Page 143 of Last Letters to Ara
Lou’s family home is beautiful. Nestled on what seems like a billion acres, the yellow-painted home with white trim brings a smile to my face as we drive up the last leg of the driveway lined by trees with orange and gold leaves.
When Theo found out about a massive author event that would be held on Thanksgiving weekend, I’d encouraged him to go. This is going to be Lou’s first time seeing her family since she moved to Florida, and her mother has been begging for a chance to fix things with her daughter after everything that happened. Although I’d love to spend the holiday with Theo, she needed me. Plus, who could turn down a home-cooked southern meal for Thanksgiving?
We decided to drive, considering flight prices and airports are insane this time of year. Plus, Lou having the reassurance of being able to get the hell out of here if needed didn’t hurt. She had pulled up this morning with her carfullof road trip snacks, despite the fact we were driving to a Thanksgiving dinner, and I knew we would be eating our feelings today.
The car comes to a stop. Seven hours later and we’ve arrived right on time. After messaging Theo to let him know we arrived safely, I glance over and see that Lou’s knuckles have turned white with her grip on the steering wheel. Reaching over, I pry them away, taking her hand in mine. “We got this.”
She nods, clearly not convinced.
“Lou,” I say, squeezing her hand. “You say the word and we’ll drive away and go get drunk in a field instead.”
Lou finally cracks, a bit of my friend shining through. “Let’s do this shit.”
I do the honor of knocking on the door, and a few minutes later, a middle-aged but insanely beautiful woman opens the door. With her tightly curled blonde hair, clear blue eyes and curves which are wrapped in an apron, I know immediately that this is Lou’s mom.
For a moment they just look at each other, Lou unsure. Her mom’s tears spill over, and she moves to wrap her daughter in the kind of hug only a parent who has missed their child greatly can give. “I’ve missed you so much, Louella.”
I refrain from reacting to Lou’s full name (something which she’s failed to mention) to avoid killing the mood of this much-needed reunion. Lou visibly relaxes, wrapping her arms around her mom in return.
“I’ve missed you, too, Mama.” Lou pulls away and introduces me. “This is Ara.”
“It’s lovely to meet you, Ara, we have heard so much about you,” Lou’s mom says as she pulls me in for a hug. “Please, call me Linda.”
“It’s lovely to meet you, too, Linda,” I say, hugging her back. “You have a beautiful home.”
“Well, thank you,” she says, wiping her hands on her apron with shyness. “Now let’s get inside, I don’t trust your father to make sure nothing burns.”
Lou snorts and leads me inside.
I wait until her mom has disappeared into the kitchen before I say, “Thanks for bringing me…Louella.”
Lou turns on me with a glare, “If you tell anyone, you die.”
“To my grave,” I say as I cross my hands over my chest like a corpse.
“Good. I’ll give you the grand tour.”
Not even an hour later, after the tour and introduction after introduction to more cousins and relatives than I thought possible, we’re seated at the large dining table lined with a feast.
“So, Lou,” Linda begins, her husband offers her his hand in support, “How long have you and Ara been dating?”
Red wine spews from Lou’s mouth, drenching her aunt sitting on the other side of the table who yells in surprise before standing from the table as wine drips from her face and down her front.
Lou lets out a hysterical laugh which sounds more like a strangled scream. “I’m sorry,what!?”
Looking around, gazes are pinned on Lou, then me, then Linda, then Lou and me again. I guess everyone is just going to pretend her aunt isn’t running to the bathroom crying about her silk dress which is surely ruined.
“Isn’t Ara your…girlfriend?” Linda laughs nervously.
“Mom,” Lou says, covering her face in mortification.
“I’m sorry if that’s the wrong word. I mean, I don’t want toassume…”
“Mom.”
“I just don’t know how you like to be referred to, and oh gosh, this is so embarrassing. I’m already messing this up.”
“Mom.”
