Maya Meets the Parents
Maya adjusts her dress slightly, and fidgets as she waits for Riley’s parents to let them into her childhood home.
“Riley,” Maya says, “do we really have to do this? Your parents have known me forever.” She doesn't mention that Riley's parents know her well enough that there's no way they're excited that she and Riley are dating.
“But they haven’t met you as my girlfriend yet,” Riley says, with a smile that could light an entire galaxy.
“This is ridiculous, Riles,” Maya says, "you don't have to reintroduce me as your girlfriend." I really don't want you to, she thinks.
Riley says, “There’s no turn back now.” Then she clicks the intercom, and Maya groans. There’s no getting out of this now.
“We’re here!” Riley says in excitement.
“Come on up,” Mr. Matthews says, “the door’s unlocked.” Maya supposes she shouldn’t have expected anything less. The Matthews are going to get robbed to hell and back someday because of how often they leave their door open. Riley grabs her hand, and intertwines their fingers. She feels a little better after that. Maya always feels so much more confident when they’re hand in hand.
She knows, instictively, that Mr. and Mrs. Matthews like her. Both of them have treated her much like a second daughter for much of her life, but that was when she was just Riley’s best friend who was a bit of a bad influence. Now she’s Riley’s girlfriend who is a bit of a bad influence, and that’s generally where parents draw the line. In general, a parent's qualifications for a good best friend are lower than they are for a romantic partner.
Maya knows that she’s not who anyone would dream their daughter would end up with, but she takes a deep breath and tries to calm down for the meeting. Riley’s right. They’ll have to do this eventually. Maya just feels better procrastinating on things until it’s too late to do them. Riley opens the door, and steps through the threshold. Maya follows her into the familiar Matthews family living room.
“Mother,” Riley says, formally, “father. I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Maya Hart.” Mrs. Matthews holds out a hand to shake with a big grin on her face.
“It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Hart,” she says with a knowing smirk, “Riley has told us all about you.”
Maya blushes scarlet, and says, “You don’t have to pretend you don’t know me.”
“What are you talking about?” she asks, “I’ve never seen you before in my life.” For a moment, Maya almost buys it, but then Mr. Matthews cracks up. She remembers, then, that random amnesia is something that only happens in the soap operas her mother auditions for.
“Stop messing with her, Topanga,” he says. The woman starts laughing then too, and Maya feels at least a little bit more comfortable.
They talk comfortably for the entire meal, just like old times and Maya finds herself confused. Shouldn’t they be scrutinizing her every move? Trying to figure out if she’s good enough for Riley? She’s fairly sure that she would fail that test, but there's a part of her that thinks that every person on earth would. She doesn't think that there's a person on this earth good enough for Riley, and she suspects that Riley's parents would agree.
When they finish dinner, Riley and her mother go off to talk about something, her major, her mother’s latest court case, kittens? It really could be anything with Riley and her mother. But then Maya hears them turn on the tv, and realizes what should have been obvious. They’re going to watch the Mets game.
She stops Mr. Matthews before he can leave with them.
He sends her a confused look, and asks, “What is it, Maya?”
“Aren’t you going to give me some sort of shovel talk?” Maya asks.
She does a poor imitation of Mr Matthew’s voice and says, “Don’t you dare hurt my daughter, or I’ll make sure you flunk out of high school. And college! And life!” He laughs at that, and then sends her a concerned look when she doesn’t join in.
“Is that what you think I sound like?” he asks, looking legitimately offended.
She sends shrugs and says, "maybe?" He shakes his head in disappointment.
“Maya,” he says, “both Topanga and I are thrilled that you two are together.”
“Really?” Maya asks incredulously, “you’re thrilled that your daughter’s with me? Me?” Maya couldn’t imagine why anyone would ever be excited about that. She’s a bad influence, a disappointment. Maya’s someone that people leave.
“Of course,” he says, “we already know that you love Riley.” He pauses for a moment, trying to decide on how to put his thoughts into words.
“We know that you’d never hurt Riley intentionally,” he says, “and that you’ll always have her best interests at heart. That’s everything that we ever wanted for her.” Maya feels all warm and fuzzy inside, and a little bit dizzy. She can’t find any words to say. Then, she's saved from having to say anything at all.
From the couch she hears Riley shouting, “Guys! Guys guys guys guys guys!!!! The Mets are up! THEY’RE WINNING!” Maya has always thought that Riley’s passion about her sports teams is adorable, even though she’s never been much of a fan herself.
“Congrats, Riles,” Maya says as she walks into the living room and plops down on the couch beside her girlfriend. Mr. Matthews sits down in the chair, and the entire clan cheers loudly as the Mets score another run. She feels at home like this, and by the time they really get into the game Maya doesn’t remember why she was nervous about this in the first place.