Over the years, Ty and my dad have been speaking less about her. Have they forgotten her already? I swallow past the ache in my throat and share more about my mom with the little girl who reminds me of me growing up, before my mom’s addiction spiraled out of control.
“After the guide pointed out the roses to Mom and me, she picked up a ladybug off one of the leaves and told us the ladybug keeps the roses healthy by snacking on the mean aphids.”
“Aphids?” Francia takes another lick of her ice cream cone.
“Little green bugs.” I wipe more sorbet off her face. “I was so grateful for the ladybug’s help that I let her crawl on my finger before I kissed her back.”
“How do you know it was a she?” Alejandro scrunches his face. “What if you kissed a boy ladybug?”
I can’t hold back. I sputter laughter. He stares with his eyes wide and his mouth forming an O.
“Did I get ice cream on me?” I swipe the back of my hand over my face.
“No, Miss Ever. You’re pretty.”
There’s wonder in his voice. My face heats. He looks down. The toilet flushes, and then the water runs. Alejandro’s head snaps on. “Ever, have you been kissed?” he blurts out.
“Alejandro Samuel Sánchez!” His mom steps out of the bathroom. “Ten is too young to be speaking of such things. Apologize.”
“Yes, Mama.” Alejandro’s face and the tips of his ears are bright red. “I’m sorry.”
“No worries.” Poor kid.
“Thanks for keeping an eye on them.”
“Of course, any time, Theo. How are you feeling?” I eye her very pregnant belly.
“I’m praying for cooler weather.”
“The heat must be uncomfortable for you, but it’s been great for Ben.” I wince and shake my head. “I’m sorry. That came out wrong. I wasn’t gloating on Ben’s behalf.”
Ben Willard owns Sweet Creations. He went on and on about how the abnormally warm weather was spectacular for his bottom line.
Theo laughs. “No worries. I didn’t take it that way. A boon for one business is good for the others. I’ve seen the lines.”
“And you don’t have to stand in them.” Theo’s cop husband also has priority over the eclairs. They are Theo’s latest cravings.
Ben’s graciousness to Theo and her family is due to his friendship with Theo’s sister-in-law, Nora.
Nora is a mainstay of the shop and has her own reserved table. On the days that she’s here, I sit on a barstool next to the sweet treats in their display case and listen to her tap away on the keyboard of her laptop. I’m not certain what she’s working on, but the beats of the taps are inspiring. Nora must love what she’s writing about.
She’s a senior at DU too. When she sees me on campus, she acknowledges me with a nod and a smile, but that’s as far as our interactions go, though we have a friend in common—Asher Tran.
Asher is Nora’s BFF. Asher and I went to the same high school. I was the one who introduced her to José. She, in turn, introduced José to my brother. The three of them have a complicated relationship.
Asher and I spent time dancing at Red Dahlia, but not together. She has her friend group, and I have mine.
“When are you due?”
“Around Christmas.”
“It’ll go by quick.”
“I hope so. Well, kids, we better get going. Ever wants to close shop and do whatever college girls do on a Wednesday night.”
Study. Unwind. Doomscroll on my phone. Exchange cheesy text messages and GIFs with the girls.
Theo’s kids come up with something else.
