I followed my dad down the hallway and into the living room. “Hey everyone, we’re back,” I heard him say. I paused at the doorway, trying to calm my nerves. Just remember that Stacy, Dad, and Ford are all behind you.
I walked into the living room and I heard Stacy squeal and get out of her seat, running over to me and practically jumping on me. “Lance!” she exclaimed out loud, laughing. After a moment, she turned her head to my ear and whispered, “I’m sorry I never called you. I didn’t want to talk to you about anything until I could see you in person. I know you still knew that I supported you though,” she said, giving me a gentle punch in the stomach before pulling away from me.
Well, I -had- had my doubts, but she didn’t need to know that, did she?
Ford had come up behind her, and he shook my hand. “Nice to see you again, Lance,” he said to me. I nodded and looked past him at my mother, who was staring at me, her gaze piercing me through my soul. It was like ice, cold and unwavering.
“Mother, aren’t you going to say hello to Lance?” Stacy asked.
“Hello,” she said, and I didn’t think it was possible for her tone to become more clipped.
“Hi, um... how are you?” I asked. She looked right past me over to Dad. “I said hello, I’m done here.”
Biting my lower lip, I watched her walk out of the room.
*
“Don’t worry about Mom, Lance, she’s just being stupid,” Stacy said, putting a pair of my jeans in the bottom drawer of the dresser in my room.
I tossed a pair of shoes into the closet and didn’t say anything. Stacy looked at me and sighed, her shoulders slumping. “You still have me. And Ford. And Daddy.”
“Yeah,” I said, but my tone wasn’t even convincing to me.
Stacy moved over to me and put her arm around my shoulders. “Hey, listen to me. You are a wonderful person, no matter what anyone says, okay? What Mom thinks isn’t right, just because she thinks it. Just don’t let her get to you Lance, that’s what she’s trying to do.”
“How can I not let her get to me? She’s Mom,” I said softly.
“Just act like nothing’s changed. She’ll come around, I promise.”
I nodded, although I didn’t really believe her.
*
“Hello?”
“Hey, it’s me.”
“Lance?” I smiled as I heard JC’s voice brighten up. “Hey, how’s your family?”
“They’re good. My mom is... well, she’s my mom, but Stacy seems to think she’ll come around.”
JC paused for a second before saying, “She hasn’t said anything to you, has she? You know, anything hurtful? Because if she has-”
I laughed, cutting JC off, “No, she said hello to me and that was it. I guess I’m not even important enough for her to waste her words on anymore.”
“Oh Lance, baby, don’t say that. You know you’re important. You’re important to your dad, and Ford, and Stacy, and to the guys, and you’re important to me. I’m sure Stacy’s right, you just need to give it some time.”
I nodded to myself and asked, “So, what have you been doing?”
“You mean besides missing you? Nothing much, just hitting clubs with the guys and stuff like that.”
“Sounds like fun. Now, you remember you have another appointment next week, right? With Courtney? Just in case I’m not back yet.”
JC laughed lightly. “Yes, I’ll remember.”
“Well, I better get going, we’re about to eat dinner. This should be fun,” I said sarcastically.
JC laughed again. “Call me soon, okay? I miss you. And I love you, we can’t forget that.”
I smiled and said, “I miss you and love you too.”
“Bye.”
I turned off my cell phone and set it on my dresser as I left my room and headed down to dinner.
*
