"Mom..I'm home," Gina called.
Dani Malucci came out of the kitchen. Dani was a dental hygenist. It was a good job, with decent pay, and flexible hours that allowed her to be home to take care of her daughter, although with Gina suddenly an adult herself, this seemed less necessary. To Dani, of course, her daughter birthday had been moved up by seven years...and she now had a second daughter she'd had 3 years later. "Where's Zoe?"
"Probably hanging out with Athena," Gina said. "I mean, where else?"
Dani nodded. "How was school?"
"Well, everyone didn't give Karyn and I the time of day, and suddenly we're like...lesbian celebrities or something. I mean, the head cheerleader wants to hang out," Gina said.
"Well, your father and I told you that you and Karyn make an adorable couple. And to be honest, she's over here so much I'm surprised her mother doesn't think I adopted her."
"But...I said I'd think about going to a party...and Karyn is a bit mad at me...she's not really into that crowd. Neither am I, but..." Gina blushed a bit. "I just want people to see Karyn like I do, you know?"
"That's very sweet," Dani said.
"Was high school this complicated when you were my age?"
"Well, I'd already met your father. Your grandparents said we couldn't get married until one of us had a steady job. So your father took extra classes, and even was in school during the summer. And we got married the day after he graduated from college." She paused. "And then 9 months later...."
"Mom!!" Gina said, not particularly wanting to hear about her conception. "That isn't helping!!"
"Well, when I was your age, if your dad and someone had petty drama and I suggested we all hang out, he’d get that stubborn look, lock his phone, and throw it on Do Not Disturb. I didn't panic—you know me, I just thought it was ridiculous—so I’d just shrug, mute his texts, and go watch YouTube videos until he got over himself. Karyn’s reacting out of her own history with Sarah, not because you did anything wrong. Send her one message: 'I love you, I only want to go places together where you're comfortable, talk tomorrow.' Then put the phone down, drop the drama, and come help me with dinner."
"They had YouTube back then?" Gina asked.
"Gina, I was your age in 2013. We had electricity and everything," Dani said.
Gina nodded. "I'll go wash up and help..." she said. "And maybe send a text." She headed upstairs. But something was bothering her all of the sudden. 2013 was 13 years ago. Gina was 18....and her mom had told her she didn't get pregnant until after her dad graduated...she started to get a headache...She went and got herself something for it, then returned to the kitchen. Mom...did you say you were my age in 2013?"
Dani was leaning over the sink. She had suddenly felt warm for some reason. "2013? I think you misheard me...It was 2001..."
Gina did the math. Her mom was 43....she'd always been 43. Gina laughed, unaware her mother had just lost 12 years, but it certainly made more sense for a 43 year old to have 18 and 15 year old daughters than a 31 year old.
