Page 69 of Toxic Wishes
“I see, so what made you move back home, dear?” My mom gestured to Bodie to eat his vegetables as he looked bored, waiting for me to finish my food, but I didn’t want to end this conversation short if I didn’t have to.
She blows out a breath. “Well, mainly finances. California is crazy expensive, and I was there on a scholarship. And if I want to pursue medical school, there’s no way I can live out there on my own, work full time, and attend school full time. So I decided to move back, be closer to my family, and save enough money to live off of for the next year until I can afford my place without struggling.”
“That’s why she’s staying with us,” I say, jumping into the conversation.
“Oh, I thought you said your parents lived here?”
Geeze, Mom, what a way to make this conversation go south.
“No, they do, but they are going through a rough time, and I don’t want to be in the middle of it.”
“Rough time?”
“Ya, they hate each other,” Abigail says matter-of-factly.
I laugh, but it backfires as I cough into my napkin aggressively.
“Wrong pipe,” I say, removing my napkin from my face and placing it back on the table.
“Heavens, You poor thing, it’s never easy, no matter what age you are, to deal with parents splitting up. No brothers or sisters?”
“I have a sister, but she’s busy and just had a baby not too long ago. They just moved into their new house, so I’m sure the last thing they want to deal with is sharing their living space with me.”
“I see.” She looks over at me. “Well, that’s very sweet of you to take her in, son, and help her out.”
“Ya, and she could have the whole apartment to herself if my pipes didn’t burst.”
“They what?” My mom's mouth drops open a little.
“Nothing to be alarmed about, Mom. It happened l when we were at Disney World.”
“Now you know why I love my old house. Sometimes newer isn’t better.”
“Yes, Mom, I understand, but that shouldn’t have happened. It’s not cold outside or anything.”
“Bigger and more expensive isn’t always better.” My mom tops her spoonful of mashed potatoes to me as declaring a valid point before bringing it to her mouth.
“Dad.”
“Ya Bodie.”
“I’m bored. Can we go now?”
“What did we talk about? No complaining at the dinner table.”
“Oh, it’s fine. I made some chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies, so you all must have one or two before leaving.” She winked.
“Peanut butter?”
I heard Abigail mumble under her breath.
“Are you allergic to peanut butter?” I lean in to ask her as I take a large sip of Sweet Tea.
“No, no, it’s just….” She pauses as if she is about to regret the words she’s about to say.
I look down at my watch and realize I need to return to the house. I have to stop at the Capital Homes building and pick out some new floors, since they didn’t have the same kind I had chosen when I built the house a couple of years ago.
“We’ll have to eat them on the way, Mom. I need to get going.”