Intermission - Diana meets Holly (Part 2).

Ms. Brooks led Diana to the kitchen. The two women sat across from each other at the small table, but when Ms. Brooks sat down, her eyebrows rose.

“Ah, right, I’m sorry. Do you want anything to drink?” she offered.

Diana nodded. “Water, please.” Her tongue was as dry as an old sponge.

Ms. Brooks pouted her a glass of mineral water from a bottle she had in the fridge and poured one for herself as well. She sat down again and took a small sip while Diana stopped herself from chugging half the glass down in one go.

“Honestly, that boy used to be so quiet,” Ms. Brooks said with a nostalgic smile, eyes on her glass. “He never caused trouble, always did as told without a peep, always told the truth… I thought myself lucky to have a well-behaved son, but it turns out he was keeping inside all his own issues. Didn’t notice until just recently and now he’s already a young man. Now it’s like he’s making up for all the trouble he didn’t give in his earlier years.” She chuckled humorlessly. “I may not have the right to worry and meddle now, but I will anyway because I’m his mother. You understand that much, don’t you?”

Diana nodded. “I do. I understand.”

“Then I’m sorry for being so blunt, but… Why? Why Oliver? He’s eight years younger than you.”

That was the thing, wasn’t it? Eight years. Diana was already out of university while he was just about to start it (maybe). The gap in life experience was the main issue.

“...” What could Diana say? That it was love at first sight? That she had developed an obsession with this young man she had never even talked to? Terrible answers. “I couldn’t stop thinking about him,” she admitted.

“Huh?”

“I happened to see him once, months ago. We didn’t talk and he didn’t see me. Then the same happened again, and again. I thought…” Diana took a deep breath and the air seemed to tear at her lungs. “I thought he was… handsome. Saw him plenty of times but we never spoke. Then I found out he was working at my friend’s coffee shop.”

Ms. Brooks nodded. “Maria, right?”

Of course Oliver had told her already. “Yes. It was her idea. A double date. I hesitated but I was… tired. I needed a change of pace. What’s more, I knew I wanted it, so I said yes.”

“Tired?”

Diana shook her head. “Sorry. That doesn’t matter.”

“Either you’re just like him or he’s rubbing off on you,” Ms. Brooks said with a small smile. “Come on. Tell me.”

“My dad had recently passed away.”

“Oh.”

“I was dealing with the funeral, lawyers, inheritance, family…” Diana sighed. “When Maria suggested a double date, I…”

“I’m sorry,” Ms. Brooks said. “Oliver didn’t say that.”

“Look, Ms. Brooks, I’m very aware this is… strange. But I’m not playing around here. I couldn’t. I share your worries. I’m scared of having a negative effect on him. But… He’s having a very positive effect on me.”

Ms. Brooks looked at her glass and swirled her glass. “Are you serious about him?”

Diana chuckled and didn’t quite manage to hide the bitterness at the question. “Would you believe me if I said yes? Would you judge me if I said no?”

Ms. Brooks laughed. “Okay, you got me. Sorry, my questions have all been unfair.” She groaned in defeat with a shake of her head. “I mean, I didn’t get it before, but now I understand why Oliver is… surrounded by women. Of course he’d catch your eye.”

“Ah. Right. You know about Frey.”

“What do you make of that?”

“I wouldn’t blame you if you don’t believe him, but he’s telling the truth. I tried to tell myself it couldn’t be real, but the first time I sensed what was on his mind, I couldn’t pretend anymore.”

“So… You can read his mind, too?”

“Not quite. Less than mind reading, it’s more like a feeling of certainty. When he looks at me, I know how much… How much I mean to him despite us not knowing each other for long. After plenty of bad relationships, that certainty is priceless. It should go without saying that Oliver means a lot to me as well.”

“And the other girls? Does that not trouble you?”

Diana smiled. “I’m something of an introvert, Ms. Brooks. I dislike being in big groups and have trouble talking to strangers. Those girls… Strange as it is, I’d like to call them friends. I know we’re only just getting to know each other, but they’ve welcomed me in their little group and I enjoy their company as well. No, they do not trouble me in the slightest.”

“...” Ms. Brooks drank more of her glass of water. “And what if, say, Oliver fell for yet another girl? Would you welcome her into the group.”

Oh.

Right.

Diana hadn’t considered that. Of course, there was a chance she wouldn’t be the last of Oliver’s lovers. In fact, there was a high chance there would be others in the future. How did she feel about that?

…

Diana chuckled. “Who knows? If I like her, I’ll welcome her. If I don’t, I’ll tell him. That scenario is so dependent on so many factors that it’s pointless to think of hypotheticals, no?”

“I guess it is.” Ms. Brooks closed her eyes and smiled fondly. “You know, I had those two when I was 22. My boyfriend was barely 18. He proposed to me and we got married when they were five months in in my belly. I can’t go around preaching responsible relationships with my history. Besides, Oliver has grown so much, and he’s happier than he ever has been. I guess I just don’t want anything to ruin that for him.” She chuckled. “And now you’re part of his happiness, too.”

Diana felt heat rising to her cheeks. She didn’t know what to say to that.

“Still, I have one final test for you, Diana,” Holly said. The lightness of her tone, however, told her this wasn’t anything serious. “Oliver said you know how to mix drinks.”

“I do. I worked as a bartender for a few years. Now I’m managing a new bar at a hotel and I hope to open my own someday.”

“Then I want you to promise to make me a drink one of these days,” Ms. Brooks said with a smile. “I’ll take whatever you recommend. I’m curious and I haven’t had a nice drink in years.”

“I think Oliver mentioned something like that. Do you like to drink?”

“I do, but… Well, being a single mother has its challenges. I promised I’d never let the kids see me drunk, and I didn’t have the most restraint when I was younger. Now they’re both grown up, so I think I can let loose a little bit.”

Diana smiled. “I promise I’ll make you something good, ma’am.”

“Please, just call me Holly. We’re close enough in age that you’ll make me feel old if you treat me too respectfully.”

“Okay. Then… What’s your favorite drink, Holly?”

“Gin fizz. Too boring?”

“Only if you throw all the ingredients together without any thought. I’ll serve you a true gin fizz,” Diana said confidently.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“...”

Okay, so things were going well. Holly had accepted her. Should Diana take the win and leave it at that or try to get closer to her?

…

She did promise Oliver she’d win her over.

“Actually, why don’t you come over to my place? I could invite Maria and the three of us could chat.”

Holly raised an eyebrow, interested. “You know… That doesn’t sound bad. I have yet to meet Maria and thank her for taking care of Oliver. Okay, let’s do that.”

And so, Diana ended up becoming friends with her boyfriend’s mother.

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