Trust Me .(15)

After a long, hot shower, I decide to spend the day with my mom. It’s Sunday Family Dinner night so I know she’ll be cooking and baking all day, and I can honestly use a little time with my mom in the kitchen. There’s something soothing about baking for me. Cooking? Not so much. I know enough to get by but my cooking skills are definitely lacking. Thank goodness I only have to cook for a three year old whose favorites include mac and cheese and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

I pull up the long drive that leads home and park my jeep by the garage since I’m the first one here for a change. When I step out, I see my dad in the garage, working on his old sixty-five Corvette. He bought it when I was eight years old off of a friend who was going to scrap it. It was in pretty rough shape back then, but now, fourteen years later, he’s put time, hard work, and money into restoring the classic car. It’s in pretty good condition now, and his hard work shows.

“Hey, Dad. How’s the sixty-five doing today?”

“Oh, hey, sweetheart. She’s coming along. I just changed the oil in her, getting her ready to be sitting for the winter,” he said as he wipes his hands on a red shop rag.

“Well, she’s looking great.” I slide my hand along the smooth body of the sports car.

“I still have a little work to do to the body but she’s coming along nicely. I even convinced your mother to go out for a cruise yesterday morning.”

“Really?” I try to keep the shock out of my voice, but I’m pretty sure I failed. “I bet she complained the whole time.”

“The whole time,” he said with a chuckle. “I even have bruises on my right arm from where she latched on and wouldn’t let go.”

“She just doesn’t understand the love a man has for his machine, Dad. The fact that you even got her in the car should show you that she’s willing to face her fears a little for something you want and love.”

“Yeah, I know it. I haven’t pushed her at all since day one. She wanted me to put my energy and free time into something I love, she just wasn’t going to actively participate in it. You were too little to remember, but when your Uncle Mick died in that car crash, it changed her. It took a lot of convincing on my part to prove that I wasn’t going to kill myself in this car. She was scared every time I took it out, but over time, she began to see that not every sports car leads to death. I think she actually enjoyed our ride yesterday, though she’s probably going to deny it if you ask her,” he said with a laugh.

“Well, I’m glad she did this for you, for something you truly love.”

“Your mom is my true love. This car is just a car. Though I love it and would be devastated to lose it, your mom means so much more to me. If she really asked me to, I would sell this in a heartbeat for her.” He looks off with a slightly dream-like look on his face. “Hey, that granddaughter of mine was up at the crack of dawn this morning. I think she missed you.”

“Well, I missed her more than she’ll know. It’s so weird waking up to the complete quiet, knowing that she’s not sleeping in her room. I better go inside and give her some love. I thought I’d come out a little early and spend some time with Mom in the kitchen.”

“She’ll love that. Head on in and I’ll see ya in a little bit.”

I turn and head into the house. The familiar aromas of home cooked meals fill the air. It smells like we’re having Italian tonight. I walk into the kitchen and see Brooklyn sitting on the counter next to Mom as she’s whipping up batter in the mixing bowl. I remember sitting in that very spot many times when I was little, and the memory brings a smile to my face.

“Something smells good,” I say, walking over to Brooklyn to give her a big hug and kiss. “I missed you so much.”

“Missed you too, Mommy. We’re baking cupcakes!”

“Cupcakes, huh? Those are my favorite!”

I help Mom and Brooklyn fill the cupcake papers and then stick them in the oven and set the timer. When the task is complete, Brooklyn takes off to go play in the family room, leaving me alone with Mom in the kitchen.

“So, how was your night?”

“Ugh. Good until the tequila.”

She laughs a full belly laugh at me and says, “Oh, I remember those days. It’s always fun until the next morning.”

“Yeah. Jake and Maddox were there after work, and we played pool most of the night. Maddox ended up driving Holly and me home after the tequila shots.”

Mom arches her eyebrow. “Maddox, huh? Such a nice young man.”

Why do I feel like she’s baiting me? I do not want to talk about Maddox or the kiss. The kiss that I can’t stop thinking about. “He is a nice guy, I guess.”