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"You're not going to lose me," he says without preamble and squeezes my hand. "But I need time."
I nod my head, not knowing what to say.
"I should probably get some training in. With the playoffs coming up and all," he says, ending the conversation for me.
"Okay. But I'll see you soon?" I ask as he walks me to the door.
"Yeah, of course," he says, wearing a tight smile.
"Oh, okay. Bye then, I guess," I stammer awkwardly and hurry over to my car. Blinking furiously, I swallow past the lump in my throat and start my car. I have to get out of here.
???
I'm home alone tonight since Morgan has dinner with her parents and Oakley has a late practice. At least now I can finally catch up on all of my assignments. That's the plan, anyway.
After far too many months of deliberating, I finally decided where I want to do my placement. Child Welfare is something that always stood out to me. I guess the overwhelming need to protect all of the unwanted, lonely children stems from my own experiences. Now the next step is finding somewhere to take me on.
A knock on the door startles me. Closing my laptop, I head out of my room. I look out the peephole in the front door, and my stomach drops.
It's Rebecca. Of course, it would be. After three months of waiting she’s finally decided to show up.
I take a deep breath and slowly open the door.
The first thing I notice is the brightness to her skin. She looks healthier? Her sallow skin isn't as pale. Her cheeks are plump and flushed with a rosy glow. Her hair is clean and shiny. She isn't wearing dirty clothes either. And her ratty sweatshirt has even been replaced by a thick, grey, woollen coat.
Instead of stained, ripped jeans and filthy sneakers, she wears flared denim jeans and shiny brown boots. Her eyes are no longer crazed and bloodshot. And the most surprising change is that her hands aren't twitching at her sides.
A few moments of stunned silence passes before she speaks. Even her voice sounds better, clear and steady.
"Hello, Octavia."
"What do I owe the pleasure, Rebecca?" I ask dryly and lean against the doorframe, my arms crossed. "Why are you here? I figured you disappeared again."
She smiles ruefully and bows her head. "I'm sorry it took me so long to come back. I wanted to get better first."
I scoff at her and roll my eyes. "I'm sure that’s not the first time you’ve said that."
She winces slightly but recovers quickly with a warm smile. "Can I come in?"
I think about it for a second. Do I turn her away or invite her in? I decide against it.
"I don't think that's a good idea."
Her smile falters for only a second. She pulls a battered old cell phone out of her pocket and flips it open. "Can I have your number, at least? We could get coffee this week?"
I guess I can go for coffee with her. It will be in a public place at least, and I do have questions for her. Whether I like it or not, I need answers—and closure.
I take the phone from her and type my number in hastily. "Just text me when and where."
She beams at me and inches closer—as if to hug me, but thinks better of it. "I'll see you soon, Octavia," she says firmly as she walks towards the staircase.
We'll see about that. Promises have never been your thing, Mother.
