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Her words pleased me. That had always been one of my biggest fears. That the way I had been treated by my so-called father had caused me to lose my grip on who I really was. But it hadn’t. I was…me. I was shy and quiet, but passionate, and as Trace liked to say, I had my spitfire side.
“Thanks mom,” I smiled at her, sliding my sunglasses back down to hide my eyes from the bright sun.
Our food was brought out and we continued to talk.
“Is there—uh—anything going on with you and Nick?” I asked. The words tumbled from my mouth of their own accord, but I was curious.
The pink staining my mom’s cheeks told me all I needed to know. “He’s just a friend,” she picked at a fry.
“Uh-huh,” I smirked, not buying her statement.
“Honestly,” she added.
It may have only been five months since she left New Hampshire and Aaron behind, but I felt that if she was ready to move on, then she should…even if she was moving on with someone who could be my brother. It was gross, but my mom had been through so much that she deserved to find love, in whomever she wanted.
“Mom, don’t lie to me,” I smiled at her to ease my words. I wanted her to understand that I wasn’t judging.
Heck, I was moving in with my boyfriend and neither of us had said those three very important words.
“If there’s something going on with you two, you can tell me. I’m not here to judge you. I want you to be happy,” I added.
She sighed, staring across the road at the rows of shops and eateries.
“I have no idea what’s going on with Nick,” she answered honestly. “While he was home, we spent a lot of time together. He’s nice and wonderful to talk to,” she smiled wistfully and I wondered if she was thinking of Derek, my real father. “He doesn’t seem as young as his age suggests. He’s insanely smart and I love talking with him about whatever. Since he went back to school, we’ve been talking on the phone…a lot,” she added reluctantly. “I really like him, but he’s young and has his whole life ahead of him. There’s nothing that I can offer him,” she shrugged, motioning the waiter over for a refill of water. “He deserves someone young and vibrant. Not someone like me who’s been hardened by life.”
“Everyone deserves happiness,” I told her. “We’re only here once.”
She smiled. “I’ll see where things go with Nick, but I doubt it will go far. There’s no need to pick out bride’s maid dresses if that’s what you’re afraid of.”
“Okay,” I laughed. “No bride’s maid dresses.”
We spent the rest of the afternoon together before I dropped her off. I returned to my dorm to finish packing. I didn’t have much ‘stuff’ so I spent most of the time packing my clothes.
Avery returned around six in the evening and cursed. “Shit! I haven’t packed anything yet!”
I looked over at the clutter covering every surface of her side of the room. If I wasn’t in such a good mood, I would’ve never offered, but I found myself opening my mouth, and saying, “I can help you.”
I taped my last box shut.
“You can?” Her eyes widened. “You’re a life saver, Livie!”
I packed her things neatly into boxes, while Avery dumped things in them.
“You know,” I smiled at her, “you’re only making things harder on yourself, in the long run, tossing things in like that.”
“Whatever,” she shook her head, grabbing a pencil cup, and dropping it into a box.
Since I wouldn’t have to help her unpack, I shut my mouth.
“Did you tell lover boy you decided to move in?” She asked.
“Mhmm,” I nodded. “I told him yesterday after the hot air balloon ride.”
“Hot air balloon ride!” She screamed. “You went in one those! I would’ve shit my pants!”
“I’ve always wanted to do it,” I shrugged, folding a pair of her jeans, and added it to the box in front of me.
“You’re nuts!” She exclaimed, abandoning the box she was packing, to look at me. I could never get in one of those!” She shuddered. “I hate flying. I’d have a heart attack if I had to get in one of those tiny baskets,” she shook her head and started packing again.
