Just Before You Go

Jenny wouldn’t talk to me following our little argument. When we worked shifts together for the next two weeks, she’d ignore me or grunt in response to anything I’d say. The last two days she’d called into her shifts, claiming to be sick, but I knew she was just angry. I wasn’t sure how to fix it without giving up my relationship.
Which I wasn’t willing to do.
My mother had called, though. She’d invited me—alone—for dinner at their house the following Tuesday.
When that Tuesday night rolled around, I wished a little that I’d lied and said I’d had to work. Jimmy had loaned me his car for the evening and I was seriously tempted just to live in it…But I told myself dinner was a good thing.
However, once I found myself lingering at their front door, I was pretty anxious. It was the first time I’d see them since the whole Christmas ordeal.
I let myself in, hollering a hello to anyone around.
“We’re in the dining room!” my mother shouted back to me.
I walked slowly to the dining room, where my mother and father were already seated…along with a young man.
“You’re late,” my father stated.
“I’m fifteen minutes early,” I argued confusedly.
“I told her six,” my mother said quietly to my dad. “Come on, sit, sit.”
I took the only available chair across from the young stranger. He was smiling at me—it was creeping me out.
“Aria,” my mother beamed, “this is Jason.”
“Hi,” I said awkwardly.
“Jason’s new to town,” she continued happily. “He’s doing a residency at your father’s hospital.”
“You’re a doctor?” I asked flatly.
He smiled, “I will be.”
Gross.
I was a little annoyed that my parents were pretending like nothing had gone on; like there hadn’t been an extended silence between us…but maybe it was for the better. If they weren’t going to talk about Jimmy, positive or negative, maybe I should have just been grateful.
“Aria is a lawyer,” my dad told the guest proudly.
“I’m not working as a lawyer,” I corrected. “I’m working as a bartender at the moment.”
“Aria!” my dad snapped.
I was confused, “What? I am.”
“I bartended for a year in college,” Jason told me.
I didn’t care.
“Fascinating,” I groaned.
“Aria!” my mother now snapped.
“What?” I grinned.
She shook her head at me, “Can you please come and help me in the kitchen? The roast is probably finished.”
I rose from my chair and followed my mother into the kitchen. She headed straight for the oven, sticking the defenseless roast with a thermometer. She shook her head and closed the oven door.
“Jason’s cute, hm?” she smirked at me.
I cringed, “Sure.”
“He’s a bright boy,” she told me like it mattered. “He’s going to be a surgeon. Your father says Jason graduated at the top of his class.”
“Okay,” I said but it sounded more like a question.
“He likes classical music,” she continued, “which I know, I know; you think is boring, but—”
“I’m sorry,” I interrupted, only then cluing in. “Is this supposed to be like a set up?”
She tilted her head back and forth, “That sounds ugly. I prefer to think of it as a…planned meeting.”
I grimaced.
“You need a man in your life,” my mother informed me. “I want grandchildren.”
I couldn’t find the words. I just stared at her—unblinking and unmoving.
“Aria?” she asked, snapping her fingers in front of my eyes. “Are you in there?”
I blinked at her, “Are you joking?”
“About what, dear?”
“Oh sweet Jesus, you’re not joking,” I groaned, rubbing at my temples as I pushed passed her.
“Where are you going?” she called after me, scurrying quickly behind me. “Aria?”
I whipped around, aggravated and insulted, “You do remember my boyfriend, don’t you?”
“Oh, Aria,” she retorted snottily. “That boy—”
“Is important to me,” I finished for her. “I understand you don’t care for him…but I honestly assumed this dinner was solely to smooth things over between us…Clearly, I was wrong.”
“Don’t be dramatic,” my father whined from his seat at the table. “It’s always so theatrical with you.”
I gasped, “I’m not being dramatic, Dad…I’m being honest.”
“Aria, we’ve discussed this,” my father stated firmly. “That boy you brought here is not an acceptable partner for you.”
“What year is it?” I moaned.
My father nearly broke his neck to turn and look me dead in the eye, “Aria, we are your parents. You will respect our opinion.”
“I will listen to your opinion,” I corrected. “But I don’t have to respect shit.”
My mother winced, “Language…”
“You guys are fucked,” I half-laughed. “Thanks for a lovely dinner. It was nice to meet you, Jason.”
