“I was so scared,” he said.
“I was, too,” I said, softly enough that I hoped my mom couldn’t hear me.
We got onto the elevator, the two of them crowding me, one on either side. As we walked through the lobby, I told them both what had happened. My mom blanched, and Rex’s face turned stony when I told them about being abducted.
“Abducted?” Mom said, actually putting a hand over her mouth in horror.
“Holy crap, Jimi,” Rex said. “Who—”
“No, no—not actually abducted,” I backtracked, trying to tone down the seriousness of the conversation. “Waylaid, whatever. I don’t know who it was. It was only for like, ten or fifteen minutes.”
I kept talking, trying to downplay my kidnapping to get them past that part of the story, but when I got to the part about the explosion, and they realized how close I’d come to being in it, their reactions became even more extreme.
“But I’m fine,” I said, reassuring them both as we stepped out onto the street. I was shocked that the sun was still high, burning bright and hot. So much had happened, I had somehow assumed it would be almost evening.
“I need to call Doc,” I said suddenly. “I need to let him know I wasn’t there.”
“I told him,” Rex said. “He knows. I let everyone know.”
“We need to talk about all this, Jimi,” said my mom shakily. “You need to tell me what happened. But first, I think I should take you to see Dr. Simmonds. You’ve been through hell today.”
“I’m fine, Mom. Really.” Dr. Simmonds was great and I’d known her forever, but apart from the fact that I really was fine, she was a pediatrician, and the last thing I wanted was to be treated like a little kid.
“Well, we need to get you some food, then,” she said, determined to find relief in focusing on the safe and mundane.
“Mom, no. No thanks,” I said. “I’m really just tired.”
She reached up and cupped my cheek, seeming to snap out of it a little. “Of course. You must be exhausted. Let’s get you home and we’ll deal with everything else after you rest, okay?” She turned to Rex. “Maybe you’d like to come over in a bit? I’m making dinner. Trudy’s coming, too.”
Rex smiled and opened his mouth, almost certainly about to politely and charmingly accept the invitation. But before he could, I said, “Um, Mom? Actually, think I want to go to Rex’s now.” I turned to Rex. “If that’s alright with you.”
My mom’s expression froze for a second, and Rex’s mouth hung open.
“Um, yeah—yes, of course,” he said, looking back and forth rapidly between my mom and me. “I mean…if…sure.”
I felt bad. I knew how worried Mom was, but I really didn’t want to go home and have her fuss over me. I wanted to be with Rex. I needed to be with Rex. I’d witnessed death and loss, up close and personal, and I wanted to feel life up close and personal, too. I knew going home and having dinner with Mom and Aunt Trudy would be comforting in a way—and I was glad Mom would have Trudy to comfort her—but I also knew the two of them peppering me with questions wasn’t going to be restful at all.
I could tell Mom was unsettled by my decision, and sad. I was sad, too, and not just because of death and loss. Because of time.
Time passing is sad. Growing up and growing old and dying, there’s sadness in all of it. And realizing you aren’t your kid’s go-to for comfort had to be hard, too, and I was sorry about that. But it’s also a part of that kid growing up.
“Oh,” my mom said, trying to hide her dismay as she accepted what I was telling her, and maybe what she could and could not control.
Rex and I had been together a while now. We were both seventeen. My mom knew we were no longer just holding hands. She and I had had plenty of “safe sex” talks over the years, and she knew how seriously I took that. We’d also had one excruciatingly awkward and roundabout conversation where I had to reassure her once again that chimera splices were somatic, not germline, meaning they didn’t affect the genes that were passed down from generation to generation. She had already known everything I told her, but she needed reassurance that if Rex and I slipped up—or even if we just held hands for ten years then got married—there wouldn’t be any grand puppies in her future.
But as much as she must have known the status of my relationship with Rex, I knew she didn’t want to have to acknowledge it—particularly on top of everything else that had happened today.
“Okay I’ll see you at E4E tomorrow, though, right?” she said. Both my mom and Trudy had become regular volunteers at E4E, which was really great. The next day was Saturday, and Mom, Trudy, and I were all signed up to stuff envelopes.
“Absolutely,” I said. “Especially considering what happened today. We’ll be at the protests beforehand, but then we’ll be there.”
“Okay,” she said with a tight smile. “I wish you wouldn’t go to the protests, Jimi. But I understand. You be careful out there, okay? Both of you.”
I kept Ralphs’s similar admonishment to myself and gave her a peck on the cheek. “We will.”
She cupped my face once more, then looked around for her car.
“Where are you parked?” Rex asked. “Can we walk you to your car?”
She looked up at him and smiled, “No, that’s okay, sweetie. It should be here any second.” She turned to me, having regained her composure. “You kids just…be safe. And take good care of each other.” That’s what her mouth said, but her eyes were reminding me to be careful, in every way.
I nodded and she nodded back.
Her car pulled up next to us, empty. She started opening the door, but paused, like she was going to say something else. “Hey,” she said as she got in the car. “Why don’t you hop in and I’ll give you a ride. Silver Garden is practically on the way home.”
“Um…” I wanted to say no, to bring this whole awkward scene to an end, but realized it made sense. It would be safer, given how crazy the day had been so far, and it would make my mom feel better, as well. I glanced at Rex, and he shrugged, making it clear this was my call. “Sure, Mom. That would be great.”
I got in the front and Rex stretched out across the back seat. We didn’t talk much on the way, except for Rex giving Mom directions. I felt relieved when we pulled up outside Rex’s apartment.
“Is this it?” Mom said, looking around, checking out the neighborhood. It was far from ritzy, but it wasn’t dangerous. She seemed more or less satisfied that at least there weren’t any suspicious white vans around.
“Yup,” Rex said. “I’m up on the third floor.”
I felt Rex inhale, as if he was going to speak again, and for a terrible moment I knew he was going to invite my mom in. I totally appreciated the impulse, but I couldn’t imagine anything more awkward.
“Okay, well, thanks Mom,” I said quickly, to cut him off.
“Of course, Jimi.” She sat back and I leaned over to give her a hug.
As we got out, Rex said, “Thanks for the ride, Mrs. Corcoran.”
She gave him a smile, then turned back to me. “Be careful, okay? And I’ll see you tomorrow.”