"Where do you want your bags?" Dante asks, coming in, drenched in sweat. When I turn around, I see that he's weighted down with five bags: two under his arms, two in his hands, and one around his neck.
"You could have made separate trips," Adele and I say, almost in unison, and I laugh a little, and even more when I look at the annoyed expression on his face.
"Upstairs in my room, of course." Adele points.
"Let me help you." I stand up, but she stops me.
"No, he can handle it. We're having a wonderful conversation."
I sit down as Dante makes an expression in his eyes at me of total bewilderment. I make us a second round of mojitos and she tells me about the fundraiser gala that she hosted for the Woods Hole Animal Society.
"I had planned it for over a year and we raised close to two million, which ... I don't know how familiar you are with philanthropic causes ... is quite a significant number."
"No, yes, of course. It's a lot, especially since animal causes tend to be not as popular as certain diseases and those kind of events."
"I couldn't agree more," she says, leaning closer to me. "It's not that I'm against raising money for people. I participate in every event that my friends invite me to. But when it comes to this cause, it's very hard to get people to care, or to get a lot of money like they do for something else."
Since I get an in on the conversation topic, I let her go on and on. When Dante comes back down the stairs, I see how surprised he is by his mother's attitude and just the sheer number of words that she's saying. He goes over to the bar, pours himself a cognac, and sits down in between us.
"Well, this is not how I thought today would go," he says, taking a big gulp.
"And why is that?" Adele leans to one side of the couch, unbuttoning the top button of her suit.
"You and Jacqueline getting along, after-"
"Let's not talk about that," she cuts him off. "What happens in private should stay in private, but, you know, a summer night, you two thought you would let yourselves loose. I understand. I've been young once."
"Young?" Dante leans closer to her. "The last man you married, what number was he again? That was barely two years ago, I think."
"Oh, please. What Dante's trying to insinuate is that I should be punished for being a romantic. But I refuse to think like that. Weddings are wonderful, extravagant affairs, and I don't see why I should be penalized for having more than one."
"Or five," Dante adds with a laugh, taking another big gulp. It's all in good jest, and Adele seems to take it that way.
We talk for a little while longer, and then when the time feels right, I look at my watch and tell her that I'm going to head to bed.
I try to make the escape as slight as possible and planned it a few conversation topics ahead, but all of my worry seems to be for no reason because she just smiles at me, gets up when I get up, and gives me a warm hug. "I'll see you tomorrow morning for breakfast, of course."
I hesitate. "I was actually going to go back home."
"No. Don't be silly. Dante's room has plenty of space, a king-sized bed. Besides, you were going to sleep over before I showed up. Let's not pretend otherwise."
I nod. "Thank you, Adele."
I hesitate a little bit before saying her first name, still feeling rather uncomfortable. But she pats the back of my hand and I give Dante a small peck on his cheek and leave the two of them alone.
24
Dante
"Well, that's new," I say, sitting back on the couch.
My mom brings her eyes up to mine and I try to read into what she's thinking. "What are you talking about?" she asks innocently, shrugging, even tossing her hair from one side to another.
"What was all that?" I ask. "You and Jacqueline. Why are you being so nice?"
"Am I?"
"Yes, you know that you are." I nod.
"Well, she seemed like a nice woman. Do you like her?" she asks, taking a sip of her mojito.
"Of course I like her. That's why she's here."
"I'm just asking because catching you two in that compromising position out back felt more like a one-night stand to me."
I can't read my mother, which has been a problem of mine ever since I was a kid. Whenever I get to the point where I feel like I know what's going on, it changes and she changes, and we're off again.
"Frankly, I thought that you would be a little angry, pissed off, but thanks for making her feel welcome," I say. "I really appreciate it."
"Well, to tell you the truth, it was a pleasure to meet her. Educated with a good head on her shoulders, polite, quick on her feet. I like that."
I smile. I should keep it to myself, but despite all this time, my mom still takes me by surprise. And it's not that I'm looking for her approval any longer.
I'm not.
It's just that, you know, she's still my mother, and it's nice that she's proud of me.
"So what's going on with you two?" Mom asks, relaxing a little bit.
I can tell by her posture that the cocktails are kicking in and she's going to turn in for the night soon.
"Well, we met a few months ago and just ran into each other again this weekend."
"Yeah, that's what Jacqueline told me."
"And it's been great. I'm really serious about her, Mom."
She raises an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Yeah. I mean, I like her a lot."
"Serious how?" she asks.
"She's just very ... I don't know, she keeps me on my toes. She challenges me. I feel very comfortable with her. I guess all the things that people talk about when they say that they're in ..." I let my voice trail off.
The word that I'm looking for is "love." The truth is that I do love Jacqueline. I just haven't put it that way quite yet, and I definitely don't want to say it to my mother.
"Being in love is very serious, Dante. I know. I've been in love a number of times."
At this point in my life, I find that humorous, but when I was a teenager, not so much.
"You know, I thought that you'd be angry catching us out there like that."
"Is that something you really want to talk about?" Mom folds her hands on top of her knee.
She's been sitting all this time, and yet the suit hasn't wrinkled even a little bit. I wonder if it's afraid of her.
"No, I guess not. We can just pretend it never happened."
"That would be better," she says. "I've had a few cocktails now, and I'll be turning in for bed. I have a new novel waiting for me."
Mom has always been an avid reader. She devours the books and reads across genres and styles. She stays up to date on what's popular, what's on the charts, and she reads obscure literary fiction and short story collections as well. "The entertainment that books provide are far superior to television," used to be her go-to line.
When I get back to my room, I find Jacqueline under the covers. But as soon as I shut the door behind me, she pushes outward and I see that she's been watching something on her phone.