The M Word by Beverly Farr Page B

own classes, his thesis,
and his work as a teaching assistant.
    She asked, “How long has it been since you’ve
seen her?”
    “Two years. But we talk often on the
phone.”
    At that moment, as if on cue, his cell phone
rang. “Is it your mom?” she asked, joking.
    He glanced at the caller ID. “No. Do you mind
if I take this call?”
    “Go ahead,” she said. She’d noticed that
Marius rarely answered his phone, preferring to call people back
rather than let them interrupt what he was doing. She wasn’t sure
if this was a European custom, or merely his way of focusing his
attention on the people around him.
    So the fact that he wanted to take the call,
meant that it was important.
    He walked outside into the backyard, to talk
in private. She heard him say, “Francesca,” in a pleased tone,
before the back door closed, separating them and cutting off the
rest of the conversation.
    Francesca? She’d forgotten about her,
or at least she’d tried to forget her.
    It was ridiculous to be worried. Couldn’t the
man have a private conversation with a friend without her thinking
that he was another Steven?
    The problem was, she didn’t want to ask any
more questions about Francesca. Brenda didn’t want to sound like a
suspicious shrew, or worse -- she didn’t want to find out that
Marius was in love with another woman.
    Was she jealous?
    Yes.
    And she was a coward, too. Life with Marius
was so nice right now, she didn’t want to jeopardize it.
    So she’d wait, until after his mother’s
visit, to learn more about Francesca.
    #
    Marius and she waited at the international
airport terminal. Brenda twisted her hands together nervously. She
hoped her mother-in-law would like her. Her hair was nearly an inch
long now, and with styling gel, she was able to make it look as if
she had intended it to look this way.
    Brenda scanned the faces of the incoming
passengers, searching for a family resemblance.
    Then Marius cried out. “Mama!” He kissed a
tiny woman with sleek blonde hair on alternating cheeks three times
and she returned the gesture and then they hugged. They spoke for a
moment in Polish, then Marius noticed a taller young woman with
brown hair standing behind her. “Tesia!” he exclaimed and the kiss
fest began again. Then, he stepped back and introduced Brenda.
    Brenda saw that Mrs. Jaworski was beautifully
dressed in an expensive looking pale gray suit. She looked at
Brenda coolly, then said formally in English, “I’m so glad to
finally meet you.”
    Her English had a stronger accent than
Marius, but it was still excellent. Brenda leaned down to hug her,
and Mrs. Jaworski kissed the air by her cheeks.
    “I would have come to the wedding,” her
mother in law continued, “But you didn’t give me enough time to
make travel arrangements.”
    Was that a veiled put-down?
    Years of being snubbed as a child had taught
her the degrees of social disdain.
    Suddenly Brenda felt tall and gawky and
tackily dressed. She noticed that Mrs. Jaworski wore spotless
shoes, her nails were professionally done, and she had a large
diamond ring on her left hand.
    She wondered if Marius had noticed his
mother’s coolness, or if he was so happy to see them that he didn’t
pick up on the underlying emotional currents.
    But Brenda was determined to make the
situation better, if she could. She said pleasantly, “Yes, the
wedding was quick. I’m sorry you weren’t able to come, but I’m very
glad you’re here now.”
    Mrs. Jaworski said something to Marius in
Polish and he translated. “She says she hopes we have blonde
babies.”
    Brenda smiled at the thought. Maybe she was
misreading her mother-in-law?
    Tesia stood back, not saying much. Brenda
didn’t know if she was jet lagged from the long flight, shy, or if
her English wasn’t good enough to converse. But as they reached the
car, Tesia said clearly, “I’m glad to meet you,” and smiled in a
way that gave her hope that they might become friends.
    The look of