Page 55 of The Leaves In Autumn
“Oh no! I got mascara on your dress!”
All eyes are pulled to the offending spot. Oh no. Layla has the look I have seen many times. She expected some kind of fuckup from dear old mom and is trying to accept it. But this. Today.
“I’ll get something,” Dove says, beating her retreat.
“Mom, this is Aurora, Van’s mother and Scarlett, his sister. This is our mother, Abby.”
“Hi! So happy to meet you both.”
“You too.”
“Glad you could make it.”
Okay that was normal. Makes me leery.
She walks to Xavier’s side and slips an arm through his.
“This is my fiancé, Xavier! Isn’t he adorable?”
Adorable isn’t the word I would choose. First off, he is older than I anticipated. Closer to her age. Not the one she tells people she is, but the actual one. And the bad, black, lifting toupee eliminates any thought of adorability. He waves off her words and just keeps the frozen smile he’s had since they arrived. That’s a fake Rolex.
“So where are we sitting? I’m the mother of the bride so I should be able to see everything.”
I feel ashamed feeling ashamed. But it’s real. Why is she making Layla’s day uncomfortable?
“Let me take you, Abby. Come on. You’ll be in the front row.”
Scarlett. She’s a good person. Hearing they will occupy the place of honor makes all the difference. As they walk out of the room, Dove returns with club soda.
“See you out there, Aurora!” Mom says, giving two thumbs up.
“Yes, it’s going to be great getting to know you!”
Aargon’s mother can bullshit with the best. Not really bullshit, but an ability to smooth things over. If it requires a little white lie now and then, so be it.
“This is going to show,” Layla says suddenly teary.
“No, it isn’t! Don’t cry! Don’t cry! We’ll fix it.”
The cleanup begins. Dab. Dab. Dab.
Layla touches Aurora’s arm.
“Thanks. Our mother can be a handful.”
“Oh no! She was perfectly lovely. Don’t even give it a thought.”
Layla and I both admire her. She can handle herself in any situation. Layla speaks to it.
“We obviously come from a different planet.”
“That’s alright! Different planets can be exciting to explore. There now. It’s gone.”
I don’t know what she’s looking at, but from here there is still a faint black streak on Layla’s shoulder. Good thing she can’t see it.
“Really?”
Shit, she would be talking to me. It would be impossible to cover every mirror she will pass. So I soften the blow, and offer a solution.
