Mother Knows Best (Especially About Boyfriends)

By lunchtime on Tuesday, Elaine was exhausted.

Normally, she loved the challenge of working with young people. Even on difficult days, there was something rewarding about finding a way to reach a student, helping someone discover an ability they hadn't known they possessed, or simply getting a roomful of teenagers to laugh and enjoy themselves. Teaching physical education had its frustrations, but it also had its pleasures.

That morning's Grade Ten class, however, had tested her patience.

They'd been all over the place. No focus, no discipline, and far too many class clowns competing for attention. Getting them to listen to instructions had been like trying to herd cats, and getting them to actually follow those instructions had been an entirely different challenge. A handful of students had made a genuine effort, but the rest seemed determined to turn every exercise into an opportunity to fool around.

It wasn't as if she'd been forcing them to do calculus. It was volleyball, for Pete's sake.

The rules weren't complicated. The equipment was already set up. All they had to do was move around, practise their serves, work with their teammates, and enjoy themselves. God forbid they put a little effort into their own physical fitness, take care of their bodies, and have some fun doing it.

Elaine sighed and took another bite of her chicken salad. It was perfectly fine, really. The meal was fresh, the dressing was decent, and she'd managed to find a quiet corner of the staff room where she could enjoy a few minutes without someone asking her to solve a problem. The morning had simply worn her down.

Really, it wasn't as if it would matter in the long run. The kids would grow up. They'd mature, develop a little self-discipline, and become as focused as they needed to be. Besides, she was reasonably confident that none of those particular students would grow up to become members of the Olympic volleyball team. Their futures didn't depend on mastering a perfect serve at fifteen.

But still...

Would it kill them to enjoy themselves while getting a little healthier?

A cheerful chirp came from her phone, resting beside her lunch container. Elaine's attention snapped towards it, and her heart gave a momentary flutter. Maybe it was Roy.

She couldn't help smiling at the thought. She loved him so much. Even the most frustrating day at work couldn't take away the happiness he brought into her life. A message from him, even something as simple as asking how her day was going, would be enough to brighten her afternoon.

It was strange how completely her perspective had changed since meeting him. Elaine had enjoyed a good life before Roy. She'd had a wonderful marriage to Mark, raised two children, built a career she was proud of, and accumulated more happy memories than she could count. She wouldn't trade those years for anything. Yet, when she thought about her life now, even those wonderful memories seemed to have taken on a sepia tone. They were precious, certainly, but the world she'd discovered with Roy was so much brighter.

She glanced around the staff room. A few teachers were chatting near the coffee machine, while others sat with their lunches and looked at their phones. Elaine found herself feeling a little sorry for the women around her. They had no idea what they were missing. They might have husbands or boyfriends, perhaps even perfectly happy relationships, but none of them had Roy. None of them knew what it was like to be loved by him.

Her smile softened. It was an almost ridiculous thought, but she couldn't help it. Roy had made her feel like the luckiest woman in the world. And she knew that all of his other girlfriends felt exactly the same way.

Looking down at her phone, she discovered that the message wasn't from him.

It was Claire.

A different smile appeared, just as genuine as the first.

Claire-bear. Her daughter, her beautiful girl, the apple of her eye. The two of them had always been close, even if they were quite different in temperament. Elaine had been athletic and practical, while Claire had always been artistic, creative, and inclined to see the world through a different lens. Yet somehow, despite those differences, Claire had followed in her mother's footsteps and become a teacher herself. Elaine couldn't have been prouder.

The message was simple.

Elaine didn't hesitate. Whatever Claire needed, she would make time for her. She picked up the phone and tapped the call button. Claire answered on the first ring.

"Hi, sweetheart!"

"Hey, Mom."

"How are you doing, Claire-bear?"

A small pause followed. "I'm okay. Are you at work?"

"Just having lunch. I've got a few minutes. What's up?"

"Can you talk privately?"

