She gave me a tired little smile.
“If I don’t,” she pressed on gently, “Mom will have nothing left. She’s forgotten how to be a person who isn’t just my mom.”
I set the list down on the blanket, my hand not quite steady.
“She’s forgotten how to be a person who isn’t just my mom.”
The words landed somewhere deep, in a place no wish had ever reached before.
I swallowed hard.
Then I tucked the list into my pocket, close to my heart.
“Okay,” I whispered. “I’ll try.”
“You have to promise.”
I tucked the list into my pocket
“I promise.”
She finally smiled, and it broke something open in me.
“But Daniel?” she added. “Don’t tell her I asked you. She’d be embarrassed.”
I nodded.
But I already knew keeping that secret would be the hardest part.
“Don’t tell her I asked you.”
Because the moment I started chasing coffee and lipstick and kitchen dancing, Rebecca was going to know exactly who had sent me.
And I had no idea whether she’d thank me for it or slam the door in my face.
***
The next morning, I arrived at their house with two coffees and a small paper bag.
Sophie’s list sat in my pocket like a secret mission I had sworn to complete.
Rebecca was going to know exactly who had sent me.
I lasted less than five minutes before Rebecca realized exactly what we had done.
“What’s all this?” Rebecca asked, eyeing the bag as I stepped inside.
“Coffee. The good kind, not the instant stuff you keep hiding in the cabinet.”
She almost smiled.
I pulled out my phone and played an old song, one Sophie swore her mother used to dance to while cooking.
I lasted less than five minutes
“Come on,” I said. “Dance with me in the kitchen.”
Rebecca froze.
Przeczytaj więcej, klikając przycisk ( DALEJ »» ) poniżej!
