When You Least Expect It

by Sandra Leiper

  Elisa spoke up, now angry. “I just think this is incredibly selfish of you, Mom. You’re the mother, you’re supposed to put us first, not just abandon us.”

  Amanda cried harder, unable to control herself. “I’m not abandoning you. I have thought it through, especially where you two are concerned. I’ll be just as obtainable in Maine as I am here. I’m still going to be your mother, and I’m still going to love you with all my heart. Why can’t you support me for once?”

  “Okay, Mom, stop crying.” Alex looked around the restaurant. All eyes were on them.

  Amanda noticed and took out a twenty-dollar bill and threw it on the table. “I’ll be outside.” She went to the bathroom and tried to repair the damage. She looked horrible, which only made her cry more. She knew this was going to be hard, but she didn’t think they’d turn on her! She looked in the mirror. “I don’t think I can do this.” She went into the stall, sat on the toilet seat and cried some more.

  ~~~

  Of course when she got home, everyone left her. She called Ray.

  “Hello, my future wife. How was your trip home?”

  “Quiet…until I got here.” She filled him in on everything that had happened so far.

  “Wow. I didn’t expect that kind of reaction, or maybe I did, I don’t know. It’s a big change, a big adjustment for everyone, Mandy. They’ll get used to the idea.”

  Amanda started to cry, for what seemed like the hundredth time. “I just want someone to be happy for me. I know Hilary won’t be. I dread even telling her.”

  “Well, if it makes you feel any better, I’m happy. I told my mother today, and she seemed happy. Of course, she has voted for the family extravaganza for the wedding.”

  Amanda laughed. “Does she get a vote?”

  “Absolutely not. I told her we were going to Las Vegas, and she said she hoped we enjoyed our wedding with Elvis.” They both laughed.

  “Do you think it will be cheesy?”

  “Who cares? As long as it’s legal, we leave there with a license, and a happy memory, that’ll be all we need. I’ve looked into it on the Internet, and it looks nice. I can get a whole package; including hotel, limo, wedding with all the trimmings. It won’t be cheesy. I promise it will be nice.”

  “Have you told your girls yet?”

  “No, I’m telling them tomorrow night at dinner.”

  “I hope it goes better than my dinner.”

  Ray didn’t want to admit that he was nervous about it. “They’ll be fine. It won’t affect them as much as your kids. Your kids are more concerned about you moving. My kids won’t have to deal with that.”

  Amanda tried to hide the irritation that made her feel. “What if I can’t go through with this, Ray?”

  Ray was stunned. He hadn’t expected this. “It’ll be fine Mandy, if this is what you want to do, you should do it. If you doubt us, or me, then you should reconsider. But if not, you should not let other people’s reaction come between us.”

  She knew that he was right; it was just hard to hear all the negativity surrounding it on her end.

  She hung up and called Hilary. She would tell her on the phone, hopefully deleting the scene telling her in person might cause.

  “Hey sis, have a good time?”

  Amanda took a deep breath. “Yes, thank you. Hil, I’m engaged. I’m marrying Ray and I’m moving to Maine when the house sells. This is what I want, I’m happy, and that’s that.” She exhaled.

  Hilary, though shocked, wanted to laugh. “Okay. I see. I take it from how you are telling me; people aren’t receiving this news well. I’m going to hang up, think about it rationally and call you back.”

  Amanda hung up the phone, shocked at her own behavior. She started to laugh…and laugh. She laughed hysterically until there was a knock on her door.

  Hilary walked in. She had a bouquet of flowers with her. She handed them to her sister, hugged her tightly and whispered in her ear that she hoped she would be very happy.

  Amanda breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, sis. I’m going to be, I promise.” They separated and started to talk excitedly about her wedding, the move, and the kids’ reaction. Amanda was so relieved to have someone she could talk to about it, someone who would finally listen to her side. It brought tears to her eyes, but this time, they were tears of joy.

