Page 32 of Fifty First Times (Sharing You 0.40)
Mom mutes the TV when I walk in. “Are you sure this is a good idea, sweetie?” she asks for the hundredth time. “I mean, if something were to happen there . . . if you got lost or—”
“She’ll have her phone,” Dad says, standing. “Are you ready?”
He thinks a day out will be good for me. For the last few weeks he’s been trying more and more to nudge me out of my comfort zone.
“Um . . . in a minute.” I turn to Mom. “Would you . . . I was thinking about putting on some makeup. If you’ll help?”
For a second, she just sits there, and I wish I could read her expression. It’s the first time since I’ve been home that I’ve asked her for help. “Of course,” she finally says, pulling herself up.
Dad settles back into the sofa with a sigh and Mom follows me to the bathroom.
I get out my makeup bag. “I was thinking just a little foundation and maybe some blush and mascara.”
“Whatever you want, sweetie.”
I pull the foundation bottle out and hand it to her.
“This boy . . .” she says as she smoothes it on. “Do you have feelings for him?”
“Mom,” I say, feeling my face scrunch.
“It’s just, he’s very attractive, Rene. I’m worried that maybe he’ll . . .”
“Get sick of the ugly blind girl?” I finish for her.
“No, I didn’t mean . . .” But as she trails off, it’s apparent that’s exactly what she meant.
I blow out a breath. “I get that you’re worried. Honestly, I’m not sure exactly what Rick sees in me either, but he’s been amazing these last few months, and I . . . I guess I just want to see where it leads, even if it’s to a broken heart.”
I hear her sigh. “After everything you’ve been through, I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“I know.”
She brushes on some blush and finishes with mascara.
“You are such a beautiful girl,” she says, lifting my chin and looking me over.
I hear tears in her voice and my throat thickens. “Thanks, Mom.”
She wraps me in a hug and I hug her back.
When we emerge into the family room, Dad clicks the TV off and stands. “If we wait much longer, traffic’s going to be a bear.”
“Rick will bring me home tonight, but it might be late,” I tell them.
“I’d prefer if—” Mom starts, but she catches herself. “Just have fun and be safe. We love you.”
Rick wanted Dad to drop me at his apartment, but I told him things would probably go smoother with the parents if apartments weren’t involved . . . at which point he gave me a sexy laugh and a kiss that made me hope apartments will be involved.
Then he gave me directions to Municipal Stadium, where the San Jose State baseball team plays. I call him on the way and he meets us there when Dad drops me in the lot.
It’s a bright day, and I hear music waft out of the stadium. The smells of roasting hot dogs and summer hang in the warm air.
“Hi,” he says, pulling me into his arms after Dad’s gone. “This is different.”
It takes me a second to realize he means the makeup. “Better, different?”
There’s a pause. “No.”
