“I’d like you to meet my boyfriend!” Mama exclaimed, guiding a tall figure from the shadows of the front porch towards the empty seat directly across from me at the dining table. As I made eye contact with him, I felt the contents of the charcuterie board I’d been snacking on threaten to re-emerge.

“Nice to meet you,” I swallowed, attempting to hide the wavering in my voice.

“You as well, Margot,” he smirked. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

Mama smiled at the interaction clasping her hands together, then took her seat at the table next to him.

“I hope you don’t mind that we snacked a bit before you came,” Mama said to him as she scooped a massive amount of mashed potatos on each of our plates to accompany the mediocre steaks she managed to find on sale at the local market.

“Oh of course I don’t mind,” he chuckled, as he stabbed his knife into his steak. “I’m just glad that I could be here to enjoy this meal with you and finally meet your lovely daughter.” He grinned at me.

I felt myself pale and immediately broke the eye contact. What game is he playing? Is he really going to pretend he doesn’t know me?

I guess that beats the alternative. Of having to explain to Mama that he is the man that tried to abduct her daughter on her way home from school 5 years ago.