Chapter 20: Someone to Show to Mom

Lots of things had shocked me over the past year or so. I’d made up my mind to ask Sheri to be my mentor and role model, and then we’d gone on from there. I’d learned about and done all sorts of ‘earthy’ things – many of them blatantly sexual.

What shocked me now was the email from my mother. ‘Brie. Your father and I haven’t seen you since you briefly visited at Christmas time. We’ve decided to come down to see you in Florida next week. You mentioned that you have some young men you like, and we’d like to meet them, too. We’re flying in on Wednesday, arriving at one-ten p.m. through Atlanta. If you have to work don’t worry, we’ll find things to do. Love. Mom.”

Sheri read the email and said, “No big deal. Owen or that guy Deke will cooperate and play the role of the loyal boyfriend. You go back to playing the role of the studious virgin, and all goes well.”

“What about you?” I teased.

“I can be your slutty girlfriend that you are totally incensed about. It might be best to keep me out of the picture.”

“Nonsense. You’re my BFF – you and Maryann. You are who you are. Hopefully, my parents won’t care, but you’ll be joining us for dinner at least one night, I’m sure. This is a big trip out of rural America for them, and they want to see all that they can, particularly about how I live and who my friends are.”

Sheri sighed. “All right, I guess. I’ll try to clean up my act a little for a couple of days. I’m not sure I even own a knee-length skirt.”

I worked extra hours over the weekend and then Monday and Tuesday evenings, so I could take Wednesday afternoon and part of Thursday and Friday off to spend with my parents.

I had a traditional greeting with them at the local airport, and then drove them to the motel they’d arranged for themselves. They checked in and we left their luggage after they ‘freshened up’.

I brought them to my little apartment, and they could then see why I didn’t invite them to stay with me. Three people moving in that space just about used up all the square footage that the furniture didn’t. They were pleased that they got to see where I lived, and verified that it was clean. Of course, I’d done a special cleaning and organizing effort prior to their arrival.

My mom briefly thumbed through my closet and I was sure she’d say something about my wardrobe, but she was mute. I had an especially short skirt set aside for dry cleaning that she saw; I’d spilled some dip on it at Jake’s party the previous Saturday night. My CFM shoes were also carefully lined up on the floor of my closet, as well, along with my other shoes.

I drove them by where I’d previously worked, but we didn’t go inside. I explained about Cubicle-ville to them, and they laughed. They’d seen enough television and magazine pictures to know what I was talking about.

I’d arranged with Owen to play the role of my dutiful boyfriend. He met us at Duval’s Restaurant downtown at five-thirty. My parents always ate early, so Owen and I time shifted to accommodate them. My parents were impressed by the small city and the many restaurants. I’d eaten at every one of them at one time or another.

I introduced Owen to Henry and Martha. He was solicitous of their trip and remarks about the town. We had a brief discussion about our work days, just like a normal couple might have. Mom and Dad watched us interact and smiled benignly at the happy façade we projected.

Over dinner we both talked about our consulting work. Owen did an excellent description of network security issues without getting too technical, and then talked about what he did when he went into a client site.

I told about business and market strategy development, and how I translated that into an online presence and created a sophisticated website for them that drew viewers in deeper and deeper. We used Mike’s company in Denver as an example for both of us.

The evening went well and everyone seemed happy. Owen bid me goodnight as we left the restaurant. We did no kissing or hugging in front of the ‘rents. I dropped them at the motel and before I left, we planned a few things for the next day, starting with breakfast and then a walk along the beach.

We met Sheri and Maryann for cocktails at the Epoch lounge the next afternoon after spending the day at the beach and then at one of the larger museums in the area. I had to show off the intellectual side of my life. I was still even classified as a ‘member’ at the museum.

I explained to my parents that I used to come to the Epoch after work with colleagues occasionally, but hadn’t been there for a long time since I became an independent freelancer in my work.