  ~~~

  She was on her way to meet Elisa at the bridal store. Today was her fitting. Elisa hadn’t really spoken to her since she’d told them her news, but she’d called her today reminding her of this appointment. She hoped it went well.

  “Hi Mom.” Elisa hugged her briefly.

  Amanda could still feel the tension between them, but she did her best to ignore it. “I’m so excited. Do you know I have been dreaming of this moment since you were a little girl?”

  “You have?”

  “Yes. I never had the chance to do this with my own mother, and I missed it. I wanted to see the look in her eyes when she saw me, when she could see that I was ready to take on the next phase of my life. I wanted her to see how beautiful I was, and how much like her I really was, and how much she’d prepared me to become a bride; a wife.”

  “Wow, Mom. So now, you’re going to see me the same way?”

  She brushed Elisa’s hair away from her face. “Yes, Elisa. I see you as a woman, taking control of her life. I can’t wait to see you in your dress, to imagine how you’ll look walking down the aisle, towards your new husband, you new life.”

  The sales clerk whisked her away to put her dress on. She followed her after a few moments, not able to wait any longer. “How’s it going?”

  “Mom, can you help me?”

  She walked in, helped her button up the back, and adjusted the collar. She put on her veil and stepped back. She was beautiful. Amanda put her hands over her mouth, wanting to say so much, but not able to utter a word.

  “Are you going to cry, Mom?”

  “Yes. No. Elisa, this dress is perfect for you. You look beautiful, like an angel.” Amanda couldn’t take her eyes off her. She was a stunning bride.

  Elisa stared at herself in the mirror. “I can’t believe I’m getting married. I’m scared, Mom.”

  “Of course you are. Next phases always are. But if you feel this is right, then everything will fall into place.”

  “I’m more nervous about moving so far. Mom, I’m so glad you’re going to be there. I’m sorry I was so rough on you. I do want you to be happy.”

  “I want the same for you.” She looked at her childlike bride and was amazed at how fast this moment had arrived. It seemed like a blink ago that she was wearing pigtails and carrying a blanket with her wherever she went. The tailor came in to start her handiwork, bringing them back to reality.

  She walked out of the boutique feeling like a different person, feeling for the first time in a long time that things were going to be okay.

  The sign in front of the house now read ‘Sale pending’. It looked liked things were moving forward with it. She put a call in to Jamie, hoping to find out detailed information.

  “Things are well. The house inspector will be out in a few days, and then we’ll know more. Your house is old, Mandy, so it might require some work. Let’s just hope the roof is in good condition so that we don’t have to go through the expense of that.”

  Amanda wondered how much Jamie was pitching in, since he always referred to everything as ‘we’. “Okay, so it’s just sit tight and wait, right?”

  “Yes. The house is still on the market, just in case it falls through. We always have to be prepared with a Plan B. I’ll call you if anything else happens, and definitely after the inspection.”

  “Should I be there?”

  “You can if you want, but I’ll be there representing you, so if you have to work, that should be fine.”

  She thanked him and hung up feeling a little apprehensive. She was so nervous about all this, and felt like it was happening so fast. She hoped for the hundredth time that she was doing
the right thing.

  She went to the laundry room and put in her fifth load. Alex was leaving in a few days and she was trying to get everything ready for him. He hadn’t said much about her moving, but she could tell it was on his mind. She tried not to bring it up; she concentrated on the excitement of him going to college. She didn’t want to spend the last few days with him arguing.

  He came into the laundry room and looked around. “Mom, how am I going to get everything to Tucson? I have so much stuff, and I don’t want to leave my stereo or TV behind. How big do you think my room is going to be?”

  Amanda had no idea since she had never lived in a dorm. “I don’t know, but I think you’ll be sharing a room with one or two more guys. You should only take enough to fill a closet and a dresser. Taking your TV and stereo should be fine. As for how we’re getting it there. I’m renting a truck and we’re driving. We’ll stay at Blossoms until you get settled, then I’ll drive home. How does that sound?”

