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"Take a seat, honey," she says, patting the porch swing beside her.
I do as she asks, the day's work soaking into my bones, and I let out a loud sigh as I close my eyes. Teresa's hand finds my shoulder and squeezes gently.
I look over at her.
"Is everything okay?" I ask.
"I should be asking you that," she murmurs, her southern accent soothing. "There's something going on between you and Evan?"
I wince. "Is it that easy to tell? I don't want Alex to find out."
"No, honey," Teresa says. "I just know my son...and I've gotten to know you over the years. Never seen you like this."
"Like what?"
She gives me a sad smile. "Happy."
I chew on my lip and clasp my hands. Evan will be back any moment--or maybe he's giving us time. "What did he tell you?" I ask.
"He didn't mention anything about you, other than how much he admires you," Teresa says. "I raised my sons to respect women and be discrete."
I smile. "I know."
"But he also mentioned that he's supposed to be in Brazil in two weeks," she adds.
My heart plummets.
I didn't know how it would feel to get this news. I figured Iwould--that was never in question--but I didn't know it would hurt this much.
"He hasn't told you?" she asks.
"He said he would have to travel again, but he didn't give me any specifics," I say. "I didn't assume..."
She takes my hand, and I get the impression she's about to give me terrible news. I swallow hard and look over at her, waiting anddreadingwhat she's about to say.
"I'm gonna speak plainly, Samantha," Teresa says. "Evan was my hardest child to raise. He's been running away from his problems for years. His daddy was real hard on him, and he never..."
She pauses.
"You and little Alex have gotten close with us, and I don't want to see you hurt," she says. "I wouldn't do this with any of my other children, I don't want to sabotage them...but please, be careful."
I swallow hard, and I'm ashamed of how rough my voice is when I speak up again. "What are you trying to say?"
"Just that women like us have to guard our hearts, honey," she says.
The door creaks open behind me, and I glance back to find Evan coming out with Alex at his side. Alex crawls into my lap and wraps his arms around my neck, still sleepy from his nap, and I kiss him on the cheek.
"I should get Alex home," I say, a little ruffled by Teresa's words.
She nods. "Y'all drive safe."
I don't know how she acts so calm.
She just changed everything about how I feel.
##
I can't bring myself to enjoy it as Evan makes us dinner.
