The tone of her voice is enough to make me lean forward, hanging on every word.
"No matter what. No. Matter. What." She punctuates each word, as if trying to brand it in my brain. "This will always be a safe space for you and Cooper. Tomorrow, five, ten years from now. This home, I…I don't know how much Addie has told you about me, but I get it. I can't pretend to know what you need a safe space from, but I understand needing one. I had one once, and it changed my life. To be honest, I don't think I'd be standing here right now otherwise." Her body stiffens, and she swallows as she makes eye contact with me. "You ever need anything, you just call or walk through that door."
I nod, it's all I can do. But somehow, it's enough. She smiles and wipes her tears away. Addie hasn't told me everything about her parents, but I know enough. Enough that I trusted them before I ever met them. Enough to know that her mom and I, while not the same, have threads that bind us together.
The sound of the door opening startles us both, and Charlie waves at her eyes.
"Can you um…" She points to the pot. "So I can, you know?"
I do know.
What I don't know is if the marinara is supposed to be bubbling the way it is.
The twitchiness that once signaled Mateo's presence has since become butterflies. When I lift my head from the pot, they flutter into a frenzy. One side of his mouth lifts in a soft smile, the one he gives me when no one is looking. It's like a silent declaration just for me, except I can't have it.
I make a face, sticking out my tongue.
He chuckles, and Liam walks in behind him.
"Smells good in here," Liam says.
Charlie emerges from the hall. Her face has lost its puffiness, and she smiles broadly.
"Oh good, you guys are home. We can start the water for the pasta now," she says and looks at the clock on the oven. "I thought Addie would be home before you guys, hopefully she gets home soon."
Liam pulls Charlie to his side and kisses her on the cheek.
"What are the chances I have time for a quick shower?" he asks.
She pushes him away from her, crinkling her nose. "Please do us all the favor."
Laughter fills the kitchen.
"All right, Mom," Mateo says, washing his hands. "Put us to work."
At Charlie's instruction, I fill a pot with water and Mateo gathers salad fixings. Cooper pokes his head in, sees Mateo and takes a seat on a stool. They fist bump, and Mateo slides the salad spinner toward him. Coop pushes down on the top, and the lettuce spins and spins.
Kind of like my head lately.
"So kid, how's that new fancy school?"
"I haven't gotten in trouble yet," Coop answers.
"Good shit, kid." Mateo high-fives him and raises a brow. "But what do you mean yet?"
"I've only been there a week. Geez, give it time."
"Cooper," I warn.
"Kidding," he says before filling Mateo and Charlie in on some new friends he's made.
It's been amazing so far, but it still feels too good to be true and I worry. A lot. What if it was a mistake, and the scholarship gets ripped from under him? What if he doesn't make good friends? Am I putting pressure on him to grow up faster by letting him go or am I giving him the right tools to succeed?
I shake my head.
Enjoy the moment, Jade.
Coop laughs and Mateo throws a cucumber at him.
