Forever Yours

chapter nineteen

It's a Saturday night, a couple of days after Joel and my anniversary. It's the weekend, so I'm waitressing at the Lighthouse. My dad is on another one of his dates tonight. After being on so many and realizing how expensive it becomes, he has started coming to my restaurant for discounts. How cheap. My dad and his date of the week have just arrived, and I try to get a glimpse of her. My eyes go wide, like they're about to pop out of my head. My mouth falls open and I stop breathing for a second. Oh my god! That's Joel's mother! I still have not met her, but I have seen pictures of her and that is her. She has the strawberry, blonde hair, blue eyes, sculpted face with high, defined cheek bones, and of course, lots of freckles peppering her face that comes with being a ginger. That is definitely Joel's mom. My dad is on a date with my boyfriend's mom!

I must tell Joel. I hurry to the kitchen so that I can call him. I accidentally go in the out doors as one of the waiters walks through the kitchen, saloon style doors, carrying a giant tray of entrees. I gasp and duck under it at the last second. Nearly missing knocking him over. I almost sent shrimp scampi, lobster tails, and grilled salmon flying everywhere. Phew! That was a close one.

Now back to my mission. I dial Joel's number under my favorites tab on my phone as fast as my little fingers can go. He's out with his friends right now, so hopefully he answers. My phone rings and rings until it goes to voicemail. Ugh!

I try calling him again. It rings five times before he finally answers. "Hey babe, what's up?" He questions so nonchalantly it makes me want to scream. But it's not like he knows what's going on over here.

"Joel! You won't believe what's happening right now!" I'm panicking.

"Lo, what's wrong?" I can hear the concern in his voice now.

"We have a HUGE problem!" He urges me to continue. "Well, my dad is on one of his dates tonight, and, um, he's on a date with your mom." I cannot even believe these words are coming out of my mouth.

There's silence for a while. I think Joel stopped breathing until he finally says, "My mom?! What the hell? Are you sure?"

"Yes," I gulp down a huge, stressed lump in my throat. "I'm positive."

I hear him sigh as he tries to process this information. "Okay, that's okay. Because both our parents' dates always end terribly, right?"

"Right."

"So, we just need to stay calm and let them go on this date. It will end terribly like their dates always do and we will be fine. Everything will be fine." He's right, everything will be fine.

But that does not stop me from spying on their entire date. I watch as they exchange conversation, laughing occasionally. At one point, my dad knocks over his water, and it spills all over his lap. They end up cracking up about it. What the hell are they talking about? They look like awkward teenagers that have never been on a date before. I try to discreetly walk past them to see if I can hear any of their conversation. But whenever I do, they stop to eat their food. They look like they are having a wonderful time together. I need to know what they are saying!

I'm back near the kitchen door when their waiter, Connor, walks out. I grab him by the sleeve and yank him towards me. He looks at me shocked.

"Willow what the heck?"

"No time to explain," I respond. "I need you to go over to my dad's table and try to listen to what him and his date are talking about." He opens his mouth to speak, but I don't let him. "Don't ask questions, just go." I turn him around and shove him toward their table.