What an amazing man. I’m so happy for you.”

I stop and face her. “Wait. You got all that after knowing him for two hours?”

“Sometimes people are easy to read. Slade is one of those people. He seems like a man who has nothing to hide. After all your phone calls, I felt like I already knew him anyway. I couldn’t be more thrilled. All I’ve ever wanted is for you to be happy. When I see you with Slade, I’m the happiest woman alive. I see the way he holds your hand, the way he rubs your back, the way he treats you so kindly, the way he listens when you talk. He’s a mother’s dream come true. This is the happiest day of my life.” Mom pulls me into a tight hug.

Oh. I wasn’t expecting that answer. It explains her odd behavior. She loves Slade. She fell for him just as quickly as I did. She wants him for me.

I half cry and half laugh. “Thanks, Mom. I’m happy you approve of him.”

She backs up and gives me her stern mom look. There’s the mom I know and love. “But you’ve known him for two weeks. As much I want grandchildren, I won’t stand for talk of another wedding for a minimum of six months. Can you at least give me that?”

I grant her a teary nod. “That’s a promise I can keep. I adore him, but neither one of us wants to rush things.” That’s what we keep telling ourselves anyway. Technically, we are doing exactly that.

“Okay, then. I approve. Go give that gorgeous hunk of a man a huge kiss, you lucky girl.”

“Mom!” I hold my hands to my forehead. “You are acting so weird today. Stop it.”

“I can’t help it. I’m happy for my daughter. So sue me.” Mom raises her eyebrows. “You are going to have the best intimate life. I promise you, that man is going to be amazing behind closed doors. I’m old and experienced. I know these things.”

My face is totally blank as I stare back at her. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

“We’ve always been up-front when it comes to talking about the birds and the bees. It shouldn’t be a taboo subject. It’s as natural as the ocean in front of us. Just keeping it true.”

“Do you mean keeping it real?” I ask, my voice high-pitched with embarrassment.

“Whatever.” She waves her hand.

Mom turns and keeps walking. “Happiest day of my life, Marin. Why? Because I know my daughter is going to be incredibly, amazingly happy.”

She screams the last few words with her hands raised in the air. I want to ask her, “Where’s my mom and what did you do with her?”

The rest of our walk consists of Mom singing Slade’s praises. I believe my mother likes him more than me. Huh. Go figure. I remind her over and over I’ve only known him for two weeks.

She brushes the thought aside as though it’s silly. “You’ll marry him and give me grandbabies. I just know it.”

I don’t know what universe I’m living in. Somehow, I’ve enteredFreaky Fridayland where role reversals are the norm.

chapter twenty-two

SLADE MOVES THEarmrest between us into the upright position so we can sit closer together. “Since we won’t actually be in Venice for long, we should probably try to sleep for most of the plane ride. It’ll help with jet lag. Theoretically, that is,” he adds.

We have a thirteen-hour flight ahead of us, plus Italy is eight hours ahead. We’re leaving on a Saturday morning and arriving on a Sunday morning. Yikes.

We cuddle up with each other. My head rests on his shoulder and his head rests on my head while our hands are interlaced. I could sleep in his arms forever.

“I might be too excited to sleep,” I say, as I yawn.

Slade yawns too. “Same.”

We had a crazy early flight this morning, and neither one of us can keep our eyes open. Our tired bodies make us both liars.

“Loved your parents. They were great. Glad I was able to meet them. You come from good people.”

Somehow, Slade didn’t think my mom was a crazy woman. “So do you, Slade. So do you.”

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