Lola
“Holy shit.” I fanned myself as I drove out of the parking lot and onto the main road. “Air conditioning. I need it now.”
When I walked into the produce cooler, I thought it would be a quick visit. I just wanted to apologize for canceling our date. Then, I planned to run over to my parents’ house to check on my mom.
As my hand touched the door to the cooler, something happened. My body ignited. I felt excited to see Ryan. When I saw him at the prep sink, I knew this visit would not be quick.
What was it about him?
The best part of the visit was his first words out of his mouth. I could see it in his eyes; he was genuinely concerned about my mom.
That’s what made Ryan so special: his kindness toward me and my family.
Most of the men I dated had excuses for not visiting my family. Several years ago, one of my boyfriends called me the morning of my birthday and told me he needed to head out of town for a quick turnaround work trip. The funny part was that he had never traveled for his job. He was a small business owner and usually worked out of an office in his home.
Oh, and the kicker part of that story was that when we talked again a few days later, he had forgotten about his lie and told me about his last few days. Never mentioning his “quick turnaround work trip” because the reality was, it never happened.
What I did learn, though. His family was not close. They hardly ever talked.
Spoiler alert: we broke up.
I never realized how important it was to me to find someone who cared about family as much as I did, until I met Ryan.
My brother, mom, and dad were everything to me.
“Whoa.” I slammed on my brakes and put the car in reverse. I was so deep in thought that I managed to drive right past my parents’ house.
“Was there someone else you were planning to visit first?” My dad smiled as he slowly walked down the steps and made his way over to me.
“Oh, hush.” I lightly slapped my hand against his chest and leaned in for a hug. “Hey, Dad.”
He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and walked back toward the front door. “Hey, Lola.”
“Ha ha, so funny.” I giggled and rested my head on his shoulder. “I’m trying to remember...”
“Be careful, I see some steam billowing out of that cute head of yours.” He kissed the top of my head.
My dad is always the joker. “Hey, I’m trying to ask you a serious question.”
“Right, sorry, go ahead.” He patted his hand on my forearm.
We stopped on the landing of the porch. “Did I ever bring a boyfriend to meet you and Mom, or even hang out at our house?”
“Oh, I’m sure there were a few.” He reached for the doorknob and opened the door. “I really can’t remember, Sweetie.”
“Can’t remember what?” Mom was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee.
“Why are you sitting and not lying down?” I knelt beside her and grabbed her hand. “Are you okay?”
She patted my hand. “I’m fine. I’m tired of being in bed, and if you make me watch another episode of NCIS, I may go crazy.”
“The doctor said it was fine if she slowly walked around the house.” Dad kissed Mom on the cheek and went over to the cabinet to grab a mug. “Do you want some coffee, Lola?”
“No, thank you. I can’t stay long.” I pulled out a chair and sat beside Mom.
“Oh, you have a hot date with that boy?” Mom wiggled her eyebrows up and down.
“Stop that.” I held my hand up so I couldn’t see her face. “And he’s definitely a man, not a boy.”
“Lola Marie Martin.” My Mom gasped.
“What?” I leaned back in surprise.
“Didn’t you both just meet?”
“Yeah, why?” I scowled.
“And you’ve already been romantic with each other?” She leaned in closer and whispered the words romantic with each other.
“What? No. Not yet.” I shook my head. “He’s a man, Mom. If we become “romantic,” it’s okay.” I put the word romantic in air quotes because it was hilarious how she refused to say the word sex. “But don’t call him a boy, please.”
“Fine, fine.” My Mom patted my thigh. “What couldn’t your dad remember?”
“I was curious if I ever brought a boyfriend home to meet you both or even hang out at our house?” I rested my forearm on the table.
“Um…” She sat there thinking for way too long. “Maybe, I can’t remember any specifics.”
“At all?”
“No, why?” She took a sip of her coffee.
“It’s silly.” I dropped my head and played with a frayed piece on the tablecloth.
“Lola.” My Mom placed her hand under my chin and lifted my head to face her. “What is it?”
I proceeded to share about my visit with Ryan, and how the first words out of his mouth were asking how she was doing.
“Me.” She sighed. “That’s really sweet.” She laced her hand with mine. “When can I meet this special man?”
“Well, I planned to have you meet him a couple of nights ago.”
“The night I fell.”
“Yeah.” I squeezed her hand.
“Bring him on Sunday.” She grabbed her empty mug and slowly stood to get more coffee. “I bet I will be feeling more like myself by then.”
“Yeah?” I checked the time on my phone and hopped up.
“Yup.” She rested her hand on the counter to balance herself. “He sounds lovely and I can’t wait to meet him.”
“Okay.” I cleared my throat. “Now, I need to ask him if he’s up for it.”
“He will be.”
“You sound so sure.” I laughed and kissed her cheek. “I need to go.”
“To see him?” She poured her coffee.
“Maybe.” I winked and blew her a kiss goodbye.
The drive to my house felt like it took forever.
As I pulled into the driveway, I could see his car parked. I glanced over to my house, where I found him sitting on the bottom steps holding a box on his lap.
“Hi.” I closed my door and slowly walked toward him.
“Hi.” He stood up with the box and waited for me.
AUTHOR NOTE:
Lola’s past boyfriends sound like real winners…NOT! I love her supportive family. They’re really beautiful. From what I can see, Ryan also loves a supportive family. It feels like that box he’s holding is a delicious dessert. Should it be a cheesecake, tiramisu, or salted caramel brownies?