Reality And Romance

“What?” The two brothers stated in unison.
Andrew was just about to respond when the door flew open and his mother marched into the bathroom, locking the door behind her.

“Well that was a colossal fu*k up. Andrew dear, what were you thinking?” Vanessa Thompson was a slender woman, of nearly six feet tall, with long black hair and green, fox like eyes.

“What was I thinking? What were you thinking?” He began rhetorically, “I tried to tell you not to set me up with her.” This was true. The producers and his mother had been attempting to arrange this romance for the better part of a week, and had mostly dismissed his protests of ‘this is a really bad idea’ and ‘I won’t do it’ as nerves, or petty complaints.

His mother’s eyes grew wide “So are you actually….?”

“Yes. I’m seeing someone.”

“Who is she?”

“Her name is Libby.” Andrew smiled a little as he said the name.

“Is she anyone we would have heard of, I really must say it’s about time dear. The whole lonely hearts club act was getting rather old.”

“She’s not anyone famous, she’s a librarian.”

“Like a sexy librarian? Is she a porn star?” Johnny’s question was so in earnest that it actually put a smile on Andrew’s face.

“She is sexy, although that’s purely incidental. She’s just a regular stamp your books librarian. Well, I say regular, her job is regular, but the woman herself is quite fascinating.”

“I see.” His mother drummed her fingernails against the side of the sink. “So I suppose the only question now is what to do about it.”

Andrew sighed, “I’d really rather not do anything. I…really like this woman. I don’t want the press getting involved.”

“Sadly, that isn’t an option for you at the moment. Honestly, Andy, the point of you dating this Christina was because she is going to be a model for New York fashion week. That could be your big break. Do you really want to sacrifice that?”

New York fashion week was eight weeks away. It was supposed to be Andrew’s big break, the moment where all his hard work would pay off and he would finally have the international recognition necessary for his clothing line to really take off. Unfortunately, the show this year had requested that each designer market all their outfits to have a ‘theme’. He had spoken to McKenzie and been informed that the other designers had had their ideas sorted weeks ago, Disney princess style ball gowns or national costumes. Andrew was used to designing finely stitched suits and cocktail dresses, he had no idea how to produce something that extravagant, much less what theme to go for.

“I’m positive.” Andrew stated resolutely. Even if the show did look like it would be a complete disaster for him, Libby was worth any fashion show, no matter how hard he’d worked for it. His career was important to him and for a long time he had thought it was the most important thing. But now…Libby had changed that. As much as he wanted to be a fashion designer, as much as he had sacrificed to do that, it had ceased to be the thing that brought him happiness. Happiness for him now was warm touches, and soft kisses, and absurd conversation that had him chuckling for days after. Libby had become important to him, perhaps even more so than she realized. She had become worth more than his career, so even if this was a bad move that put his career back ten years…Libby was worth the risk.

“In that case, there is only one thing for it, we’ll have to get her on the show.” Vanessa said decisively, it wasn’t a question.
“I’d rather not.” Andrew shifted uncomfortably. The past few weeks had been so much fun. He didn’t want to ruin it. Libby was his escape from all of this, she was the special place he could go to have fun and be himself, and he didn’t want to drag her into this.
“Oh don’t be silly dear. We simply must have this mystery woman on the show. The publicity itself would be sensational. Unless…” She hesitated, “This woman’s not some punky oddball like that terrible McKenzie is she?”

Andrew shifted awkwardly, he liked McKenzie and it was unpleasant to hear his mother speak about his brother’s partner like that.

Aaron frowned, “McKenzie’s a very respected journalist, mother.”

“I’d be more than willing to have him on the show if only he’d remove those terrible piercings and do something about his hair.”

“I happen to like his piercings and hair.” Aaron said, fists clenched and arms shaking. Johnny and Andrew looked at each other, the two of them had had these conversations a number of times and they never ended well.
“Twenty-two is a little late to be going through your bad boy phase.”
“It’s not a phase!” Aaron exclaimed.

“If you say so dear,” Vanessa flicked her hair back, ignoring McKenzie’s stuttered protests and turning back to Andrew. “Anyway Andrew, I will meet this girl myself, and then, provided she is fitting, she will come on the show.”

“You will invite her to come on the show,” Andrew stated firmly. “And if she says no, you will leave her alone.”

“Nonsense. She won’t say no.” His mother sounded very certain.

Andrew frowned, once his mother had an idea in her head she wouldn’t let it go until it happened. He sighed, usually this was one of the things he liked about his mother. He would have to warn Libby.

“Now,” Vanessa continued. “Is there anything I should know about this girl before I meet her. Or about your relationship?”

“There is one thing…” Andrew smirked, if nothing else this small detail should be enough to get back at his mother, even just a little bit. “We meet in costumes.”

*****

Libby was nervous. Despite her fears over Andrew dating another woman having been quelled, she had now been told on very short notice that she not only was going to have to meet his mother, but that this woman was expecting her to appear on the show. Libby wasn’t delighted by the revelation, but she trusted Andrew. He had said she wouldn’t have to go on the show and she believed him.

The meeting was to take place in a small bar called ‘The Strong Man’ on the North Merriden Viaduct and to her surprise not only would she be meeting Andrew’s mother for the first time, but said mother would be dressed in a costume of her own. Andrew had explained that his most recent comment about a ‘special someone’ had thrown the media into a frenzy. To maintain their anonymity, this was a necessary precaution.
Andrew’s mother was obvious the moment they opened the door. Libby thought she was beautiful and the costume she was wearing only accentuated this beauty. Vanessa was wearing a long velvet dress, black, cut across the shoulders, and on her face she wore a feathered mask. Libby thought she looked more like she was attending a masked ball than wearing a costume.
“That’s her superhero costume?” Libby whispered to him on the way over to their table.
“Super villain,” Andrew muttered with a smirk. “I thought it would help to remind you to be careful. My mother is brilliant, but she’s sneaky. If you let down your guard, you’ll have agreed to whatever she wanted without even realizing it.”
Libby groaned and Andrew, noticing this, continued. “You’ll be fine. I’m here and I’m used to her tricks. Besides, she might look calm, but if I know my mother she’ll be at least a little thrown off by being sat in public dressed as ‘Madam Butterfly.’”

“Madam Butterfly. Oh, I like that.”

The conversation stopped as they reached the table and sat down. No one said anything for a moment, and Libby felt very uncomfortably like she was under inspection.

Noticing her discomfort, Andrew broke the silence, “Libby, this is my mother Vanessa, Vanessa this is my girlfriend Libby.”

Libby held out her hand and Vanessa took it, a smile creeping upon her face.

“Well you are eccentric, aren’t you dear?”
Libby’s eyes grew wide and she quickly pulled her hand away.

“Mother that’s not …” Andrew began in her defense, but Vanessa cut over him before he could finish.

“Oh no, don’t be ridiculous dear. That was a compliment. I like a little eccentricity.”