Page 80 of Not You Again
She wants him to find a wife and settle down, and tonight she’ll be meeting me. Someone who, mere weeks ago, signed on to marry her son because there’s divorce money in it. Hands shaking, I unbuckle my seat belt.
I climb out of the car and take a deep breath. The sky is a Bob Ross painting come to life in oranges, pinks, and purples. Crickets serenade the stars before they’ve even shown themselves.
Cassidy and Steve greet us, clipping on our mics.
“Any words of advice?” I ask Cassidy over my shoulder while she works.
She laughs. “Not really. Meeting parents is always a mess.”
“Oh, good.” I tap my foot nervously on the packed dirt driveway.
She gestures for me to turn around, then makes sure the mic is secure beneath my shirt. “Think of it as a challenge. You’re good at those.”
I swallow the knot in my throat. This isn’t like jumping off a platform in the jungle or winning a game of Jenga or throwing axes. This is an important piece of Kit I don’t want to risk breaking.
He stares at the front door, a frown on his face. I wish he’d tell me it will be fine, that his mom will love me. But he doesn’t.
Released from Cassidy’s custody, I walk around the car. “It’s beautiful out here.”
When Kit doesn’t reply, I touch his arm. “You okay?” I ask quietly.
He shakes his head like he’s trying to rid himself of a particularly clingy thought, then explains. “It’s the first time my mom has been on camera. She was too sick for all the pre-wedding interviews. I’m just … nervous.”
“About what she’ll do on camera?” If my mom is any example, we’re in for a wild ride tonight.
“Not like that.” He reaches for my hand. “She thinks I’m overprotective. Maybe I am, I don’t know. It’s weird letting outsiders into our lives.”
I lean into him, lacing our fingers together. “Tell me about it.”
He smiles down at me, and maybe tonight will be just fine.
Cassidy hops up the wooden steps to the front door and knocks.
When the door swings open, I try to get a glimpse of the woman Kit cares so deeply about. To no avail. Cassidy slips in the door with a smile, closing it behind her so I still have no idea what I’m walking into.
As Steve is hoisting his camera up onto his shoulder, I decide to wave my proverbial white flag. “I’m a little nervous to meet your mom,” I admit with a shaky smile.
Kit takes in a deep breath and lets it out in a short sigh as he thrusts his fingers into his hair. “Ready to take the leap, sweet potato?”
I force a smile. “Promise to catch me?”
“Always.” He gives my hand a squeeze.
Cassidy emerges from the trailer and tells us it’s go time. We wait for her signal, then take the slow march to the front door. The wooden steps look relatively new, even though the platform wobbles a little with all of us trampling on it.
By the time the front door swings open, I’m lightheaded. Kit’s holding my hand so tightly my fingers ache, but the woman inside beams. She’s about my height, with curling white hair. She’s in a house dress with a bright pattern, reading glasses hanging around her neck on a dragonfly chain.
“It’s so good to finally meet you,” she says, stepping aside to let us all in. Before I know what’s happening, she pulls me into a hug. Her grip is much stronger than all of Kit’s mentions of her would have me believe. I hug her back, resting my shaking hands on her shoulders. Then she lets me go and holds me at arm’s length to look at me.
She looks like the kind of mom who would be checking to see if my hips are wide enough to bear children, and if my body can handle years of household chores. I swallow the knot of disappointment in my throat—I’d make a terrible housewife. Kit is always chasing me down to make sure I’ve eaten something since breakfast.
“This is Andie,” Kit says when the camera crew has shuffled in and made themselves at home in the cramped space. “Andie, this is my mom.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Watson.” I nod my head in her direction and hold out my hand, even though she’s already embraced me like family.
She waves off the gesture with a smile. “Please, call me Maureen.”
I give her a shaky smile, my heart pumping faster.