  “Sounds great. Where will all the stuff I leave behind be?”

  Although she didn’t want to discuss her move, she had no choice now. “Here, with me. I’ll have it here until I leave the house, and then I’ll take it with me to Maine and put it in your room there.”

  “I’m going to have a room there?”

  “Of course. That will be your home until you say otherwise.”

  Alex looked down, not wanting to hurt his mother. “I don’t know that I’ll want to live there, Mom. I don’t even know Ray, it seems weird.”

  “It won’t be weird Al, I’ll be there. Besides, I’m not asking you to live there. But, until you get out of school, you’ll have a room there to come for holidays, and the summers if you want. If you don’t want to, and have something else going on, that’s fine too. I’m still you’re mom though, and I still want holidays reserved for your sister and me.”

  Alex mulled this over for a minute. “Of course, I wouldn’t want it any other way. I keep forgetting that Elisa will be on the East Coast, too. My family will be so far, Mom. What about me?”

  She put an arm around him. “You’ll be in Tucson, going to school and learning how to be an adult. I’ll be a phone call away, or a plane ride away. I’ll see you often Alex, I promise. You’ll come out and visit with us, and when the time comes, you’ll make your own decisions. Maybe you’ll want to move out there, and be close to us. I know I’m hoping for that.” She hugged her son. “Change is always so hard, Alex, but it’s the one thing in life that we can count on. Everything will go along just as always, then, when you least expect it, things change in a blink of an eye. But don’t worry, our relationship won’t change, nor will my love for you. I’ll always be there for you. I’ll always have your back.”

  Alex laughed at his mom’s use of slang. “Okay Mom, don’t get all hip hoppy on me. It’s too weird.” He hugged his mother, a little harder, and longer, than usual. “I love you, Mom. I’ll miss you so much; and I’ll always have your back, too.”

  ~~~

  It was official. The closing date was six weeks away.

  “Is there any chance of that changing?” Amanda was on the phone with Jamie. The inspection had gone well, and the buyers had not changed their offer and were continuing with the sale, as planned.

  “Not really. Their mortgage has been pre-approved. They just have to go through the usual mountains of paperwork and red tape. It’s pretty much in the bag, Amanda. You need to start planning your next move.”

  She was afraid he was going to say that. “I guess I do. I have to get my son to college this weekend, and then I will start to pack and get ready to move.”

  “Good. I will arrange to have someone come in to paint and do some final touch-ups that last week, do you think you will be all packed by then?”

  “Yes, I’ll make sure of it.”

  She hung up in a panic. She looked around her house. What was she going to do with all this stuff? Ray lived in an apartment! She picked up the phone and called him. It was time to get her future husband involved. “Okay Ray, everything is official.” She told him the closing date and everything she feared.

  “Wow that got here fast. Well, I will go out and rent a storage space starting on the first, and I guess the next step would be to find a mover to get it here.”

  Amanda agreed. “That makes sense. I guess we won’t live in that apartment for long, right?”

  “No, I promised you a room for Alex. So you can bring all your things, but we’ll just store them until we find a house.”

  She took a deep breath. “Okay, that was easily taken care of. I guess that takes us to our next decision. When do we get married?”

  There was silence on the other end. “That’s right; we need to set the date. So, is Vegas still the place?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “I have the package all picked out. We’ll be staying at the luxurious MGM Grand. I was thinking that it would be easier to do while you’re still in Texas; it’s a lot closer to Nevada than here. Should I fly out one weekend and then we can rent a car and drive up, see Hoover Dam and maybe throw in a little wedding? Then I’ll come home, and you follow when ready?”

  Amanda was amazed. “Wow, you really have this all planned out.”

  Ray laughed. “You’re kidding me right? It’s all I can think about. I’ve just been waiting for you to work out everything else so you can give it your undivided attention. We might not be having a big wedding, but it’s still a big deal, and one not to be taken lightly.”

  “You’re right about that, and you have my undivided attention. I should have asked you for help a long time ago, Ray. I’ve been so overwhelmed trying to get through this all alone. You’re my fiancée; of course you would help me!”

  “In any way I can. So let’s pick a date.”

  They both looked at calendars and picked a weekend close to the closing of the house. They didn't want to get married, and then have to be apart for too long.

  “So I’ll arrange this, buy the wedding bands and come out and we’ll get this show on the road.”

  “What show is that?”

  “Ours. Amanda, I can’t wait! I’m so excited that we’re going to be together. No more phone calls or lonely nights. We’ll be a family.”

  “How did the girls take the news?” Amanda had been so busy lately she’d forgotten to ask.

  “They’re happy for me.” He’d been reluctant to tell her because of the reaction of her kids. “Nobody wants to tell their mother, but that was the only thing they said. They want to go to the wedding, of course, but I’m not sure I can pull that off. How about your kids, will they be going?”

  “I haven’t asked them yet, so I don’t know.” Amanda was reluctant to invite them because it seemed to be such a sore subject with them. “I will though.”

  “If they go, then maybe I will make more of an effort to bring my kids, but that won’t be much of a honeymoon for us.”

  “That’s true. Then again, we have the rest of our lives to honeymoon, Ray. Maybe if all the kids come, we can all get to know each other a little; as a family.”

  “That’s a great idea, Mandy. See how your kids feel, and then I’ll look into it, okay? You’re such a great mother, your kids are lucky.” She hung up; wishing Alex and Elisa felt the same way.

