His Shortcake

Chapter 42

Dustyn Franco

"Mom, I'm here!" I shouted as soon as the door clicked shut behind me.

It was Sunday, and Mom had asked—pleaded, really—for me to come home and enjoy a family meal. Whatever she meant by that, I just hoped it wouldn't be as disastrous as the other family dinners we'd had.

"Dustyn!" Mom's energetic voice made me turn toward her. She was a whirlwind of activity, her hair neatly secured in a hairnet, and a white apron tied over her blue dress. "I'm so glad you made it, honey!"

I walked closer to her, and she immediately pulled me in for a warm hug, planting a kiss on my cheek before guiding me toward the kitchen.

I was taken aback by the sight that greeted me.

"What's all this for, Mom?" I asked, staring at the chaotic scene. There was an overwhelming amount of food for just the three of us. The counter was lined with dishes of all kinds, while something bubbled away on the stove and the oven still had a tray of something cooking inside.

"For our lunch, of course," Mom said, her smile brightening the room. She pushed me gently to sit at the counter, bustling around as she checked on her various creations. In the midst of her cooking frenzy, she also began to clean up the mess she had made.

"Um, okay. But this could feed at least ten people," I pointed out, glancing at the mountain of food on the counter. "Are you okay, Mom?" I asked, concern creeping into my voice.

Mom loves cooking and often does so, but she has never prepared this much food for a simple family lunch on a Sunday. There was enough here to last the three of us for three days, assuming we didn't get sick of eating the same dishes over and over again.

Mom chuckled as she turned to me, holding a perfectly baked pie. "You worry too much. Go say hi to your dad," she said, her back to me once again. She hummed contentedly while adding the final touches to her creation.

I stared at her, bewildered by her unusually cheerful demeanor, before deciding to find Dad. Maybe he could shed some light on what had gotten into her today.

I discovered Dad in the library, hunched over a coffee table, diligently working on a crossword puzzle with a pencil in his right hand. His favorite band played softly on the radio, filling the air with nostalgic melodies.

"Dad," I called to get his attention.

He looked up, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Son! I didn't think you'd actually come," he said, a hint of surprise in his voice.

I shrugged my shoulders, still unsure about my decision until I woke up this morning. I hadn't thought Mom would go through all this trouble just for me not to show up today. "It's been months. I'm not that shallow, Dad."

ad let out a loud chuckle. "That you're not," he said, nodding his head.

"Why is Mom cooking so much food?" I asked as I took a seat at the chair in front of him. "It's like she's gone crazy in the kitchen."

Dad chuckled again. "She has friends coming over for lunch. And no, she's not trying to set you up with another lady this time." He must have seen the fleeting look on my face because I was ready to bolt at that moment.

Mom had tried setting me up with numerous women she thought would be better suited for me. Honestly, I wouldn't have come today if not for the guilt weighing on me. I had avoided her for weeks, and I figured I could endure a few hours of her company for the sake of a peaceful family meal.

"Do you know these people?" I asked.

He shook his head. "She said it's been a long time, and she wanted to make amends with them."