Elaine glanced around the staff room. Nobody was paying particular attention to her, but there were enough people nearby that she wasn't comfortable having a personal conversation at normal volume. She gathered her lunch container and moved towards the far end of the room, settling into a chair beside a window. A couple of colleagues were discussing a student's upcoming evaluation nearby, but their conversation was quiet enough that she could keep her own voice low.

"All right," she said softly. "I've found a quiet spot. What's going on?"

Another pause. Claire sounded hesitant, almost as though she'd been rehearsing what she wanted to say and was struggling to find the right words.

"Mom, can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Have you ever... I don't know. Have you ever realized you made a mistake? A really big one?"

Elaine frowned slightly. "What sort of mistake?"

"Like choosing the wrong person."

The question caught her off guard. "Claire? Is everything all right with you and Adam?"

"I don't know."

There was something in her daughter's voice that made Elaine sit up straighter. "What's happened?"

"Nothing, exactly. That's the problem. Nothing's happened. I just..." Claire exhaled shakily. "I don't think I want to marry him anymore."

For a moment, Elaine couldn't quite process what she'd heard.

"What?"

"I've been thinking about it for a while. I keep telling myself it's just nerves, that everyone gets cold feet before a wedding, but I don't think that's what this is. Adam just isn't doing it for me anymore, Mom. I don't look at him and feel excited about spending the rest of my life with him. I don't even know if I really want to be around him sometimes."

Elaine lowered her voice even further. "Oh, sweetheart."

"I feel like I've picked the wrong man. Like I've made a mistake, and now I'm supposed to go through with it because we've already made plans and everyone expects us to get married. I keep thinking that maybe if I just give it more time, things will get better. But they don't."

"Have you talked to Adam about this?"

"No. I don't know what to say to him. I don't even know if I want to try to fix things."

Elaine looked down at her salad, suddenly uninterested in eating. Her daughter was engaged. She'd been looking forward to the wedding, imagining Claire in her dress, watching her walk down the aisle, and seeing her begin a new chapter of her life. Adam had always seemed like a decent enough young man. Not especially exciting, perhaps, but Elaine had thought he made Claire happy.

Clearly, she'd been wrong about something.

"Claire-bear, you don't have to marry someone just because you've made plans," Elaine said gently. "If you're having serious doubts, you need to listen to them. It's much better to take a step back now than to make a commitment you don't believe in."

"I know."

"Have you been unhappy for a long time?"

"Not really," Claire said. "Just a few days. But I've never been more sure that I was wrong."

Elaine felt a pang of sadness. "Oh, sweetheart."

"I didn't want to disappoint you."

"Disappoint me? Claire, you're my daughter. I want you to be happy. That's all I've ever wanted."

"I know. I just... I don't know what to do next."

"Well, you don't have to figure everything out today. You can take some time. You can think about what you want, and what would make you happy. You don't have to make any decisions about the wedding until you're ready."

"Actually, Mom, I was wondering..." Claire hesitated again. "Would it be okay if I moved home for a bit? Just until I sort myself out?"

The request made Elaine pause.

"Oh, honey."

"I know it's a lot to ask. I just don't think I can keep living with Adam while I'm trying to work out how I feel. I need some space. Somewhere I can think without having to pretend everything's fine."

Elaine looked out the window. Beyond the glass, the school parking lot was busy with cars, and a few students were crossing the grounds. Her first instinct was to tell Claire that she could come home immediately, that there was always room for her. Then the practical details caught up with her.

The house was changing. In fact, it was about to become empty.

"Well, there's something you should know," she said. "I'm actually in the process of moving out myself."

"What?"

"I'm moving in with Roy. At Jessica's house. We've been talking about it for a while, and I've started bringing my things over. The plan is for me to stay there with him and the other girls. So the house will be empty soon."

Silence.

Elaine waited, expecting Claire to ask about the move, or the house, or perhaps what would happen to the family home. She'd been preparing herself for that conversation, knowing that the decision to leave the place where Claire and Evan had grown up might be difficult for her daughter. There were so many memories attached to those rooms, and Elaine understood that Claire might need time to adjust to the idea.

But when Claire finally spoke, her question was very different.

