Chet
“Mama, we have got to talk.” I walked into the kitchen and folded my arms, looking sternly at my mom.
“What is it, son?” She glanced up at me and then looked back down at whatever she was rolling out on the countertop.
“Mama, I saw the newspaper with the ad that you created.”
“What ad, son?” She didn’t look up this time.
“Mama, I’ve got the newspaper with my name and my photo saying that I’m looking for a wife.”
“You’re not looking for a wife, Chet?”
“Mama, you know I’m not looking for a wife.” I walked over to her. “You’ve got to stop this. You’ve already got three sons getting married, why do you care about me?”
“Because you are my next oldest, Chet, and out of all my sons, you’re the one that needs a good woman the most.”
“What are you talking about, Mama? I don’t need a good woman. I’ve got you, I’ve got Sadie, I got Olivia, I got Lucy, I got Eloise, I got Arya.”
Mom stopped rolling and looked up at me. “Do you really have Eloise and Arya? What happens when they leave?”
“What do you mean, when they leave? Where’re they going?”
“They’re not going to stay here forever, you know. Arya wants to make a life for herself and Eloise. And as much as I would love them to stay here, she doesn’t feel comfortable.”
“Well, we’ll just have to make her feel more comfortable, won’t we?”
“Chet, we’re not her family, we can’t make her stay. She’s got no job and she’s got no money. And I need to talk to you about what you did with Chip.” She pressed her lips together. “That was not…” She paused.
“Yes, Mama?”
“I have to hold my words right now, Chet, because I was about to say something very unladylike.”
My eyes widened. “You’re really mad at me, Mama?”
“Yes, son, I’m mad at you. You know how important it was to Arya to have that job. And it came with free accommodation! You ruined that for her.”
“I was looking out for her, Mama. You know the sort of guys around here, and she’s working at a bar? She’s too innocent, and Eloise? I can’t have her around those people.”
“It’s none of your business though, Chet. It’s not up to you where Arya works or what Eloise is doing.”
“Mom, do you really want Arya and Eloise living on top of a bar?”
“No, but it’s her choice to make. We’ll always be here if she needs to leave.”
“Yeah, well, I wasn’t going to wait for something to happen before she came back.”
My mom let out a deep sigh. “Sometimes, Chet, I don’t know if I should scold you or hug you.”
“Just keep loving me, Mama. You know you raised a cowboy. I’m doing the best that I can.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Indeed. Is that why Arya spent the night in your bed last night?”
I felt the blood drain from my face. “What? What are you talking about?”
“Darling, Eloise woke up very early this morning and joined me in the kitchen asking for some chocolate milk.”
“She did?”
“Yes, she did. I gave her some chocolate milk and then I tucked her back into bed. I know Arya did not spend the night there. Now, it could be that Arya spent the night in another bedroom, but I don’t think she would leave Eloise. So then I got to thinking she spent the night with my scoundrel son.”
“Mama, it’s not…”
“I don’t want to hear the details, that’s between you and Arya. But if you are going to be messing around with that girl, you better be a gentleman.”
“I’m always a gentleman, Mama, you know that.”
“I don’t think so, because if you were a real gentleman, you wouldn’t have taken her to bed.”
“Oh my gosh, Mom, we’re not in the 1940s anymore. People can sleep together without being married.”
“Yes, they can, but is that what’s right for Eloise and Arya?”
“Mama, what’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re getting close to them both. Arya is a good girl, and Eloise is a sweetheart. She’s going to start thinking of you as her daddy. And when you’re gone, you’re going to break that little girl’s heart all over again. She already doesn’t know her real daddy. Her mama left her. They came here searching for her father. You got to think about someone other than yourself right now, Chet. I know you like Arya, I know you’re attracted to her. I know you want to explore and see where things could go, but Arya can’t afford that right now.”
“What do you mean, Mom?”
“I mean, she can’t just explore and see where things go. She has other things to think about.”
“I know. And that’s why I’m not going to do anything else with her, because I know that I’m not ready to take on the responsibility of being a father.”
Mom looked closely at me. “Is this because Eloise is someone else’s child?”
“No, Mama. I love that little girl. I don’t care that she has different blood from me. That doesn’t make any difference.”
She gazed at me adoringly and put her hands on my shoulders. “I raised me a good boy. I’m proud of you, Chet.”
“You are?” I frowned, “Even though Arya slept in my bed last night?”
“I’m not proud of that, but I’m proud of the fact that you love Eloise.”
“Of course I do, Mom.”
“Eloise is a good kid. I would like to be her grandma for real.”
“Mom.”
“I know you’re not ready yet, Chet, but sometimes…” She paused and looked away.
“What, Mama? Sometimes what?”
“Sometimes by the time you are ready, they’re already gone.” She patted me on the shoulder. “Now you go outside and do some work. I’m going to finish making these rolls.”
“Okay, Mama, thanks.”
I headed out the back towards the stables, Mama’s words ringing in my ears. Sometimes when you’re ready, they’re already gone.
But that didn’t apply to me. Arya wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon and neither was Eloise. I had time to think everything through and figure out how to make things work.