Mom

“Paige, I’m back home,” Mom announced as she entered through the front door. “Hey, I didn’t know you invited a friend to stay over. Is she from school?”

It was now or never.

“This is Carly, my mother. Mom, this is Maple. She’s my classmate but also my…”

“She’s also your what? Are you alright?”

Why couldn’t I say the words?

“She’s m—my…”

“Mrs. Carly, I’m her girlfriend.”

Maple was now between Mom and me.

“Girlfriend? For how long?” Mom asked.

“About a week and a half.”

“Does that not seem too early? How did it happen between you two?”

Maple’s confidence seemed to waver as she was unable to answer the questions, instead ignoring them entirely. With the conversation going nowhere, we decided to move to the dining table.

“If you can’t answer those last questions, then it’s alright. And you can just call me Carly, I don’t mind.”

“Thanks,” Maple replied. “So… is it ok for Paige and me to be dating?”

Taking a sip of water, Mom sighed. “If Paige is happy being with you, then that’s all I can ask for. I’m glad enough as is that she’s even getting out and meeting new people. Usually she keeps to herself and never tells any of us anything about her life.”

“Mom, you don’t have to put it that way,” I said, disgruntled with how she described me.

“But it’s true, isn’t it? If you would rather not be seen like that, then how come you don’t open up to me or your dad?”

“Because you wouldn’t understand what I do. That’s why. Besides, you know how Dad is. It’s already bad enough as is—especially when he drinks.”

“Paige, don’t talk badly about your father. You know he’s trying his best.”

“Oh yeah, then how come he keeps skipping his rehab classes? Is he even still registered with the program?”

“He’s making progress in his own way. Just look at how he’s been able to keep his job. Without him, how else do you think we can afford to live?”

“I—”

I had no counterargument. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that my disdain for Dad was the product of outdated beliefs. Just maybe, if I talked to him, I could learn to understand him and appreciate his progress. However, there was one part I was sure I had figured out.

Our political beliefs didn’t align in the slightest, so much so that I wondered why Mom even married him in the first place. While he never mentioned them in front of us, he would frequently consume certain media. It pained me to see him follow such vile channels. It was a hill I didn’t want him to die on, but I didn’t have it in me to confront him.

Overwhelmed with emotion, I cried as I buried my head in my arms on the table.

“Paige…” Maple said as she got up from her chair. She began to hug me, consoling my back with her left hand.

“I made my decision.”

I lifted my head to see Mom looking directly at the two of us.

“I can’t say I know what it feels like to be in your situation. But what I do know is that you’re my daughter and that I have a responsibility as a parent to do what’s best for you. In saying that… you don’t have to tell Clint about your relationship with Maple. I’ll cover for you if he asks anything. I just ask that you spend more time with us. Especially me, because I’d hate to not hear how my daughter’s relationship is going.”

“Mom… Thank you…”

I went to hug her, followed by Maple. By now, my tears had receded, instead replaced by a bittersweet smile.

“Before Maple has to leave, would you two like to bake some cookies?” Mom suggested.

Cookies? Where have I heard that before?

“Uh, how come, Mom?”

“It seems like a good activity the three of us can do. You know, to lift the mood up. What do you say?”

“Sounds yummy—let’s do it!” Maple said.

With Christmas approaching, we decided to make gingerbread snowflake cookies while listening to festive music. Using a blend of spices and other ingredients, Mom created the flour mixture, while Maple and I worked on the butter mixture.

“Mom, where’s the electric mixer?” I asked. Without it, stirring was nigh impossible with the dough becoming increasingly thicker.

“I couldn’t find it. Guess it got lost in the garage or something. Sorry!”

“It’s nothing to worry about! Isn’t that right, dear?” Maple said.

“Huh? But without the electric mixer, we can’t possibly—”

In an instant, Maple grabbed the whisk and went to town on the dough like it owed her lunch money.

“How are you so fast!?”

“You just gotta set your mind to it!”

“Well, it looks like you two have everything covered! If you don’t mind me, I’m going to go check on some things,” Mom said, now on a phone call.

After finishing the dough, it resembled a brown piece of clay. We stored it in the fridge to settle for an hour before playing a round of Pokapon Kingdom. Once it was ready, we began slicing the dough into strips to create the star-shaped cookies.

“Maple, you should take some time to align the strips. Consistency is key,” I recommended.

“Hmm, why fuss over it? Isn’t there a saying about no two snowflakes being the same? Just like how I love your uniqueness.”

“Uniqueness?”

“Mwah!” she sounded with her lips as she kissed me on the cheek. “Never change, Paige, hehe!”

“You really love to show your affection, huh?”

“You know it!”

A few minutes later, we placed the cookie dough on the baking sheet in the oven for approximately twelve minutes, just the right amount of time for a chewy texture. By the time they came out, we were already prepared with a piping bag to lay down icing. To ensure that it didn’t run everywhere, it was imperative to let the cookies cool down completely, but alas, Maple couldn’t wait. Immediately, the icing melted and slid right off the first cookie.

“Uh, I guess you were right,” Maple said sheepishly.

“It’s alright; we still have the others to work with.”

Having waited thirty minutes, we were now ready to pipe the cookies. Using an online guide for reference, the snowflakes were coming together, much to our satisfaction.

“These look great! How about we freestyle the last one?” Maple suggested.

“Do you have a design in mind?”

“Yeah, I sure do! Watch!”

At first glance, it seemed like a normal snowflake design, but as Maple neared the center of the cookie, she took a drastic turn. The final product was a heart surrounding two stick figures holding hands.

“Is that what I think it is?” I asked.

“Mhm! Do you like it?”

I smiled. “Of course, dear.”

“Fantastic! Now, time for a taste test!”

Maple shoved the cookie straight into my mouth. The cinnamon spice blend was delicious, as was the icing. Rewarding ourselves, we ate the gingerbread cookies, taking care to slowly savor them.

“Let’s make sure to save some for Carly… and your dad. I have to go now, so I’ll see you later. And don’t forget, Friday is our first club meeting! Love you, Paige!”

“Love you too, Maple,” I said, waving her goodbye.

* * *

“Did you two make these cookies?” Dad asked.

“We did. What do you think?” I replied.

“It’s good. But you never do anything with your mother or me. From staying the night at some other place to this; why the sudden change?”

“I guess… I just wanted to help Mom. Is that wrong?”

He didn’t say a word as he went to remove his office attire.

Well, it was a start, I suppose…