I grabbed my coat and headed for the door. Unfortunately, my mother chased after me. She’d never been the one to simply let me run off, not that I’d ever really done it. My father was the stubborn one; my mother, typically, was receptive to my feelings. I guess just not when it came to Jimmy.
“Aria, wait,” she pleaded as she closed the door behind her.
I rolled my eyes as I turned to face her.
“Please don’t go,” she frowned. “Come in, come and eat.”
I sighed, “Mom…You know I love you…But what you’re doing in there…what you’re doing to me…”
She stared at me as I struggled to find the words.
“I don’t need you to approve of all of my choices,” I finally mustered. “But you’re my mother and you’re supposed to support me.”
“Aria…” she breathed, taking a step toward me. “You know I would like to…But…”
I cocked an eyebrow at her. She smiled sympathetically.
“I can’t stand by idly and watch you throw your life away.”
“Who’s throwing their life away?” I growled. “This is a life, Mom.”
She shook her head, “That boy isn’t good enough for you.”
“You don’t—” I considered having the same fight with my mother that I’d had with Jen but I stopped myself.
I was too tired. I just didn’t care anymore.
“I have to go,” I finally heaved, heading for Jimmy’s car.
My mom sighed loudly behind me, “Aria, please don’t choose some boy over your family. We’re blood.”
“He isn’t just some boy,” I frowned as I turned around one last time. “I…I love him.”
My mother looked horrified, “Aria, no…”
I nodded a couple of times, before shaking the keys in my hand, “As for us—”
My palms were sweating.
“We’re not blood,” I spit. “We’re not anything.”
“Aria,” my mother gasped.
“Enjoy your dinner,” I said brazenly.
My mother stood in horror as I crawled into Jimmy’s car and sped off. I wondered for a second how long she’d stood on the lawn after I’d left. I was sure she was reluctant to head in—she was guaranteed to be embarrassed.
And it was my fault.
I pulled up to Jimmy’s and locked the car doors behind me. I was surprised to find the lights on in his house—I’d thought he’d be out. So, I tapped at his door, already running through what to say to him when he’d undoubtedly ask why I was back so soon.
He pulled the door open and smiled when he realized it was me.
“I thought you were at dinner,” he said confusedly.
I pursed my lips, “I was…and so was the man my parents want me to date. Can I come in?”
He frowned a little but opened the door wider to let me through. He’d been watching a movie and it was paused on the television. I couldn’t figure out what movie it was—maybe I’d never seen it.
“No Brian tonight?” I asked.
That had been Jimmy’s plan, I’d thought. He and Brian were supposed to be heading out to a party. Partying on a Tuesday night was apparently the thing to do.
“I didn’t think a party was a great idea,” Jimmy said awkwardly. “I’m trying to be good, remember?”
“I remember,” I smiled, pushing myself into his personal space.
“So your parents tried to set you up?” he asked me, pushing the stray hairs out of my face.
I nodded, “His name’s Jason and he’s a doctor.”
“Impressive,” Jimmy smirked.
“We had a big fight—”
“You and Jason?” Jimmy asked confusedly.
I giggled, “No, you fuck. My mother and I had a big fight.”
“I always imagined women would fight over me,” he grinned, kissing my head and then removing himself from my grip.
He plunked himself down onto the couch, putting his feet up.
I stood awkwardly by the door.
“Are you coming to watch this movie or what?” he asked me happily.
I sat next to him, trying to steal glances at him without his knowledge. He was so perfect…and I was so lucky. How could anyone not love that face? Love that mind…
“How much notice do you need to book time off work?” Jimmy asked without looking at me.
I shrugged, “Depends. Why, what’s up?”
“There’s this huge festival next week,” he told me, finally looking over at me—a smile spreading across his face when he did. “It’s a two-day thing…We’re playing the first night—It should be a good show, there’s going to be a ton of bands—”
“Jimmy,” I giggled. “Get to the point.”
“Do you want to come?” he finally asked. “I know it’s not really your thing, but I’d love it if you came anyway.”
I smiled, “I’ll see what I can do.”
He lifted his arm, exposing his chest to me, “Get in here.”
I climbed into him, resting my head against his chest as his arm settled atop of me. I’d never been more comfortable or content as I was in that moment…despite the family feud brewing in the distance.

Notes

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