Good Enough(68)

I can feel the kink of tension in my neck already, so I decide to take a five-minute break myself. I step out on to the front step to grab a bottle of water that we left out there in a cooler. I take a seat, twist open the water and let the cool refreshment sooth my dry throat. I can hear two voices arguing behind me, they must be at the far end of the driveway near the garage. It’s not clear what is being said but I definitely heard Marcie say “She put too much in. I couldn’t breathe.” I can feel my blood starting to boil. “I don’t give a shit if she put the whole bottle of cleaner in. She’s here to help us and she’s elderly. Have some damn respect.”

I immediately smile when I hear Jameson stand up for my grandmother.

“So what, you don’t want me here then?”

Oh, good Christ! Pack your bags Jameson, she’s taking you a guilt trip.

“I didn’t say that. Don’t put words in my mouth. All I said was show some respect, but if you can’t then you are free to leave.”

Wow! I didn’t expect that from him. I’m actually proud of him. I know that was tough since it’s him mom and all but after all the shit that she has been pulling it has probably been a long time coming. I just want to survive the next few days and wake up in my own home with no parents around nagging us.

I go back inside. The same time I am entering through the front door Marcie is coming in through the back door with Jameson right behind her. She doesn’t make eye contact with any of us. She walks with her head down and goes back in to the bathroom. No apology to my grandmother. Why am I not surprised?





“No one will ever believe anything you say about me. If you try I will tell everyone you are crazy and have you put in a psych ward.”



April 11, 2003

THE HOUSE IS CLEAN, PAINTED, DECORATED, and furnished, so what better time than now to have a house warming party. Parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, you name it; they will be here. The weather is perfect to have people inside and out. The only thing I’m worried about is my future mother in law pissing off our guests.

People are freely walking about inside and outside, Jameson and I are giving tours as new people arrive. We can hear the happy chitchat outside as people enjoy themselves on our lawn chairs and the new picnic table my dad built us from scratch.

As I’m walking through the dining room on my way outside, I hear my Aunt Chrissy and Uncle Manny shouting hello as they walk through the front door. My face immediately lights up. My Aunt Chrissy is my dad’s eldest sister and my godmother. Her and my Uncle Manny don’t have any children of their own. They have quite a few of us godchildren though.

“Hi guys. I’m so glad you could make it.” I say, unable to contain my excitement.

“Hi honey. It’s such a cute house. I’m so happy you are finally free of your mother,” she admits.

My aunt has never been a fan of my mom. She knows how crappy I’ve been treated by her since I was a teen.

“Come on in and let me show you around,” I tell them.

“Okay, but first can we give you and Jameson your house warming gift? We want it to be in private,” she tells me.

“Of course. Let me go get him.”

Before I can even turn around Jameson is walking in through the back door. “Hey Chrissy and Manny! Thanks for coming!” Jameson says, cheerily.

I take him by the hand and lead him in to the living room, Chrissy and Manny following. “Hon, I was just about to get you. Chrissy and Manny wanted to give us a house warming gift in private,” I tell him.

“We said no gifts. We just wanted everyone to come check out our first home and eat some food,” Jameson says.

“We don’t care. We love you both,” Chrissy tells us handing us a card. Jameson hands it to me to open. As I read the cute little poem on the front of the card about a couple’s first home together something slips out from inside of the card and drops on the floor. Jameson bends down to pick up and gasps.

“Five-hundred-dollar gift card to Home Depot!”

Holy Crap!

“This is too much. We can’t accept this.” I declare.

“You can and you will. When we got our first place we struggled and it was hotter than hell. We got this for you in hope that you two would be smart and get yourselves a couple of air conditioners.” Aunt Chrissy tells us.

“Auntie, you know I’ve never had air conditioning. I’ll be fine. We’ll be fine. This is too much.”

“We love you both. We are not taking back the gift card so say thank you, shut up and show us the house.”

“Thank you both so much. We will definitely be getting air conditioners.” Jameson tells them.