Free Hot Tea by Sheila Horgan

smart, really smart.  Your logic may be a little convoluted at times.  Is that an oxymoron?”
I shrugged.
She continued.  “Mrs. O’Flynn, our sainted mother, raised not a single fool, but if someone were to award that particular distinction it would go to our Liam.  Granted, he is not a fool, but there are times he can be fool – ish.”
I laughed in spite of myself.
Tension broken, we shared a pot of tea and half a bag of Oreos and decided to meet later for lunch.  A preemptive strike, we’d go to Mom, before she came to us.
It didn’t dawn on me until after my sister left, that she still had my key.

 
 
 
 
ELEVEN
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
“It was hardly necessary for you girls to take me out to lunch.  I could have fixed something at the house.”
Teagan jumped in, “Mom, you’ve been fixing lunch for us for a long time, can’t you let us get your lunch?”
“I suppose.  But we certainly could have enjoyed a meal at either of your apartments.”
“This way we can all sit and enjoy the meal without having to pop up and down.”  I was trying to be diplomatic, but I could feel the Mom Vibe.  Something was about to rain down on our wee little heads, and I was nervous.  Moms can be pretty stealthy, and a mom in a mood, or worse, overly interested in the comings and goings of her adult daughters, can be cataclysmic to one’s sex life. 
Just in case I ever have a sex life again, I’d like to protect it.  My mother always said, being proactive is a good thing.  She probably didn’t have this particular situation in mind, but I’m not in the mood to share those thoughts with Mom and ask for confirmation.
I subtly started the ball rolling, “Mom, what’s going on?”
“Your brother has a new car, and a new girlfriend, and a new attitude.  They came by for a cup of tea last night.  She’s a lovely girl.  Very organized.  Very nice.  Very smart.  Your father liked her.”
I couldn’t mind my own business and hope that we could ignore complicated issues, I had to spring to the bait, “What’s the problem?”
“She brings with her a child.”  Mom couldn’t have sounded more concerned.
Teagan sounded genuinely confused, as my mother’s attitude didn’t match our upbringing, “And that’s a bad thing?”
“Oh for the love of God child don’t put words in my mouth,” she snapped.  Not a common occurrence for Mom.  “You know that a babe is always a good thing.  Always.” 
To Teagan she said, “Bringing with her a child, is not the issue I’m having.  The issue is your brother.”
My turn, “What’s the issue with Liam?”
She looked first at Teagan, then at me, and said, “Do you really think he’s ready to settle down?”
Teagan jumped in, “Mom, I think they’ve been out about three times.  They probably don’t even know each other’s middle names.  It might be a bit soon to be thinking about settling down.”
“That would be my worry.  It’s all fun and games when you’re single and young, but when a child is involved, it’s important to be more circumspect.  A child is more easily hurt.  A child doesn’t have the life experience to know.  Your brother is a big goof.  Every child loves him.  What happens when this little one falls in love with your brother, and it doesn’t work out?  The adults will be fine, but what of the child?”
We said in perfect unison, “Good point.”
“So which of you is going to talk to him?”
Teagan’s eyes were so big it must have been painful.  She hates getting in the middle of these family things.  She is quasi in charge of my screw-ups, but she knows that she doesn’t have to actually take any of my problems to heart.  If I get in trouble I’ll tell Mom all the right things, and Teagan’s off the hook.  With everyone else, there might actually be conflict and complications.  Teagan doesn’t do family conflict.  She’s the good sister. 
I raised my hand as I said it, just like volunteering to clean the