“Sierra! It’s so good to see you again!” Mom gushes, smoothing down Sierra’s hair. “You’re even more beautiful than I remember.”
Sierra smiles at us both, and my heart aches with love for her.
“Isn’t she?” I grin, dropping a kiss to Mom’s cheek.
She smells of apples and vanilla, and I pull her in for a hug.
“You good?” I mumble, as Mom nods, holding me away.
“I am! And look at you,” Mom breathes, pinching my cheek. “You look like the cat that got the cream.”
Sliding my arm around Sierra’s waist, I savour the joy that’s running through my body like a river.
Happiness isn’t anything without Sierra.
“I feel like it.”
We make our way inside, and I let the smell of home comfort me.
Mom’s always cooking or baking, and is constantly talking about opening a little cake store in town.
“Something smells amazing,” Sierra comments, exchanging a glance with me.
“Well, I’ve been baking all morning.” Mom laughs, leading us into the kitchen.
Mom seems brighter than usual, which is a relief.
I worried about leaving her for Kai’s wedding, seeing as she still has her ups and downs.
“Lemon cheesecake, raspberry pie, and carrot cake,” Mom declares proudly, waving her hand toward the table where the three cakes sit.
My stomach rumbles, and Mom rolls her eyes, dragging four plates out.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve asked my friend to come along.”
My eyebrows shoot up, and Sierra shrugs from beside me, taking a plate from my mom.
“A friend?” I ask, noting how Mom avoids looking at me. “Who?”
Mom blushes, and Sierra smiles knowingly, clearing her throat.
“Could I get a slice of the lemon cheesecake, please?”
Surely not.
My mom has invited a man over?
“His name is Ray. He’s a lovely guy, and I don’t want you to scare him away, Crane.”
Sierra licks her lips at the sight of the cheesecake and sinks her fork into it greedily.
“Oh, God, this is so good, Mrs. Michaels!”
Mom's smile freezes, and we exchange an awkward look as Sierra claps her hand to her mouth.
“I’m sorry!”
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Mom reassures her, pushing another slice of cheesecake onto Sierra’s half empty plate. “You can call me Laura.”
