Page 122 of Finally Mine
She was quiet for another minute and then said, “We should have brought Ivan. He could have distracted them from fighting with total house destruction.”
They picked up his mother, who insisted on sitting in the back seat and then complained the whole way to Gloria’s mother’s house about the lack of leg room. Gloria, trying to be accommodating, rode the rest of the way with her knees in the dashboard.
“Ma, shut up,” Aldo told Ina in the rear-view mirror.
“I bet you don’t talk to your mother with such disrespect,” she sniffed to Gloria.
“Her mom doesn’t have the manners of a child raised by wolves,” Aldo pointed out.
“What’s in the bag?” she demanded, rooting through the gift bag Aldo had on the floor behind his seat.
“Get out of the bag, Ma! It’s for Gloria’s mom.” Gloria looked surprised and delighted.
“Why don’t I get a present?” his mother pouted.
“Isn’t being my mother gift enough?” Aldo joked.
His mother thought that was pretty funny and laughed the rest of the way to their destination.
* * *
The introductions went well,in Aldo’s opinion. His mother didn’t say the f-word, and the fashionista Sara didn’t make any comments about or stare too long at Ina’s God-awful gravy-brown sweater and matching polyester pants.
They were on a first name basis, and there was alcohol. Aldo considered it a win.
It was time to turn up the charm. “Mrs. Parker, Gloria tells me you make a mean margarita,” Aldo said.
“Call me Sara. And yes, I do,” she said, eyes twinkling as she winked at her daughter.
They made a picture, Gloria and Sara together. Both dark hair and dark eyes, the same smile.
Aldo handed over the gift bag. “I thought these might come in handy next time you’re mixing.”
Eagerly, Sara unpackaged the glass set. He’d found the handblown bubble margarita glasses in the window of a gift shop when he was rushing between meetings. He’d been ten minutes late to his appointment with the architect, but Sara’s approving look made it worth it.
Gloria stood on tip-toe and kissed his cheek. “Nice going, kiss ass,” she whispered. She was relaxing, finally. Trusting him not to let her down.
He poked her in the ribs, and Gloria laughed, wrapping her arms around his waist. “I’m a catch,” he whispered back.
“A very nice gift,” Sara decided. “We will see if you are also a very nice man.” But the twinkle told Aldo which way she was leaning in that judgment.
“You got a lotta color in here,” Ina announced at full volume, carrying her glass of sangria into the living room. Of course, anything a shade deeper than beige was a lot of color for his mother’s tastes.
They dined on pork chops, colorful vegetables, and wine around Sara’s round table. Music, something bright and Latin, played in the background.
Aldo felt a foot on his shin, and Gloria sent him a slow wink. She was relaxed and enjoying herself. He loved seeing her this way. Carefree and happy. He wanted more nights like this, more dinners like this. More of everything with her.
“So, Sara, what are a couple of hot single moms like us doing dateless on a Saturday night?” Mrs. Moretta wondered at stadium volume.
“Sometimes the world makes no sense,” Sara pointed out, topping off Ina’s glass of wine.
“Maybe we should sign ourselves up for that speed dating thing down at the lodge next week?”
* * *
Aldo insistedon helping clean up while Gloria showed his mother the flower garden in the backyard. He could sense his mother’s garden envy and prayed she’d hire a professional with a rototiller this time instead of enlisting him to expand her own flower beds.
Sara took the plates he rinsed and stacked them neatly in the dishwasher. “Thank you for helping with the cleanup. I can’t decide if you’re polite or just kissing up.”
