1 - The Kitchen

      I didn’t see this coming at all.  I mean, I knew my mom had been dating this guy, Andrew, for a while.  But I was never expecting this.

      Hey had met through work.  My mom is the manager of the bank in my town.  It was about two and a half years ago when Andrew moved here.  He had met with my mother about opening an account.  She said that they had had an “instant connection.”  They just clicked right away.  He didn’t have the courage or confidence to ask out my mother for almost a full year.  After a month of occasional dating, they started to go out on dates every weekend.  My mom had dated guys like this before.  They would date for a while then they would break up because they didn’t think it was “working out” between them.

      I guess that’s why I was so surprised when my mom told me the so called good news.  I can not believe that I did not see it coming.  I mean my mom BARELY ever cooks dinner.  Even though it was just macaroni and cheese and broccoli, it was still something.  First she called me down for dinner.  I guess that’s when things started to seem strange.

      “Bethany!!! Come downstairs!  It’s time for dinner!” she yelled up to me sometime around six.

      I put down my math book and was greatly thankful for the distraction.  I walked out of my room and started walking down the stairs.  Half way down I yelled out to my mother.  “Where did we order from tonight?”  I heard some pots and pans being clanged around in the kitchen.

      “I’m sorry honey; I didn’t hear what you had said.  Can you repeat it for me please?”

      I sighed.  She always needed things to be repeated for her.

      I walked into the kitchen saying “Where did we ord-“I stopped mid-sentence once I saw the kitchen.

      The table was set for two.  Macaroni and cheese, broccoli, a cloth napkin, and silverware sat at each end of the simple square wooden table.  The kitchen, which was usually a dump, was spotless and the counters were actually visible.  I found it funny that I had forgotten that they were white marble.  Soothing jazz music was playing from the old radio my grandfather had gotten when he was in high school.  It was all so strange.  I was stunned.  I guess it was written all over my face.

      “Honey, what’s wrong?  Are you okay?” my mother asked, a concerned look in her eyes.

      “Yeah, mom; I’m fine.  But… did you cook?” I couldn’t help but to ask.

      A gentle smile spread across her face.  “Yes I did.  I thought that it would be a pleasant change.  I also thought that we could talk just like we used to when you were younger.”

      I should have known at that moment that something like this was coming.  But of course, being me, I didn’t pick up on the clues and hints that she was subconsciously giving me.  She sat down and gestured towards the other seat with an opened palm, suggesting that I sit down.  I sat and then unfolded my napkin as I spread it across my lap.

      “Bethany,” she began.

      “Yeah mom?” I said as I took a bite of the macaroni.  Hmm; this actually tastes good.  This is definitely something new.

      “Well as you know, Andrew and I have been dating for a long time now.” It sounded like the beginning of one of those “we’re done” speeches.  But OH was I wrong!

      “Well,” she started again.  “I am not sure if I have told you this but I really like him.  He is a terrific man.  We feel very strongly about each other in this way.  The other night while we were on a date at that little restaurant on Bolton Street and it was time to order dessert, he ordered mine for me;  simple brownies.  Once they got to the table, there was a tiny bit of whip cream right on the middle of it.  He told me that I should eat the whip cream by itself first so I licked it off.  There was something underneath it though; something rough.  When I looked down, there were three little diamonds that were put together just like Mickey Mouse!!”

      No way!  No way!  No way!  I could feel my eyes widening.

      “Then he got down on one knee and he asked me to marry him!!  It was just SO romantic!  He remembered that I absolutely adore Mickey Mouse!”

      “Mom!” I said, stopping her fun little story.  “Are you serious?  He proposed?  What did you say?” I shouted at her, practically shrieking the words.

      My mother was surprised by this; as was i.  I barely ever raised my voice.  I felt dizzy.  This can not be happening.  She can’t be getting remarried, I thought to myself.  I knew that my father had died over 10 years ago and that she had finally moved on 5 years after that.  But she can’t just go get remarried like this…

      “Honey calm down, calm down.”

      But I didn’t hear anything after that because I blacked out.

      Right there, in the middle of the kitchen.