Thank you. I hope my date to the
wedding thinks so.
My fingers paused.Date?
Me
A date? Do I know this gentleman?
It took her a while to respond, and when she did, she sent a photo. It was a selfie of her and the gentleman in question, no doubt taken today because of her dress. He’d worn a suit, the colour of his tie matching her dress.
Franklin.
I blinked at the photo of them smiling, Franklin’s head almost bald now. The last time I’d seen him was before my mother and I moved from my childhood home. He’d been frequenting our house then, picking me up from school a few times whenever my mother got busy with work.
He was always happy to play that father role in my life. And it wasn’t until I grew up that I realised he’d done everything out of love for my mother.
But she’d been too occupied with raising me to pay him attention or return his love properly.
I never thought, after all these years, they’d still keep in touch.
I grinned at them, at how closely Franklin stood behind her and the bright smile on her face. They looked so beautiful.
Me
You have a lot to tell me! When
did you two start talking again?
Mother
Who said we stopped talking?
I choked out a laugh, my eyes wide as I stared at my screen, shaking my head in disbelief, warmth spreading in my chest. They both looked so happy.
Me
Have fun at the wedding. And you’ll
tell me every single detail when you’re free.
Mother
Alright, alright. I gotta go now.
Love you.
Me
Love you.
I pocketed my phone, glancing over my shoulder again, swallowing as a faint unease lingered in my chest. Shrugging it off, I neared the library.
When I got there, I pushed the front door open, walking inside and stopping in front of Amelia, who stood in her usual spot behind the desk.
She plastered a wide smile on seeing me, tucking her straight black hair behind her ear. “Good evening. How may I be of help?”
“Drop the act,” I told her flatly.
