The car felt very warm. It wasn't until a full minute had passed when I managed to regain my thoughts.
"It's looks very pretty. Any meaning behind it?"
Dean pulled down his jacket and readjusted himself on the seat. He stayed facing me. He went into the middle console and pulled out a pair lollipops offering me one.
It was green apple flavored. My favorite. "Sorta, I really love the design of the knot at the top and the flowers in the tag represent new beginnings."
His appeared sheepish. "As for the red, I wanted a pop of color. That and reds have always been one of my favorite colors."
At that his ears turned a slight tinge of pink but I didn't understand why liking red would be embarrassing.
My phone pinged again. When my eyes left Deans I noticed my mom waiting at the door. Attempting to peer inside the car.
My hands flew to my chest. "Oh my god!" How long has she been standing there. Did she see what just happened.
"Relax my windows are tinted as dark as I could legally have it to be. She can't see inside the car."
"Dean that's not funny." I wanted to punch him, he could not care but knowing my mom she would not let me hear the end of it.
Dean got out of the car and walked around to open the door for me.
"My apologies Mrs. D'Angelo. I asked for some assistance from your daughter regarding an important matter. But I brought her back safe and sound."
He guided me out from the low standing car. My mom stood there eyeing me. I felt like a kid who was sent to the principals office with the way she was staring me down. My mom when she is worried can be an intimidating woman.
Especially in the outfit she was wearing, she was like my old principal. Her pantsuit set was freshly pressed. Her dark hair tied in a low pony tail. If she was not wearing her house slippers, one would think she came home from work.
When I was born she stopped working and became housewife to be able to spend time with me and not leave me alone in the big house.
However, that did not diminish her businesswoman aura. She ran her household like a tight ship. And ever the opportunist, she wasn't going to let something slip between her fingers.
"Thank you dear for bringing her back. It's getting pretty late, would you like to come in for a bit for something to eat or drink?"
If I wasn't going to say anything, she would pull that information from somewhere else.
"While I greatly appreciate the offer, I do have to get back to my house. I have a few things to complete before the end of the week. Hopefully we can meet again when I have more time to stay."
He turned to face me. His eyes flashing with mirth. "We can finish our discussion later. We have more meetings to do to ensure everything is completed according to plan. See you then!"
He turned back before I could respond. He entered his red sports car before speeding off and away.
My mom was all smiles until we entered our house and the door shut. Her smile was gone in an instant and replaced with narrow eyes and lips pressed into a thin line.
"Future meetings? Does this have something to do with this supposed 'upcoming project' I am just becoming aware of. Care to tell me what is going on?"
She folded her arms over her chest, and positioned herself in a way that makes it difficult for me to leave.
"So…. uhhh here is the thing…"
After I explained what happened my moms face had changed from suspicion to anger, and then to sadness.
"Honey I understand that Felix is an asshole, and he doesn't deserve to be in your presence. But part of being an adult is learning to handle people you don't like or want to interact with."
"While Dean may have gotten you out of the situation in that moment and even now after with this whole art exhibition, it shouldn't be this way."
"Promise me you will think before you act."
She doesn't get it. I love my mom with my whole heart but she doesn't understand what I am going through.
I am partially to blame because I wasn't completely honest with her about what actually happened the night Felix and I broke the engagement and ended our relationship.
What he said and did was so unforgivable and just pierced my soul in a way that even years later I am still recovering from.
But maybe it's me being naive, but shouldn't she trust my judgement better. Doesn't she see that this isn't as simple as he met another woman.
I reigned in my spiraling thoughts. I can't be upset at reaping what I sowed.
"Sure mom. Will do."
She smiled and gave me a hug. "Ok honey thank you. You have always been such a good girl. Alright I will go finish up planning with the coordinator for your grandparents visit.
"Nana June and Grandpa Beau are coming?" My mom, who was already walking away called out from the office she entered.
"No Mama Ines and Papa Benito. They want to fly in from Rome to visit you. They say it's been too long since we have gone to visit and they want to start settling some of their affairs they have here."
Settling affairs? "Mom are they doing well?" I heard some rummaging as my mom was getting out the file box with my family's documents and certificates.
"Oh yes honey they are doing fine they just want to make sure everything is settled while they are still healthy so it's less of a worry later down the line. Also because they moved back home, it's harder to communicate with their lawyer from so far away.
"Hmmm." As headed for the kitchen I heard my Dad on the phone. He was speaking to some business partners about some new land which needed to be developed.
"Ok we will talk more about this at tomorrows meeting. I am already home and this is past our working hours. Ok see you then." He shut his phone and went back to preparing his snacks which he had left forgotten in the counter.
"Hey Dad!" My dad was still in his work clothes. His had his long sleeve button up rolled up to his forearms and slightly unbuttoned as he was starting to relax at home.
Unlike my mom, when he was working he was more of a quiet intimidating person. He wasn't in your face about it but you felt his pressure. Though at home he was someone easy and comfortable to hang out with.
In between bites of his sandwich he pulled me into a hug. "Hi honey, how are you feeling? I heard you didn't feel well yesterday."
"I am alright, better now for sure." I stole a chip he had poured onto his plate.
"That's good." He snapped his fingers. "By the way before I forget, your grandparents are coming and because they want to settle their assets they want all of us present at the attorneys office."
"I heard. Let me know when and I can clear my schedule."
"Sounds good." He gave me half of his sandwich before heading off to the living room to watch a game of baseball.
Little did I know my grandparents visit was going to be more than just dividing their assets and be a whole circus instead.