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“I’ll always keep her safe,” I finish.
Annabelle stares at me for a moment, blinking twice as if she expects me to disappear. Freya shifts next to me, finally drawing my gaze, her hair combed but still adorably messy, her mouth tight as she bites down.
“Freya?” Annabelle says.
“I want the same,” Freya replies, looking at her mom with a visible effort. “I love him, Mom. And I know what you’re going to say. How can that be possible? We’ve only known each other for a few days. I wish I had a simple explanation.”
“Tryanyexplanation,” her mother says, keeping her tone neutral, giving nothing away.
It’s difficult to read Annabelle as she raises her coffee mug and slowly blows on it. There’s some tautness in her jaw as she places it down, but that’s all. She doesn’t take her eyes away from Freya.
“The moment I saw him….”
Freya’s voice is low, tears beading in her eyes.
I resist the urge to reach over and brush my hand across her cheek. I’ve been so concerned with Mr. Red and keeping Freya safe that I haven’t given much thought to the idea her mom might tell usno.
What if she does?
I don’t want to be with Freya without her only surviving parent’s blessing.
“The moment you saw him?” Annabelle prompts.
“I wanted him,” Freya says. “But not in an intimate way. Or notjust….”
She cuts herself off, sucking in a breath through her teeth.
“It’s okay.” Annabelle lays her mug down. “What were you going to say?”
“I wanted to be with him. I was already picturing a future together. I’ve never felt like that, Mom. You always said you wanted me to find somebody special, someone I really cared about and who really cared about me.”
“Of course, I want that for you.”
“That’s what I’ve found,” Freya says, looking at me, her lips twitching into a love-filled smile that has my mouth mirroring hers.
“Well.” Annabelle sighs. “You certainlylookin love. But all these things you’re talking about… a family, spending your life together, you do understand these go beyond infatuation, don’t you?”
I nod, turning back to Annabelle. “Yes, Mrs. Abrams, I do.”
“So you believe you love her and will keep loving her for the rest of your lives together?”
“Yes,” I say, without hesitation or doubt in my voice.
“What if this lovey-dovey feeling passes? What then?” She leans forward, looking closely at me, making me grateful Freya has a mother who cares this strongly for her. “What if you wake up one day and this infatuation has passed? Will youstillwant a life together?”
“Mom, I’m sorry,” Freya murmurs. “But it’s notinfatuation.”
Annabelle throws her hands up. “How am I supposed to think of it? You said it yourself. You’ve only known each other a few days.”
“With all due respect,” I say, “Freya is right. I’m not an expert in love, but I don’t know what is if this isn't it.”
Annabelle folds her arms, looking at me for what feels like a long time, then turns to her daughter.
Then she turns back to me.
It’s like she’s studying us both, looking for cracks, signs we’re leaping too eagerly into something we can’t possibly know will work out.
But that’s just the thing. I know we will be together forever, and so will Freya.
