Leave the Lights On

Chapter 13

When you get to the restaurant Rachel happily seats you all and greets your mother. Summer taps your shoulder while they're talking about New York. You lean down so that she could whisper in your ear. "Can I order for you?"

You know this is dangerous territory, but you can't help that little grin she has. Especially when she's still wearing her stethoscope around her neck. You nod and ask her what she's going to get you. She just laughs which makes you think that you'll be eating a sandwich when you get home.

Mike walks over before Rachel leaves and he asks your mom what she'd like to drink. You hold your breath waiting for her to ask how many times their water is filtered or to see a wine list that she'll find inadequate. However she just asks for a tea. Then Mike gets Brittany's drink order and when Mike looks at you, Summer says, "Santana wants chocolate milk and me too."

Mike quirks an eyebrow at you and you smirk, "You heard the lady."

He chuckles and nods walking off to get the drinks. "So," your mom looks from Brittany to you, "Tell me how you met."

You groan. You don't want to tell the story. Especially because it makes you seem fairly adolescent. So you look to Brittany and she happily tells the story, making it seem less lame on your part. She adds, "Though Summer met her first."

"Oh really?" your mom asks, looking to Summer. "How did you meet Santana?"

"My friend got hurt on the playground and the teacher asked me to take her to the doctor," Summer states.

"That was certainly nice of you," your mom smiles kindly to Summer.

There's something wrong with your mom. Not really wrong in a bad way, but she's so different. You're going to have to have a talk with her. You don't think that just the convention changed her. Something else has to be going on.

"How long are you going to be in town Mrs. Lopez?" Brittany asks after your drinks have arrived.

"Please call me Maribel," she says to Brittany. Then she shrugs, "I don't really have anything going on. I guess I'll stay as long as Santana can stand having me."

You hold your mom's eyes and earnestly tell her, "You can stay with me as long as you want."

The rest of the dinner goes fantastically. You even enjoyed your dinner of mac n cheese and chocolate milk. You just took a drink of Brittany's water between ever sip and bite. You snatch up the check before your mom can get to it.

Your mom puts her arm around your back as you all walk out to your car in the cool, quiet Lima night. You and your mom stand by the hood of your car while Brittany puts Summer in.

"What's wrong mom?" you ask, putting your arm around her shoulders.

She forces a smile that she knows you know is fake, "I'll tell you later. Let's just have a nice night right now."

When you get back to you apartment, Summer begs to stay, but Brittany tells her it's time to go to bed. You walk them out to their car and kiss Brittany goodnight. You wave to Summer and walk back into your apartment.

Your mom is picking up the box and all the wrappers that Summer's things came in. You walk over to stop her, "I got it mom."

She shakes her head, "I can get it."

You sit down on the couch and wait for her to get back from the kitchen. She walks back into the living room and sits down next to you. You turn to her and plead, "Please tell me what's going on."

You mom angles herself toward you and takes your hands, "Your father and I are... getting a divorce."

At first what she says doesn't register. You blink a few times and then shake your head. "What?"