Quilts, Tacos & Tattoos

Merry Mary

Tyler reached over and held my hand as I sat next to him in the truck, "Don't be nervous."

"But I can't help it. I think she doesn't like me?"

"She likes you. She's just not very nice."

It was Christmas Day and I was going to have dinner at Tyler's house. Any time I was around his mother I felt nervous. She had a way about her that felt like she was trying too hard to be nice and mean at the same time. He lived in a golf course community called Meadow Lakes in one of those fancy big houses.

"It was nice of you to bring presents." He smiled at me and nodded to the gifts in my lap.

"Nana insisted." I had two of the coffee mugs and coasters. I also had a gift for his little brother.

We drove up and parked in front of his upscale Spanish-style house. He walked around the side to open my door and held out his hand. As I got down, I paused for a second. He leaned in and put his hand behind my head and brought me close to him, "I don't care what they think. I am not doing this for them. There is no test or quiz you have to pass. I promise it will be quick."

I looked into his big eyes, "Promise?"

He smiled, "Yes."

We walked in the front entryway and were greeted by two standard-size poodles that seemed like they were as tall as me.

"Down boys," a firm voice yelled from the living room.

"Roger, would you take them outside?" She shouted as she approached me. "Hi Cricket. It's so good to see you again."

"Hello, Mrs. Bowan," I greeted.

"No. Remember. Call me Mary."

"Hi, Mary." She grabbed me by my hand and pulled me toward her.

"We are going to eat in the courtyard since it is such a warm day. Did you have a nice holiday?"

"Yes, thank you. These are for you. They are a gift from my mom's quilt shop." I heard a squeal as his little brother raced down the hall and hugged my waist.

"Will you be my girlfriend?" he smiled brightly.

I looked at Tyler, "Does it run your family?"

Tyler laughed.

"This is for you," I said.

"Oh how very nice. Sweetie, why don't you put these under the tree and we will open them later."

I looked under the tree that was still half full with presents.

"We have so many gifts. We had to take a break."

Tyler corrected his mother, "You mean Cody has so many gifts." His mother gave him a look.

"Your mother runs that little craft shop on Broadway, right?" Mary said.

"Mom, it's a quilt shop," Tyler corrected.

"Yes. It must be nice to have a mother who has time for such hobbies. I work."

I gave Tyler a look. "Mom works. She owns the quilt shop."

"Sure she does," said Mary.

"Can I get you a drink?" Tyler's father asked when he entered the courtyard.

"I will just have water." I followed Tyler closely and sat down beside him, still holding his hand. His mother looked at our hands.

"Cricket, tell me more about your family."

"Mom, can we stop with the interview and just have a nice little conversation."

"Interview? If you will excuse me, I'm going to check on the casserole."

Tyler turned to me. "I am so sorry."

"It's okay. I'm fine."

Our lunch was pretty tense with Mary asking a lot of questions and Tyler trying to distract her from more questions and Cody more interested in the butter than anything else. After about forty-five minutes, we excused ourselves from the table and left to go to the movies.

"Man, I'm glad that is over," I said as we pulled out of his neighborhood. "Can we just go somewhere simple?"

"My thoughts exactly. What should we do?"

"No one is at the lake house. They all went to see Bud's house. Nana has been dying to see it. Mom says it is beautiful."

We arrived at the lake house and began walking to the wading pool area.

"I've got an idea," I said, "Let's go fishing."

"Great idea," Tyler said, but I could tell he was not interested in fishing.

He grabbed my hand as we walked toward the boathouse.

When we got to the dock and walked around to the front of the boathouse, he pushed me up against the house and started to kiss me. He kissed my mouth, my face my neck.

"I have missed you."

I stepped up on my tiptoes and put my arms around his neck. "I have missed you, too . . . and fishing," I giggled.

The last few months we had gone down to the boathouse to 'fish' frequently, which meant make out. He wrapped his arms around my waist and began to put his hands under my shirt and around my hips.

I kissed him harder and he scooped me up into his arms and opened the door of the boathouse. The first few times we went down to the boathouse, I was pretty on edge about finding my dad there. But in the last few weeks it had become our regular spot to hang out.

He set me on the bed and kicked off his shoes and then lay down beside me. We continued to kiss and his hands made their way further and further up my body. The he tucked his hands under my bra strap and unsnapped my bra. I pressed my forehead into his and said, "Remember, we are going to wait."

"I am waiting. But can't I explore a little?"

I kissed him hard. "We should stop."

He kissed me back, "Then why are you kissing me?"

"I'm not kissing you. You are kissing me."

In one swift movement he pulled up my shirt. I grabbed the front of my bra and held it close to me. "Tyler!"

He kissed my belly and then my mouth again. "I'll wait," he said as he brushed my hair off my face. Then he got up and walked out the door.

I pulled down my shirt and with my bra refastened, walked out the door. I saw him standing with his hands in his pockets on the edge of the dock.

Sliding up around him, I wrapped my arms tightly around him his waist, then kissed the back of his shirt.

"Thank you," I said as I nestled my head against him.

Putting his hands over mine, "It's not easy, you know."