Chapter 14 : The Point of No Return
(Narrator : Josh)
After more than two weeks, I have to admit this living arrangement with Jessica is working out better than I ever expected. The tension we had at first is slowly fading, replaced by a routine that, surprisingly, I enjoy. Our mismatched schedules give us balance. She starts her day just as I’m coming home from my night shifts, and we cross paths briefly, exchanging a few tired but genuine words.
The weekends, though, are our time. That’s when I realize how glad I am to share this apartment with her. Jessica seems more relaxed then, almost radiant at times. Seeing her smile, despite the complications with our friends, warms me in a way I don’t want to admit.
It’s strange to realize how much her presence keeps me grounded.
This weekend is special: our mom is coming to visit. Jessica and I have planned everything to keep it simple, warm, and—most importantly—free of any ambiguity. No mentions of our friends or the lingering insinuations about our cohabitation. Just a normal family day.
That morning, Jessica is already up when I step out of my room. She’s bustling around, fluffing pillows, adjusting objects on the shelves, and making sure everything looks perfect. I lean against the doorframe, coffee mug in hand, watching her with amusement.
- Josh: “Planning to repaint the walls too, or is this enough?”
She spins around, shooting me a mock-annoyed look.
- Jessica: “You could at least help instead of standing there throwing out useless comments.”
I shrug with a grin, setting my mug down on the table before stepping over to grab a pillow she just tossed onto the couch.
- Josh: “You do know she’s not going to inspect every corner of the apartment, right? It’s just Mom.”
- Jessica: “Exactly. It’s Mom. If she finds even a single sock lying around, we’ll never hear the end of it.”
I chuckle softly but decide not to push the point. Jessica’s right about one thing: our mom has a unique talent for spotting every little detail. But deep down, I know this visit means a lot to her, and that’s enough to make me step up and help a little more.
Once the apartment is spotless—or at least up to Jessica’s exacting standards—we settle in the living room, enjoying a rare moment of calm. I glance over at her. She looks relaxed, her eyes glued to her phone, probably checking a message or a notification.
Josh: “You nervous?”
Jessica: “Not really. I mean, a little. But it’s fine. What about you?”
I think for a moment before answering, brushing at an imaginary crumb on the table.
- Josh: “Honestly? No. It’s nice to see her. And… I’m glad she’ll get to see how well things are going here.”
Jessica finally looks up, a soft smile playing on her lips.
- Jessica: “Yeah. Me too. I think she’ll be proud of us.”
Those words, simple but sincere, hit me harder than I’d expected. She’s right. Despite everything, we’re doing okay.
Before Mom arrives, Jessica and I set the table together. There’s an easy sense of camaraderie between us, as if all the outside worries have momentarily melted away. When she leans down to grab something from a drawer, I tease her gently.
- Josh: “You’re really taking this seriously, huh? Feels like you’re prepping for a state dinner.”
She laughs, light and genuine.
- Jessica: “If we’re going to do something, we might as well do it right, don’t you think?”
- Josh: “Yeah, well, if Mom brings her famous gratin, that’s going to steal the spotlight—not the table.”
Jessica shakes her head, but I catch her smile. These small moments remind me how natural our connection is, how well we work together despite everything.
When my mom arrives, it’s like a breath of fresh air. She walks into the apartment with her usual smile, a large casserole in her hands and a bag full of little treats. Before she even says a word, she turns to me, giving me a once-over like she’s making sure I’m still in one piece.
- Mom: “My boy! You look tired. Are you getting any sleep with those night shifts?”
I smile, leaning in to kiss her on the cheek.
- Josh: “I’m sleeping, I promise. And you’ve brought way too much food again, haven’t you?”
She laughs softly, patting my arm before turning to Jessica. Her smile widens as soon as she sees her.
- Mom: “Jess, sweetheart. You look as beautiful as ever. Take care of your brother, okay? He needs someone to keep an eye on him.”
Jessica rolls her eyes playfully, a teasing smile on her lips, but I can tell she’s touched. She takes the dishes from our mom’s hands and sets them on the table.
- Jessica: “Don’t worry, Mom. I make sure he doesn’t get into too much trouble.”
We settle into the living room, and the conversation flows naturally. Our mom starts by complimenting the apartment, praising how tidy and bright it is.
- Mom: “Honestly, I’m impressed. I don’t know which one of you is behind all this order, but it’s nice to see you’re living so well together.”
Jessica shoots me a mischievous look, and I decide to play along.
- Josh: “It’s mostly me. I’ve become a master of organization, thanks to the army.”
- Jessica (with a sly smile): “Oh, of course. Except I’m the one who hides his stray socks.”
Our mom laughs, a warm sound that fills the room. She looks at us like everything is perfectly in place, and for a moment, I feel… good. Just good.
As the conversation drifts, childhood memories start to resurface. Mom tells a story I thought I’d forgotten, about an argument Jessica and I had as kids over a toy I refused to share with her.
- Mom: “And then Josh finally gave her the toy… but only after he broke it. Remember that, Jess?”
Jessica bursts out laughing, shaking her head.