  ~~~

  Blossom had cooked enough food for an army. There was

  a ham, a roast, potatoes, corn and of all things, Spanish rice.

  “Um, I don’t think the Spanish rice goes with the meal, Blossom.”

  “I don’t care, it’s my specialty, and everybody loves it. You don’t have to eat it if you don’t want to.”

  Amanda and Alex had already piled their plates with it. “Actually, we love it.”

  They all dug in as they talked about the U of A, Alex’s major and how much Blossom thought he’d love Tucson. “It’s different from El Paso, and the girls are much prettier, Al.”

  They all laughed as Alex turned as red as a beet. “Aunt Blossom,
my mom’s here.” He rolled his eyes.

  Amanda laughed. “I know you like girls Al, its okay.”

  They were going the next morning to the dorm. Blossoms five boys all wanted to go, too.

  “We’ve never been to a college dorm! Please, Alex?”

  Alex couldn’t look into the big brown eyes of any of these boys and say no. “Sure, why not. But you have to help take things off the truck.”

  “Yay!” They all yelled in unison.

  “I guess that means I’m going too?” Blossom raised her eyebrow at her cousin. “I don’t remember manual labor being part of the deal.”

  Amanda laughed. “Surprise!”

  “Surprise? I don’t think so!” She got up in a huff and started to gather up the dishes.

  “Come on, Blossom, it’ll be fun. We can get it done quicker and have more time to have fun before I go back.”

  “I’ll do it for Alex, not for you. You haven’t even showed me that big rock you have on your finger!”

  Amanda lifted her hand and flashed her engagement ring. “You may kiss it if you’d like.”

  Blossom grabbed her ring. “Daaammnnn…that boy has great taste. It’s beautiful, honey.”

  “I know. I love it.”

  “Am I invited to the wedding?”

  “Well, are you willing to go to Las Vegas?”

  “Why not? A little gambling, some free margaritas; I think I can handle it.”

  “Can I go too, Mom?”

  Amanda looked at Alex, a bit surprised. “You want to go?”

  “Sure, not everybody gets to see their mom get married…for the third time”.

  Amanda was shocked. “How rude!”

  Blossom cackled. “Alex, your mom is working on her Ph.D. Her first marriage, your dad, was her high school graduation, her second husband, the loser, was her college degree, and now, she is furthering her education.”

  Amanda shot her a dirty look, before turning to her son. “I’d love you to be there. Blossom, will you bring him and stand up for me, even though you definitely don’t deserve that honor.”