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When she opens the door, my heart sinks as I take in the loveliness that is her. She is wearing white cutoffs and a blue tank top. Her eyes sparkle as she eyes the tell-tale white bakery bag I’m holding with a little crab stamp on it. Her hair is loose around her shoulders and shining in the warm September sun. It’s a beautiful day and still feels like summer.
“Hey,” she says leaning against the door.
“Hey,” I respond. “I bring you a peace bagel.”
“I accept,” she says as she grabs the bag from my hands. I laugh as she gestures for me to follow her. “Coffee?”
“Yes, please,” I answer and follow her to the open and sunny kitchen and sit at the bar. I watch as she gets out two plates and hands them to me. I put each of our bagels on a plate as she makes our coffees.
When she places the mug in front of me it’s already got milk in it and I smile.
“Oh, I shouldn’t assume you still take it that way,” she says flustered.
“It’s fine,” I say and take a sip. “You still like those vanilla creamers, huh?” I ask as I watch her add a splash from a container.
“Guess some things don’t change.”
“Like you, Mollie, you have barely aged at all, you still look like you did at 18.”
“Oh man, you clearly forgot your glasses, but I’ll take it. You, on the other hand, look different with the beard and all the muscles.” She blushes and I smile because she definitely checked me out.
“What?” I say, pretending offense. “I had muscles before.”
She laughs. “Maybe, but they were not as…” she taps her pursed lips in thought, “robust.”
“Man, it’s really good to see you. I don’t know if I told you that.”
“You did, but it’s nice to hear again.”
I pick up a small program and I realize it’s from her mother’s funeral. “How did she die?”
“Cancer,” she says with a knowing look.
“You said you were closer over the years, that must have been a good thing.”
“Yes, unfortunately when she got her first diagnosis, she finally realized she was wasting her life working and quit. After she finished chemo, she and I did a ton of traveling and making up for lost time. We were honest with each other and were able to get past hurt feelings.”
“I’m happy for you both.”
“When her doctor told her the cancer returned, she declined treatment and went on a few more adventures until it became too much for her. She did get to see the end of my marriage, and even though it was painful, she made me feel better about it. She told me how she regretted choosing work and ambition over my dad. It was an intense few years, that’s for sure, but I wouldn’t trade them for anything.”
“I envy you that. I was so young, I didn’t really know my mother at all.”
“Cancer is a real bitch.”
She holds her mug out and I clink mine to it and we both take a sip of coffee. The ocean waves are the soundtrack to our silence offering its constant comfort.
“You were close,” she says and I look at her with confusion. “About what I write.”
“Is it dinosaur erotica?”
She throws her head back and laughs and I feel like the king of the world.
“I can’t believe I got it,” I tease her.
“I write young adult fiction.”
“Really?” I say, taking out my phone to look her up.