"What's it like to be with Roy?"

Elaine blinked. The question was so unexpected that she almost forgot to answer. Then the smile returned to her face, and she felt her whole expression soften.

"Oh, Claire-bear."

"What?"

"He's wonderful."

"I know you like him, Mom. I mean... what's it actually like?"

Elaine glanced around the room again. The teachers nearby were still absorbed in their conversation, but she lowered her voice anyway. It was one thing to tell her daughter she was happy. It was another to describe just how happy.

"I love him," she said. "I love him so much. And he makes me feel so loved. That's the thing I don't think I can properly explain. He makes me feel beautiful, and wanted, and important. He's thoughtful and kind, and he pays attention to everything. He remembers little things I've said, notices when something's bothering me, and makes me feel like there's nowhere else he'd rather be than right beside me."

"He's handsome, too, isn't he?"

Elaine laughed softly. "Oh, yes. Very handsome."

"Mom."

"What?"

"I mean physically. What's he like?"

The question was more pointed than Elaine had expected. She looked down at the table, a blush warming her cheeks. "Claire, that's a rather personal question."

"I know. Sorry. I'm just curious."

Elaine considered brushing it off, but there was something in Claire's voice that made her hesitate. Her daughter wasn't simply making conversation. There was a real need behind the question, something Elaine couldn't quite identify yet.

"Well..." She leaned closer to the phone, lowering her voice. "I think he's gorgeous. I love his body. I really do. There's something about him that makes me feel all tingly just thinking about him. When he's close to me, when he puts his arms around me, I just melt."

Claire remained quiet, so Elaine continued, her own enthusiasm making it easier to speak.

"He's a real man, sweetheart. There's weight behind him. He's not some flimsy boy, and he's certainly not a peacock who's more interested in admiring himself than being with a woman. Roy is comfortable in his own skin. He's strong, affectionate, and generous. He makes me feel wonderful, and when we're together..." She paused, smiling to herself. "Well, he's incredible in bed. Absolutely incredible."

"Really?"

Elaine laughed quietly. "Really. I don't think I've ever felt so wanted. And it's not just about the physical side of things. It's the way he touches me, the way he looks at me, the way he makes me feel like I'm the only woman in the world. He doesn't have to put on a show. He doesn't need to prove anything. He's just Roy."

A small silence followed.

"Claire?"

No answer.

Elaine's smile faded. She listened carefully and heard something faint on the other end of the line. A quiet, uneven sound.

"Sweetheart?"

"I'm here."

But Claire's voice was thick, and Elaine recognized the sound of someone trying very hard not to cry.

"Claire-bear," she asked gently, "what's really going on?"

A few seconds passed before her daughter answered.

"Why can't I find a man like Roy?" The words came through the phone accompanied by a sob. "Why can't I have what you have?"

Elaine's stomach tightened. "Oh, honey."

"Or maybe not even like Roy..." Claire struggled to get the words out. "I mean, how did I miss out on being one of Roy's girlfriends? You and the others are so lucky. I ended up with Adam." The name sounded venomous coming from her daughter's mouth. "I feel like I won last place, ending up with a guy like that. I think I wouldn't really care if I'd never met Roy, but the more you talk about him, the more I remember. Our hike, when we scattered Dad's ashes. Dinner at your place. I keep thinking about how wonderful he was, how much fun I had with him, how handsome he is. And now I realize how much I missed out on."

Elaine didn't answer immediately.

The gravity of what she was hearing was almost overwhelming. Her daughter was speaking as though she, too, had fallen in love with Roy. Not simply admired him or thought he was handsome, but genuinely regretted not having a relationship with him. The memories Claire was describing were familiar to Elaine. The hike had been a beautiful day, a chance for the family to say goodbye to Mark in a way that felt meaningful. Dinner at her house had been another ordinary evening, one of many that had brought Roy closer to the people she loved.

Had Claire felt something then? Had she been attracted to Roy without recognizing it? Or had those memories taken on a different meaning now that she'd heard her mother describe the man she loved? Elaine wasn't sure. But she understood the feeling behind Claire's words more than she might have expected.