- Jessica: “Oh, I remember it perfectly. And you know what? It taught me an important lesson: never leave anything around Josh unsupervised.”
- Josh: “Oh, come on. That was ages ago! I’m way more responsible now.”
Maman: “It’s true. I can see it. You two really complement each other. It warms my heart.”
Those simple, sincere words hit me harder than I let on. Seeing my mom happy and proud of us, even in this complicated situation, soothes some of my lingering worries.
For once, there are no hidden meanings, no awkward questions. Just the three of us, sharing a familial moment that feels suspended in time. Mom talks about her travel plans, her neighbors, and whatever else crosses her mind. For a little while, I forget the complications with our friends, the misunderstandings, and everything else.
Jessica seems more relaxed too. Her laughter is light, her smile genuine. I watch her chat with our mom, and a wave of gratitude washes over me. This is the real us. Simple and honest. Why can’t everything be as easy as this moment?
We’re deep into a peaceful afternoon tea with Mom, and everything is going perfectly. Jessica shares a recent work anecdote, and I soak up the calm. But, of course, as always, things can’t stay simple for long.
A sharp knock on the door makes me jump. I glance at Jessica, who looks just as surprised as I am. Mom, ever curious, sets her tea cup down.
- Mom: “Are you expecting someone?”
I shake my head as I stand up to answer. When I gently pull the door open, I find Paul and Harper standing on the threshold, a bottle of wine in hand and overly enthusiastic smiles plastered on their faces.
- Paul: “Surprise! We thought we’d stop by and say hi. We were hoping you’d be here.”
Harper winks at me, waving the bottle of wine.
- Harper: “Didn’t mean to interrupt, but it looks like we caught you at a bad time.”
I force a smile, already on edge. Jessica steps into view behind me, and the moment she spots our friends, her smile falters ever so slightly.
Paul’s curious gaze shifts over my shoulder and lands on my mom, still sitting at the table. His grin widens, taking on a mischievous edge.
- Paul: “Oh, my bad. Looks like we’re interrupting something serious. We just wanted to say hi, but… is this a family meeting, or what?”
I try to keep things light, attempting to defuse the situation.
Josh: “Nah, it’s nothing. We were just spending some time with Mom. You’re welcome to join, but…”
Harper (cutting in): “Oh, how cute. You’re introducing Jessica to your mom, Josh. That’s a big step!”
My stomach twists into a knot. Harper’s words are framed as a joke, but the implication hangs heavily in the air. Behind me, Jessica stays silent, but I can see the panic in her eyes.
Paul, of course, doesn’t waste a second before piling on.
- Paul: “So it’s serious then? Official, huh? Glad to see you’re finally taking things seriously, man. Congrats.”
Jessica and I exchange a quick, desperate glance, silently pleading for a way to shut this down. But before either of us can say a word, it’s my mom who speaks up, her smile innocent but disarmingly calm.
- Mom: “I don’t quite understand everything, but it warms my heart to finally see them together. You two are such a good match.“
Time seems to freeze. Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Paul and Harper exchange knowing looks, their grins spreading even wider. I try to say something—anything—but my throat feels dry as sand.
- Harper: “Looks like we’re intruding… We’ll leave you to your family time. Wouldn’t want to ruin the moment.”
- Paul (with a wink): “Catch you later, lovebirds.”
They’re out the door as quickly as they arrived, leaving behind a tension so thick it’s almost suffocating. I close the door slowly, my heart pounding in my chest. For a moment, Jessica and I stand frozen, both carefully avoiding our mom’s gaze.
But Mom, still smiling, casually picks up her tea as if nothing out of the ordinary just happened.
- Mom: “Your friends seem to enjoy joking around, don’t they? I suppose that’s just their way of teasing you.”
I grab the opportunity, letting out a soft laugh to mask my unease.
- Josh: “Oh yeah, they’re huge jokers. They love to exaggerate, especially when they know they can make us a little uncomfortable.”
Jessica, standing next to me, nods slowly, a forced smile plastered on her face. Her eyes meet mine briefly, and I can see she’s just as tense as I am, though she keeps quiet.
- Mom: “Well, I suppose it just shows they care about you.”
She takes another sip, looking relaxed, while Jessica and I exchange a quick glance, heavy with silent frustration.
How are we going to get out of this mess? The jokes aren’t going to stop, and now Mom might think this is all just some kind of game.
The afternoon drags on, but the atmosphere has shifted. What should have been a light, warm visit is now weighed down by the unspoken. Jessica and I exchange furtive looks, but neither of us dares to bring up what just happened.
Mom, on the other hand, seems oblivious. She chats about her plans, shares the latest family news, and asks us about our daily lives. I respond as best as I can, but a part of me is elsewhere, already imagining what Paul and Harper might say after their visit.
Eventually, Mom stands to leave, clearly pleased with how the meeting went.
- Mom: “Thank you for this afternoon. It’s so nice to see you together, happy, and settled. Take care of yourselves, okay?”
Jessica and I walk her to the door, forcing smiles that don’t quite reach our eyes. Once she’s gone, the silence that fills the apartment is almost deafening.