The Amazing Wolf Boy

Part 71 - Meeting Her Mother

The truck rattled up Brittany's long, pot-holed driveway. Brittany sat on the screened-in porch in one of the wicker chairs. She stood, smiling like she was relieved I'd shown up. I didn't thank my uncle for the ride, just got out and walked toward the house, painfully aware of my too-tight shoes, my garage sale clown pants.

He yelled out his window, "I'll be back at six."

Brittany took my hand. "Is he still mad?"

"Yeah."

"Well, take a deep breath. You're here, now."

"Yeah." I listened to my uncle drive away.

"You look nice," she said.

I cringed like she'd slapped me, expecting her to laugh. But when I looked into her eyes, I saw she wasn't poking fun.

I smiled. "You look nice, too."

"In this thing?"

Stepping back, I took her in. She'd dyed her hair bubblegum pink, and it sat like a puffball on top of her head. She wore dangling earrings with Easter eggs at the ends and a lavender sundress I was sure her mother bought her. It was the first time I'd seen her bare shoulders. I wanted to kiss them.

"Oh, yeah. Super nice."

"Come on." She grinned. "I'll introduce you to my mom."

We went into her house. The curtains in the living room were open for a change, letting in the afternoon sun and making the place cheerful. Rabbit pillows covered the couch, and Easter Bunny plaques hung on the walls. My favorite had the words Spring Has Sprung lettered on half a basket and plastic eggs bouncing on springs from inside.

The coffee table held a large vase filled with several dozen tulips. Scattered around the vase were decorated eggs. I picked one up. It was painted to look like a blue rabbit with a doily for a skirt and a cotton ball tail.

"A little much, eh?" Brittany said in a low voice.

"Who made all these?"

"It's a family event. Under pain of death." She pointed to one that looked like a chick with crossed eyes and pipe cleaner legs. "There's one of mine."

"Really? Let me see."

"No." She snatched it up before I could touch it, holding it behind her back. "You'll laugh."

"No, I won't." I slipped my arms around her, trying to grab the egg.

"Stop. I'm shy."

"You? Not a chance."

"You think you know me so well."

"I do," I murmured.

Her lips were a breath away. I caught them with my own. A tingle swept through me; my entire body stood on point.

Someone cleared their throat. I jerked, suddenly remembering where I was, what I was doing. The blue egg toppled from my fingers. It hit the edge of the table with a sickening crack. I winced, turning around.

Brittany's mother stood in the doorway wiping her hands on a dishtowel. She had chin-length brown hair and wrinkles around her eyes. An apron in the shape of a rabbit covered her dress. Its long ears fastened behind her neck.

"You must be Cody." She wiped her hands as if to keep them from wringing my neck.

"Yes, ma'am." My face went hot. I stepped away from Brittany, who was now on hands and knees trying to retrieve the fallen egg. "I like your decorations."