She walks toward Dad’s side table. Slowly pulling the drawer open, she bends down. I watch with curiosity as she rummages through his stuff. Her hands enclose around a black ring box. Pulling it out, she walks back over to me. “This was your dad’s wedding ring.”
Her fingers pull open the lid, and I immediately zone in on the ring in front of me.
“It’s beautiful,” I say in awe when she turns her back on me.
“It’s very special to me,” she explains while pulling her jewelry box open.
My eyes land on the thin silver chain she grasps.
“I want you to have it.” Her hands take back the ring from my hold, looping it through the chain. She places it around my neck.
I smile at the feeling when the cold silver lands on my hot skin. Reaching down, I hold the ring and peer down at it more. Even though it’s simple, I adore it. It was my dad’s, and that makes it special.
“Are you sure you want me to have this?”
She cups my cheek. “I couldn’t think of anyone else who deserves this more than you.”
In this moment, the smile that lifts my face couldn’t be more real. I think I finally have my mom back. The thought of that couldn’t make me happier.
* * *
“I got a job,” I say to Mom.
She glances at me, surprised. “You did now? Where?”
A while ago, Mom and I came out to the front porch steps to catch up. She’d made us steaming hot cups of coffee, and now, here we sit, watching the sunset.
“At the bookstore. I took some time off though because of everything that’s happened.”
She nods and takes a sip of coffee. “How are you doing without him?”
I know she’s talking about Simba. I glance down at my lap and shrug my shoulders in defeat. “I’m living with it, I guess. It’s shitty, what happened, but I can’t be stuck anymore.”
“That’s good. I’m proud of you.”
“How are you doing?” I ask her.
I know she didn’t mean to leave the door open. She loved Simba just as much as I did. He helped her throughout her own struggles.
“I feel guilty. He died because of me, and it hurts to know that I took something away from you that had brought you happiness after your dad.” She runs a hand down her face and sighs.
Moisture fills my eyes, making it hard for me to see clearly. “At least he’s with Dad now.”
I smile when I watch her smile. My hand goes up and brushes a tear away from her cheek.
Silence fills the air as we both look ahead. The sky is a beautiful pink. It creates a natural glow.
“You love him, don’t you?” Mom breaks the silence.
I find her nodding her head toward the triplets’ house.
“More than anything,” I reply strongly. I don’t doubt my love for him for a second.
“As a mother, you always have to watch over your children.” She pauses and playfully nudges my shoulder with hers. “I would be lying if I said I don’t like him. I saw the fire in his eyes when he stuck up for you. That’s a good sign.”
I smile at the thought of my goofball. “He’s everything that I could have ever asked for.”
She smiles sadly at me and bites her lip. “I’m happy for you.”
