Page 38 of Man Seeking Woman

Chapter Ten

August

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"Ababy, August? DidI read that right?"

"It's not true, Mom, it's just a bogus article."

My mother, as far as I knew, had no clue about the sneaky little clause in my father's will. And I intended to keep it that way. All of this was going to be hard enough without her adding more stress to the situation by trying to help in whatever way she deemed appropriate.

"So, who is this woman then?" my mother asked, leaning against the window in my highrise apartment in downtown Manhatten. Swirling a glass of white wine, her eyes meticulously moved across the skyline, ever so slowly making their way to me.

"She's my. . . girlfriend." The last word came out almost too easily, but there was a hint of hesitation in my voice. I wasn't really too sure if that was the right word to use or not.

In all forms of what the world would see, we were going to be together. But behind closed doors, I still wasn't sure what to expect.

"Your girlfriend?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. "How come you haven't mentioned her before today?" Her tone was accusitory, her body language stiff and protective. "I mean, it only seems customary to at least get your mother's approval before you move some fluezy into your home." Tipping her chin, she glared at me down the bridge of her nose. "Do you hate me? Is that it?"

"Stop, I don't hate you. And I'm sorry if you don't like it, but I don't need your permission to do anything. Besides, can you honestly blame me for not telling you? Look at how you've reacted to any girls I dated in the past."

"I didn't react in any particular way, August." Her lips turned paper thin as her voice dropped in tone. "And I'm your mother, what do you expect from me?"

"You always found the smallest flaw in them and turn it into the grandaddy of issues." Pouring myself a glass of scotch, I walked up and stood beside her, keeping my eyes out the window as I spoke. "I know you don't like it and that's fine, it's not your decision, it's mine." Taking a sip, I swallowed the sharp liquor slowly, allowing the fire to burn my throat.

It didn't bother me that my mother was upset about this sudden move, it wouldn't have mattered either way. I could have been dating the girl for five years and my mother would still hate the idea, pretending as if all of this was news to her. No girlfriend of mine was ever going to get her approval.

So why bother with the intricacies of trying to formulate a relationship between my mother and any girl at all? This was actually easier, I had total control.

"Mm," she groaned, twisting her body away from me. "Your father is probably rolling in his grave over this. I can't believe you're doing this to me."

Oh yeah, I'm sure he's really torn up over this.

"Ma, come on, this is ridiculous. I'm not doing anything to you." Rocking on my heels, I gave her smile. "You hate everyone, you always have. When are you going to just trust me?"

"I liked Michelle," she said, tapping her nail against her glass, her eyes fixed on the ceiling as she tried to think. "And. . . that other girl, what was her name? Wait—don't tell me." Her stare deepened as she snapped her fingers next to her head. "Florence!" she shouted out, throwing a finger in my direction. "I liked Florence, even though she was a bit on the excentric side—"

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