In the Skin of Dragon

Chapter 6: Mom’s boyfriend

“I am home mom,” I shouted immediately after I had opened our front door. “Welcome home sweetheart.” My mom welcomed me and I saw she was drying her hands. She probably finished cooking and just now washed the dishes.

“I missed you,” I said running towards her directly into her arms. This was something like our small ritual every Friday when I had the working week because seriously, I did not see her for the whole five days. My mom started changing shifts one year ago so at least Friday evening we are finally together otherwise I would see her tomorrow morning. Like this, we will have plenty of time to be together tomorrow without her being constantly tired from work. One per two weeks we had fully one day for us, well, and for Kendra of course.

“I missed you too honey. Come on. Let’s get some food and then you can tell me everything that happened in the hospital during your work.” Mom was pulling me towards the kitchen and I already smelled the amazing aroma of the freshly grilled chicken.

“Where did you take the chicken?” I asked her, surprised. When my mom received a note two weeks ago about the problem I made in the school and that she will have a deduction from her salary we were eating mostly just pasta, bread, vegetables, eggs, sometimes sausages and so on but no chicken, no meat. Not like we could afford to buy meat already before, but still.

“Little surprise from our neighbor mister Roswell.” Mom told me and I could see her cheeks were blushing slightly. “Is there something I should know?” I asked her curiously. Honestly, mister Roswell was not a bad guy. I thought he was like ten years older than my mom but his wife died already a long time ago when I was still a kid and even before they had a good relationship with us. They had no kids so mister Roswell was living alone which means he should have some money. And don’t get me wrong about this comment I am not after his money or anything but if he likes my mom and they would end up together at least my mom would have the life she deserves.

“Naaah. Not really. He is just being nice but I guess he is also feeling lonely and next year will be your last in school so soon you will probably be moved and I will be also lonely. So, I was thinking, of course, if you don’t mind, maybe I could try to see him more often.” I have to admit mom was so cute when she practically asked me for permission to see someone. “Mom, I would be happy if you find someone who would help you and take care of you. Mister Roswell is nice so sure I am not against him.” I told her honestly and openly. She gave me a smile placing me on my chair and taking her place in front of me.

“Mom. Before we start. Since he already provided us with the food, what about inviting him to eat with us?” My mom was already ready to put the food on our plates when I stopped her and after my question, her cheeks instantly blushed. I swear she was looking more like a teenage girl than my mom right now. 

“Are you sure about that?” She asked me and I confirmed that she shushed her to give him a call. My mom went to the home line we had in the living room and called to mister Roswell. I heard her inviting him and her voice was full of energy the second after so I assumed, he agreed. I didn’t want to listen to them so I tried to focus on something else just to not hear what they were talking about.

In a minute my mom was back and this time she looked like her cheeks were on fire. I guess there was already a little bit more than my mom admitted. Maybe her life finally becomes a little better now.

We were sitting and my mom was still playing with her hair. I just noticed that actually, we don’t have a third chair so I quickly ran away leaving my mom confused in the kitchen, and took the small stool I had in my room to be able to reach the shelves above my head since I was placing my books not only into the shelves but also above.

I brought it down just in time because my mom was already welcoming mister Roswell. His grey hair and almost fully grey beard with just a few black hairs in them made him look charismatic and strong yet gentle. I switched my chair with the stool I just brought and noticed that mom already took out additional plates and utensils for him. “Welcome mister Roswell,” I said politely, showing him the chair I just prepared for him. He was looking a bit skeptical seeing that I was planning to sit on a small stool but I shook my head insisting him to have a chair.

“Thank you, my dear, and good evening.” He said in his deep voice taking place on the table. “It smells delicious Astrid. I don’t remember when I had eaten such nice smelling food.” He said towards my mom and her cheeks blushed again. I swear my mom was already in love with him and he was always behaving like a real gentleman just like right now I could understand why.

Before he took his place, he let my mom sit down and pushed her chair towards the table. I could feel that he was feeling a bit awkward since this was officially our first dinner together since his wife died about ten years ago and even though they were talking with my mom together over the fence or on the street we didn’t visit him since then nor he us.

“Thank you for the food mister Roswell,” I said as first after he finally took his place and I started to take the plates one by one to fill them. “Please, call me Anton, and believe me dear there is nothing to thank for. For one person this chicken is too much and you two were needing it more.” He said so gently and politely. “But still thank you mist… Anton.” I almost called him again mister Roswell even though he just asked me not to. My mom was smiling and I could see that she was enjoying his presence.

Seriously I didn’t know how long they were already talking together or maybe even seeing each other because my mom did not act like someone who was just freshly in love. She sure had to have some feelings for him for a while now.

