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At least, that’s what Tenley is to me.
“My visit wasn’t the best,” I tell her, taking a seat at the small dining room table. “Honestly, I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.”
Just when I think she’ll sit, she hops onto the table and dangles her legs beside me, putting us at eye level. “Wanna talk about it?” she asks, a soft smile on her face. “I’m a really good listener.”
“I’m learning that. Constantly being surprised by you, Tenley Abrams,” I admit. “But sure. I’ll try to talk if you don’t mind.”
“I’m all yours.”
Yeah, you are.
“So, I’m not sure if you remember me telling you about my mom and the issues she and I have had together over the years?”
“You mean the way she put the well-being of your siblings on you? Yeah, I remember.”
“A bit territorial, eh?” I tease her, noticing how she immediately came to my defense.
“Call it what you want.” She shrugs. “But no child, no matter how old they are, should have to feel that kind of pressure from someone they love. Someone who should be the one taking care ofthem.”
I realize I could get defensive. Defensive that Tenley obviously doesn’t think kindly of my mother, but no part of me takes her advocating on my behalf like that. She’s speaking from a place of care.
A place of love, and I recognize that.
“You’re not wrong.” I shake my head. My hand finds her thigh, a gesture I can’t help but make with her this close. To my surprise, she places her hand over mine and gives me her undivided attention. “Before I went to visit this weekend, I talked with my brother, Levi, on the phone.” I start to remind her which one, but Tenley beats me to it. “He’s the one who just got the skateboard, right? The oldest?”
She remembered.“Yeah.”
“Got it.” She smiles, waiting for me to continue.
Something is different about her, and I can’t pinpoint it.
“I don’t think he wanted to worry me, but he made a few comments about my mom and how he was having to take on some things in the house he shouldn’t. Honestly, it pissed me off. That was me when he was first born and I fucking hated it. No matter how much I loved him, I just wanted to be a kid. But my mom couldn’t get her shit together enough to let me. I won’t stand by and let Levi’s teenage years go to waste.”
“I think that’s really admirable, August. It’s clear Levi looks up to you, the same way I’m sure your other siblingsdo, too. So, what happened when you visited? Did you talk to your mom about it?”
The soft touch of her thumb stroking my hand brings a newfound comfort to me. I’m used to being touched by Tenley in other ways. But having her like this, full attention and with the gentlest of touches, is nice.
I can’t help it, I bring her hand to my lips and place a soft kiss against her skin. “I did. I knew Marsha, the woman I pay to help out while Mom works, was going to be there on Friday, so I made sure to talk with her first. I offered to triple her salary if she would stay around the clock. Added in her mortgage payment too, since she technically won’t be home much. Marsha’s husband is in an assisted living home, so it’s just her most of the time. I figured that would not only help me out but also give her some breathing room to not stress about money.”
With my head lowered, the only sign of life from her I get is the slow trickle of wetness falling onto Tenley’s swollen bump. It’s when I lift my eyes that I see tears running down her perfect face. “They’re uncontrollable at this point,” Tenley sniffles, pointing at her eyes. “You can keep going.”
“God, you’re breathtaking, Tenley.” She’s stunning. The way her blue eyes pierce into me without even trying, brightened by the wetness of her long lashes. The messy bun on her head tilts to the side, and I love that she doesn’t even care how untamed it looks.
“I’m a mess,” she laughs bashfully.
“A mess is the farthest thing I see when I look at you.”
Her eyes dial in on mine, searching for answers she won’t find just yet. I’m keeping everything to myself until the right time. The moment I’m confident she won’t scurry.
It amazes me how just fifteen minutesago I was ready to break things, and already, since she’s been home, I’ve settled into a comforting peace.
“Anyway,” I continue. “Marsha agreed. But the kicker was getting my mom on board without sending her off the deep end.”
“Were you honest with her?” Tenley asks.
I nod. “I was. I waited until I was about to leave. Didn’t want to fuck up the visit. She didn’t take it well. I wasn’t surprised, but still, it sucked.”
The thing about my mom is that she understands why I make the choices for my family that I do. She gets it. And she’s not stupid enough to argue because she knows it’s for the best. But I like to think she’s disappointed in herself. At least I hope she is.
