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ONE
TESS ANDERSON WAS AWARE of her mom rushing in and out, packing their possessions into the suitcases scattered around the living room. Headphones spared her the matriarch’s accompanying monologue. She cared. She did. There just wasn’t time to humor anyone. Clients’ alterations had to be delivered before her nightclub shift.
The headphones were yanked off her head and tossed to the desk. “Are you listening to me?”
“I am not listening to you, Mom. I’m listening to Prince.” Tess switched her focus back to the sewing machine. “He makes more sense.”
“Please do not mutter at me, I despise the muttering.”
Concentrating on her work, she pressed the foot pedal and ran the last seam into the needle. “You know I’m no good at subtle. If you want to tell me something, tell me.”
Frustration seasoned Anne’s next exhale. “Twenty-seven years I’ve been keeping you alive. One of these days, you’ll be responsible for yourself.”
Like she’d never heard that before.
Tess smiled. “Momma didn’t raise no fool.”
Her mother sinking to a crouch was a signal to pay closer attention.
“Light-Sprite…” Anne took her daughter’s hand from the table. “I would never want to worry you.”
And that was the beacon, the message came through loud and clear. “It’s time to go?”
“The things we do for love,” her mom said on a sigh, referencing one of her favorite songs.
Taking a deep breath, Tess adjusted to the development. “When? How much time?”
The moment of hesitation on Anne’s lips contradicted the meager smile that followed. “We don’t have to leave immediately.”
“But soon?”
“Soon.”
Soon could mean later that night or the next day. Maybe they’d leave in a week. Whenever it was, Anne had just issued the final warning. It was time to say goodbye to yet another city.
AFTER RUNNING ERRANDS and slinging drinks for a few hours, Tess came home in the dead of night. As usual, her mom had fallen asleep reading in bed. She put the book on the nightstand and tucked her mother in, kissing her cheek before flicking off the lamp.
Inhale and out. Her mom’s breathing was so even. So peaceful.
Their perpetual cycle had to be a burden. Something had to come next, had to change, eventually. At some point, Anne would get bored with the constant moving, the never staying still. Wouldn’t she? Her whole life, the same question.
Tess went to bed and slept late the next day. Her mom was already out, so she went about completing alterations for various stores. Several sold the apparel she made on consignment too. The lamp next to her worktable countered the shadow of her body as hours passed. Until a loud knock drew her attention, she didn’t realize just how many. Night blackened the windows, despite the streetlights’ efforts to keep the neighborhood safe.
Anne never forgot her keys. It wasn’t like her to be out late either. As Tess reached the hall, the knock came again. The only keys on the hook by the front door were hers. Something must’ve happened.
Figuring she’d hear quite a tale, Tess opened the door wearing a smile that quickly faded. Two police officers stood on the threshold, rain pouring down behind them.
“Ms. Anderson?” She had no memory of reacting to the question. “I’m sorry to tell you we have bad news.”
TWO
CLUTCHING THE URN TO her chest, Tess dropped her weight against the front door to close it. The wall clock in the kitchen ticked. Even in the hall, she could hear it. The solitary sound. Ticking. The seconds of her life dwindling away.
The stairs straight ahead led to rooms she shared with her mother.
Had shared.
They didn’t share anything anymore. Never would again.