The Epoch turned out to be a bad idea. The five of us got a small table, and ordered drinks. I ordered an Appletini. My mother’s eyebrows rose up to her hairline that I’d ordered such a ‘sophisticated’ drink, but she ordered one, too. My dad got a beer.

I introduced Sheri and Maryann a little more thoroughly, talking about how we’d used to work together in the marketing group. About then Kevin and Marsha came by the table to say hello. He gave me a hug and kiss, that I tried to brush off as I introduced my parents. The couple went off after that, but only after I promised to call both of them to set up some social time.

Blake and Sarah came in a few minutes later, and there was another more serious affectionate greeting of their long-lost friend - me. I also had to promise to call both of them.

Luke came in looking for his buddies, but lit up like the sun when he saw me, Sheri, and Maryann. He kissed all of us, and even hugged my mother and kissed her on the cheek, much to her chagrin. I think she actually liked the attention.

Others from my old job came by the table of just waved from a distance. Increasingly, it became obvious that I knew a lot of people and had some good friends – a large circle of them.

Jake came in and joined us with a similar greeting. He told how he’d just flown back into town in his private jet from Las Vegas where he’d met with some of the companies that had started cryptocurrencies. His remarks led to a long discussion with my parents about his high-risk investing strategies and how that had paid off for him. He mentioned that he’d be in the newspaper the next day, because he’d done another short sale on three of the large currencies.

Jake loved his new airplane toy, and told my parents all about it and all the bells and whistles it had. Moreover, Jake said he’d started taking flying lessons with the goal to be a pilot in his own jet in three years. The more Jake talked, the more questions my parents asked. It became apparent that he had become VERY wealthy.

Near the entrance to Epoch, I saw Susan hanging there. She waved but didn’t come over. She was obviously in bodyguard mode.

My mother asked if I knew her. I told her, “Yes, she’s one of Jake’s bodyguards.” I thought my mother would lose her eye teeth in shock. She did a triple-take on Susan before calming down.

Eventually, we ordered enough bar food to substitute for dinner, and we all kept talking.

Owen showed up and joined us. This time I allowed an affectionate kiss and some slight hugging. My mother was very observant about where I dispensed my affections and how frequently.

Sheri and I had a brief discussion about what had been happening in my old company in the marketing department. There’d been another shake-up in management, and the distribution of projects among the staff. Sheri wasn’t happy.

On a whim, I said to her, “Why don’t you quit and come to work for me? Maryann, too?” I currently had enough work for more than two of me, so I felt if I put some more effort into marketing my services, I could get even more business.

We kicked that idea around. Owen joined in because Maryann had some technical skills that he thought he could use in his part of the business. My dad’s head tried to keep up with the fast-paced conversation and he started to resemble a fan at a tennis match.

Jake encouraged Owen and me, and said he’d even invest in our new business, if we let him. I suggested that Sheri and Maryann think about the step overnight. I certainly told them not to burn any bridges. I explained my vision that we could sell ourselves back to my old company and make more money.

Around nine-thirty, our group started to break apart. I took my parents back to the motel and left them, promising another thrilling day tomorrow. They were appreciative of the day and especially the evening time with my friends.

Friday morning, I took mom and dad to a breakfast place that specialized in omelets. After we’d ordered, my mother put both of her hands on the table. This was her signal that I was about to get official high-level guidance about something from Mother Superior. I hadn’t seen that signal for some time – maybe even when I was last in high school.

Mom said in a curt tone, “You seem to have A LOT of friends.”

I nodded. “I do. I set out to be more gregarious and outgoing. Accumulating good friends came as a result of my efforts.”

“Several of those young men are in love with you; Owen, especially.”

“And I love them. I’ve known Sheri and Maryann the longest since we worked together at Knightsbridge, but the others knew them, and my circle expanded rapidly for a while.”

“Who are you going to choose?”

“Choose for what?” My mom’s question genuinely puzzled me.

“A husband.”

“Errr, I’m not in the market for a husband.” I didn’t like the turn this discussion had suddenly taken. I detected somebody – my mother – trying to manage my life again.