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“Incredible.” I am about to tell him all the places we visited when my phone rings and I see Lauren’s name on the screen. With trembling fingers, I accept it.
“You got accepted at Boston University.”
I squeal and jump up and down. “I got accepted,” I mouth to them. I can’t believe I’m finally going to college.
“Thank you so much.”
“You did all the work. Your scores got you in. Congratulations. I’ll be in touch later this week.”
I hang up, and Kieran wraps his arms around me while I cry in his chest. He lifts my chin and says, “I hate when you cry.”
“These are happy tears. It’s just…I never thought…”
“None of us would have let you get anything less than everything you wanted,” he says, and I snuggle myself to him.
“What happened?” Tamara asks, worry ringing in her voice.
“She just got accepted to college.”
“I am so happy for you, my dear.”
After breakfast, Cameron and Kieran lock themselves in his office for the rest of the day. I hum as I open my laptop and read what I have been writing. I would have never thought I’d write thrillers, yet I’m drawn to the suspense and grit. When I meet my word count for the day, I go outside and tend to my plants. I lift my gaze to the sky, hoping perhaps a part of my mom is in the air that gathers just for me whenever I talk to her.
Kieran finds me talking to the plants, lips pursed in a poor attempt to suppress his amusement.
“I’m not crazy.” I stick my tongue out at him.
“But you’d tell me if they answer back, right?”
I slap a glove on his thigh. While his entire attention is on my face, I burrow my hands into the watery earth. I smile at him and press my hand on his cheek when I stand in front of him.
Surprise transforms his face.
“That wasn’t nice, was it, sweetheart?” he says in a low, husky voice, wiring up my body.
I take off and squeal as he grabs the hose, chasing after me. I laugh so hard my stomach hurts.
“Dinner is ready,” Tamara says, wearing the brightest smile.
Soaked from head to toe, water drips off of us to the floor in the hallway. She passes us two towels and puts her hands on her hips, shaking her head at us, trying hard to suppress her amusement.
The doorbell rings. My husband pushes me behind him.
Tamara opens the door and goes still when Kieran’s mother steps inside. I remember the elegant woman, her hair always pulled back in a tight bun. It’s been years since I last saw her. Nora’s followed by a sweet girl, grinning at us, her dimples on display.
“She’s already making a fool out of you. Just look at you.”
At the tension engulfing the hallway, I sway on my feet. “Hello, Miss Nora.”
“Get changed. It’s not appropriate to receive guests like this.”
I blink at her, taken aback by the animosity dripping from every syllable like acid settling in my stomach.
“Mother, this is my house. Next time, call before you come unannounced.”
My chest constricts as I witness the decline of their relationship.
“Your sister wanted to see you.”