The more she thought about it, the worse she felt for her daughter. Claire had been preparing to marry a man who didn't make her happy, while the man she seemed to want was right there in her mother's life. Adam had never struck Elaine as a particularly exciting match, but she'd assumed he and Claire shared something meaningful. Now she wondered whether Claire had simply settled for a relationship that looked good on paper.

Of course Adam was a bad fit. He wasn't anything like Roy.

Worse, he wasn't Roy.

"Claire-bear," Elaine said at last, her voice warm and reassuring, "you can move home. You can stay as long as you need. Our home is your home. That will never change, no matter where I happen to be living."

"Thank you, Mom."

"There's no need to thank me. You're my girl. I want you to have somewhere you feel safe, somewhere you can take your time and work out what you want."

"I really need that."

"Then that's settled." Elaine glanced at the clock. Her lunch break was getting away from her, but she wasn't about to rush this conversation. "And why don't you come over for dinner tonight? At Jessica's. Roy's going out on a date this evening, but the rest of us will be there. We can spend some time together, and you can meet everyone properly. Maybe we can talk about what's been happening. Talk about your feelings."

"All of you will be there?"

"I think so. You'll be welcome, sweetheart. I think it might be nice for you to get to know everyone a little better."

Claire was quiet for a moment. "I'd like that."

"Good. And don't worry about bringing anything. Just come as you are."

"I think I'll cash in some sick time this afternoon. I don't really want to go back to work today. I'm going to pack a few things while Adam's out."

"Are you sure you don't want to talk to him first?"

"Not today. I can't do it today. I need to get my head straight, and I don't want to have that conversation before I'm ready. I just want to think about what comes next."

"That's perfectly reasonable."

"I don't want to spend another day pretending everything's fine. Adam is the past, Mom. I need to think about my future."

Elaine felt a rush of affection for her daughter. There was sadness in Claire's voice, but also a new firmness. Perhaps making the decision to leave had been harder than she'd expected, but at least she was beginning to take control of her life again.

"Then we'll look forward," Elaine said. "One step at a time."

"Thank you. Really. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'll never have to find out."

They exchanged a few more words before saying goodbye. Elaine kept the phone against her ear for a moment after the call ended, looking at the screen as though Claire might call back with something else to say.

Eventually, she set it down beside her lunch. The staff room hadn't changed. Teachers continued chatting, someone was laughing near the coffee machine, and a microwave beeped impatiently from the counter. Elaine picked up her fork and took another bite of chicken salad, although her thoughts were nowhere near her lunch.

Claire was coming home.

The idea made sense. She needed somewhere comfortable, somewhere familiar, and Elaine wanted her daughter to have the space to decide what she wanted without Adam standing over her shoulder. The house would soon be empty anyway. Elaine had been thinking about selling it, and now there was another reason to make sure Claire had the opportunity to settle somewhere before any decisions were made.

Having Claire at Jessica's for dinner made sense, too. The other women would be welcoming. Jessica was wonderful at making people feel included, and Zara would probably have a dozen questions for her before the evening was over. Michelle would be sweet, as would Monique, and Elaine was sure the others would be happy to have Claire around. They were becoming a family, after all. There was room for one more person who mattered to Roy.

And then there was the question of Claire and Roy.

Elaine looked down at her phone again, a thoughtful smile slowly forming. She couldn't pretend not to understand what her daughter was feeling. Roy had changed her life. He'd made her happier than she'd thought possible, and the idea that Claire might want a chance to experience some of that happiness herself was hardly difficult to understand.

Was it possible that Claire could become one of Roy's girlfriends?

The thought should probably have surprised her more than it did. Instead, Elaine found herself considering it with a curious sense of possibility. Claire was a beautiful, intelligent young woman. Roy was a wonderful man, and there was no denying the effect he had on the women who loved him. If Claire had feelings for him, perhaps there was something worth exploring.

Perhaps the most surprising part was that Elaine hadn't thought of it sooner.