When do you stop being a mother? Do you ever REALLY stop? The answer is no. It has to be. That's why I'm perched in the kitchen doorway, trying to remain hidden but listening intently to the conversation taking place between Rebecca Davis and my baby boy.
Their voices are hushed and I can't make out what they're saying, but there's no mistaking the nervousness in their body language. And at the same time, the electricity between them is enough to light the room.
The chemistry is obviously there. It always was. But something is holding them back. There is some sort of barrier between them. I have no idea what that barrier is, but I'm positive whatever it may be, it's the reason I found Ike out on the deck one early morning about three years ago.
(flashback)
"Ike? Sweetie? You out here?"
"Yeah, Mom," he replied, staring out at the sky.
"How long have you been up?"
He sighed, his eyes never breaking their gaze from the rising sun. "All night."
I sat down on the lounge chair and brushed a few stray hairs from my eldest son's face. "All night? What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Don't say nothing. Something obviously kept you up. What is it?"
"Nothing."
"Fine. Don't tell your mother what's bothering you. I'm only trying to help." I stood up in a huff and headed for the sliding glass door.
"Mom?"
I stopped. "Yeah, Sweetie?"
"I love you."
I smiled. "I love you, too."
(end flashback)
No matter what Ike said, I knew something was troubling him. My baby was lying through his teeth. That was as plain as the nose on my face. At first, I didn't know what the problem was. But when I found out Rebecca snuck out sometime during the night, it became obvious something went down between her and my son.
To this day, what EXACTLY happened remains a mystery. I've nonchalantly pumped Tay and Zac for information, but came up empty-handed. Either Ike didn't tell them what happened, or my three eldest sons are playing 'let's keep a secret from Mom.'
As I peek out into the living room and watch Rebecca place her hands over Ike's, I know I'm right - something most definitely happened, and the two went their separate ways. So this can only lead me to one obvious question: What the hell is she doing in my living room?
I heard the front door shut and quickly sat down at the kitchen table to write a grocery list. I didnt want Ike to know I was eavesdropping. He probably knew anyway, but there's no reason to make it obvious, either.
Ike entered the kitchen and opened the fridge. He removed the carton of orange juice, and began to drink out of it.
"You know, I'm well aware that when you're at your place you do whatever you please. But seven of us still live here and may want a glass of ORANGE JUICE, not your backwash."
He shrugged sheepishly and smiled. "Oops," he said, removing a glass from the cabinet over the counter. "Force of habit."
"Yeah, well, you may want to break that habit. And if you don't, your wife will have you breaking it, pronto."
Ike just stood there. He had a blank look on his face that was devoid of any emotion. He was completely out of it, and it sent chills up and down my spine. Walker and I had always joked about married life with Ike. Apparently this time, I struck a nerve.
"Ike?"
"Huh?" He shook his head in attempt to bring himself back to reality. "What did you say, Mom?"
"I was just saying that... never mind. Just don't drink out of the carton anymore," I said, returning my attention to the grocery list, adding orange juice and laundry detergent, seeing as how my baby boy used the last of mine. Maybe, one day, he'll bring his own detergent. Hmm... now there's a thought.
"Mom, can I ask you something?" Ike asked, sitting down in the empty chair across from me.
I looked up and smiled. "Sure, Honey. Anything."
"Is... is Dad your best friend?"
"Why, yes, he is. One of my best friends, certainly."
"Did you start out as friends?"
"No, it wasn't really like that at all. My mother didn't think it was going to last. She thought for sure that as we left high school, we'd grow apart. And that wasn't exactly a bad assumption on her part, either. I mean, it made sense. It's kinda rare to find the one person out there that you can be with forever. Your father is the only best friend from high school I've managed to keep. All our other friends are either neighbors or from college." I paused. "Does that answer your question?"
Ike nodded his head. "Yeah. Yeah, it does. Thanks, Mom." He got up, kissed my cheek, and then retreated to the laundry room.
I smiled to myself. So that's what it was. Somewhere between "Mmmbop" and that fateful trip to LA, my baby boy fell in love with his best friend.