Miss Lola.

Merlin.

Mother deserved happiness. She'd basically raised Rhonda and I without any help from our dad and that couldn't have been easy because she'd been a teenaged mother herself.

I'm proud of her for being so tough and strong but she needs a steady man in her life to share some of the burden and it look like Mr. Hollis might fit the bill.

He's a mature man, easy going but I can tell that he's firm by the way he handles himself which is good because if his back bone was just a little weaker, Mother will run roughshod all over him.

I should have taken my own advice and stood up to Gwen from the start and I probably wouldn't have these problems now but the thing about Gwen is that she's head strong and I'd been too infatuated with her gorgeous face and figure to put my foot down.

In fact, I'd spoiled her and been at her every beck and call like her personal slave and that mess had gone to her head.

I love her and our daughter, Hayley, and want them back but Gwen will have to let me wear the pants in our family.

Right now she's at her parents house, pouting and probably dragging my name through the mud.

I'm trying to let her cool off some like Mother suggested before I contact her and also because I don't want it to be too soon, otherwise Gwen will think I'm begging.

All these thoughts run through my mind as I smile and engage with my family and Mr. Hollis who is telling an amusing story about something which had happened to him at his car dealership.

I let my eyes drift over the women in my family which stirs up feelings of protectiveness.

They're both lovely, in different ways.

Mother looks a little like Dorothy Dandridge, she's a classic beauty and I've never seen her without at least a smidgen of eyeliner and lipstick on her face and she's well put together at all times.

My sister and I mostly take after our Father in looks although Rhonda alone has mother's almond shaped, honey brown eyes.

Rhonda is stunning in a vivid, modern way however she has her own esoteric style.

I'm the only man in this family and it's my duty to watch over the women because my dad had never been in the picture.

I'd been the one who took out the trash, washed the car and mowed the lawn and handled all the other manly things around the house.

I noticed that Mother is smiling and gazing at Mr. Hollis as if he's the best thing that had ever happened to her.

Her eyes are all soft and dreamy and she looks relaxed for the very first time tonight which brings a smile to my face because it's wonderful to see her

having a good time and then I scrutinized my sister, noticing the dark circles under her eyes and wonder what's going on with her because our
relationship isn't what it once was since I married Gwen and that's going to change.

I'd made up my mind that a lot was going to change, starting with the sorry state of my own marriage.

Next I study each one of Rhonda's kids who are freshly scrubbed and dressed in their Sunday best and I'm amazed that they're so well behaved today because usually they're ripping and running all over the place.

"Merlin?"

I focus on mother, who's staring straight at me with her perfectly arched brows raised.

"Huh? Did I miss something?"

"Hollis asked you a question." She said.

Turning to her guest I politely said, "Oh. I'm sorry, what did you just say?"

"I asked how long have you owned your car?"

"About four years. Why?"

"Well, if you're ever in the market for your next car then I can give you a good deal."

He was only trying to be nice but it seemed odd to bring a subject like this up at the dinner table.

"I'm happy with what I'm driving now but I'll let you know." I said, reaching for the bowl of steamed broccoli.

"Well, what about me?" Rhonda said. "Aren't you going to offer me a deal too?"

Hollis smiled easily but from the corner of my eye I noticed that mother was frowning as she played with her fork.

"What kind of car do you drive?" Hollis asked my sister.

"It's a hoopty." Rhonda isn't ashamed to say. "An old Honda that I bought second hand from Mr. Chuck."

"Oh, I know Chuck." Hollis said and mother almost dropped her fork. "Well, whenever you're ready to buy a better car..."

"How about tomorrow?"

Rhonda's eagerness seems to momentarily take Hollis aback however, he quickly recovers his equilibrium.

"Okay, well just bring it by the dealership in the morning and I'll see what I can do."

Mother abruptly stands from the table, there's a brittle quality to her smile.

"Would anyone like desert? I made a peach cobbler and a strawberry tart. Rhonda, could you help me in the kitchen?"

As they leave the table, I notice mother possessively brushes her hand across the back of Hollis shoulders and he shoots her an adoring look but by then she'd already slipped passed with Rhonda trailing behind her.

"So, you run a car dealership?" I ask.

"I own Williams Motors out by the Elmwood golf course." He said.

"Ha. Isn't that something?"

I'm impressed and suddenly regretting being so short with him earlier. Now that I think about it, Gwen's been looking for another car because her Volvo is giving her some trouble and we don't really have the money to make the repairs right now.

I'm about to mention this to Hollis when we hear the raised voices coming from the kitchen and we both freeze and look at each other as mother yells,

"That still don't give you the right to ask the man for a car!"

"I didn't ask him for a car. He offered me a deal and I'm taking it." Rhonda was equally loud.

"What he actually did was offer your brother a deal and you simply butted in like a common, two bit..." Mother's voice trailed of unintelligibly and a moment later Rhonda said in a dangerous tone,

"Go on and say it, Mama. Because I know you're thinking it."

"I don't even know why I bother with you." Mother huffed and a moment later she returned carrying two deserts on a decorative, wooden serving tray and I could tell by the thunderous look on her face that she was mad.

10/30/21
Edited 12/20/21.