Him & Her

Ch.17

Ch17

The next day Elizabeth was brushing her long messy hair when her mom stepped into her room.

"Elizabeth, can I ask you something?" her mom asked.

"Sure." Elizabeth smiled. "What's up?"

Elizabeth's mom looked out her window at Cole's closed curtain. Her face had wrinkles near the corners of her mouth and a peaceful satisfied look in her eyes, as if she had accomplished everything she wanted to in her life and was ready to go at any moment. That's what Elizabeth loved in her mom, she always had a solution, she was ready for everything, she wasn't afraid of anything because she expected everything to happen, always had a backup plan. But today, Elizabeth thought she saw something in her mother's hazel eyes that she had never seen there before: uncertainty.

She turned back to Elizabeth and smiled, "I've noticed that you're making new friends."

"Ya." Elizabeth said, "They're all cool."

"And they're all boys." Elizabeth's mom added.

"So?" Elizabeth asked.

Her mom waved her hand in the air,, dismissing the question, "Never mind that. What I want to know is who they are."

Elizabeth laughed, "Mom, they're not going to be evil or something."

But her mom wasn't joking, her smile had faded. Elizabeth wiped the smile of her face and said, "Well, you know Henry."

Her mom nodded, "Sweet, smart, and respectful."

"Um, and there's Brandon, the boy that took me to that party. I think I heard him talking to you?"

"Oh yes," she smiled again, "Funny boy, nice too."

Elizabeth sighed inwardly. Two down, one more to go. She was afraid of what her mom would think of Cole, but she couldn't keep anything from her either.

"And finally, Cole Kent." Elizabeth held her breath.

Her mom looked puzzled, "The boy with that dreadful mother? Our neighbor?" Elizabeth didn't like her mom calling Cole's mom dreadful when she didn't even know her story, but she only nodded. Her lungs burned as her mom continued, "I have heard many bad things about that boy." Elizabeth's mom took a deep breath, "I just want you to be careful around him. I don't want you to get hurt."

"Mom, Cole really is a good guy." Elizabeth said.

"We'll see about that." her mom smiled.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I invited Cole and his family over for lunch."

"Are you joking?"

"Nope."

Elizabeth laughed, "That is so cool!" well, for her. Elizabeth didn't know if Cole would like something like that.

"And they said yes?" Elizabeth asked.

Her mom nodded, "In fact, his mother almost seemed to be jumping with delight. Maybe she's not so dreadful as my friends say she is."

"Trust me, she's not. She just has a complicated life. Go easy on her, don't ask too many personal questions."

"And the father?"

"He left when Cole was young and was never heard of again."

"Oh dear." her mom frowned, "Poor children."

You have no idea, she wanted to say, but instead she looked out her window and smiled. Today is going to be a good day, she thought. It better be.

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