The dinner was almost quiet and felt like I should say something but at the same time, there were no words in my mind and no topics we could talk about. I noticed that mom and Anton were occasionally bouncing on their hands giving each other a shy smile. If someone will ever tell me that once you grew up there is nothing like shyness or romantic feelings, I will send them directly to see those two.

We had eaten our potatoes and half of the chicken plus the whole bowl of salad my mom made. “You should put the rest of the chicken in the freezer for next time,” Anton informed my mom and she obliged. I didn’t know if he didn’t eat that much of the chicken just because he didn’t like it or if he wanted us to have it for next time but the only thing he took was one slice of the chicken breasts and that was all. I had eaten the whole leg and my mom the rest of the chest. For a man, he did not eat much.

“Would you like to stay with us watching the tv?” I turned to Anton seeing him that he was already collecting himself ready to leave. I still felt that I need to somehow break the ice or at least make him feel more comfortable and show my mom that I am okay with her dating him so the only idea I had was to invite him to stay for a little longer. He looked up to my mom and she only shrugged leaving the decision to him.

“I would love to.” He said smiling at me. I returned the smile and led him to our living room giving him remotely and excusing myself to help mom clean the kitchen.

“He seems nice and with good manners,” I said whispering to my mom as I was drying the dishes she just washed. “I know right?” She replied to me blushing. “How long are you two together?” I asked her directly. I didn’t know how to postpone the question or how to pack it so I could ask her more gently. This was not my style.

My mom started to cough looking at me scared. “What?” She somehow managed to ask me back. “Okay mom, I am not a child anymore. I can see how you are looking at him and how he is looking at you. I am not blind to not notice that you both are acting like teenagers who are in love.” I told her and she started coughing again.

“Is everything alright?” I heard Anton asking worriedly from the living room hearing my mom coughing. “Yes, yes.” My mom tried to calm him down and make him stay there. “Mhmm, I guess I can’t hide anything from you.” Mom said jokingly. “It’s not like you had tried to hide it.” I sheepishly replied to her and teasingly poked her side.

“Does he drink coffee?” I asked her and she nodded. “But not the same strength as I do and two sugars with a little milk.” Mom instructed me and I left the dishes and started preparing drinks for us. “Just one more thing mom. Is this really how he is eating or did he avoid the chicken so we can have it for next time?” I asked her and my mom gave me a surprised look. “I guess there is nothing that could slip through you. He gave me the chicken today because he knows about our financial problem. Honestly, he was secretly helping us for a few months now and he didn’t want to eat the chicken so we can have it later.” My mom explained to me and now I could relax knowing that he is willing to sacrifice his full stomach just to help two women living alone in their hard life.

“I like him more now,” I said before taking another two cups preparing the coffee for mom and tea with milk for myself. My mom didn’t say anything else but I could see her cute smile as she was happily washing the dishes knowing that I had approved of her relationship with him and even said that I like him. I did especially after finding out that he was taking care of us without even asking anything in return.

Maybe I am still a child but I know how to be grateful. The kettle clicked noticing that the water was boiled and finished two coffees and my tea taking the drinks to the living room leaving my mom in the kitchen. She was almost finished with just one last pot so I knew she will be following shortly after me.

“Here,” I said, placing the coffee in front of him and taking place on the small chair we had beside the sofa since he was already sitting on the sofa. “Thank you. Your mother?” He asked me. “She is almost done,” I said wanting to say more but my mom interrupted me with her coming. “I am done too.” She said taking place beside Anton but not too close to make me feel weird.

They both were sipping their coffee as we were watching tv and for the first time, I felt happy for my mom because it looked that she can finally have someone who will be able to take care of her when I am not here. I was still hoping that maybe they will let me stay with her or at least in the same city but once we graduate, we get the letter of appointment, and no matter how far it is we have to go. Since my mom is a single mother and we had not many connections there was almost no chance for me to stay with her.

“I will go to lay down,” I said after a while. Anton looked at me with guilt in his eyes thinking that maybe I want to leave because of him. “No, I guess I should be going now.” He said instead but I assured him that it has nothing to do with him. “Please stay. I am sure my mom will enjoy your company. I came back from my work just about an hour ago and I am tired after a long day. I am glad my mom has someone like you with her Anton. Thank you for taking care of her.” I told him gratefully and he gave me a shy smile looking a bit confused. I was sure my mom would tell him after about what she told me so he would understand.

“Good night sweety.” My mom told me standing up from the sofa kissing my forehead. “I love you,” I said to her. “I love you too.” She told me and I took my leave and went upstairs. Before I left fully, I heard my mom talking to Anton telling him what I said in the kitchen.