I peered out my old bedroom window, watching Alaric’s truck pull away from the curb and disappear down my parents’ street.
“There you are.” Mom’s voice caught me by surprise, and I jolted, turning around as she walked fully into my bedroom and sat down on the edge of the bed. She smiled hopefully at me and patted the space beside her. “I’ve been looking for you.”
“Why?” I asked, suspicious, but sitting beside her anyway. My mother wrapped her arm around my shoulders and hugged me.
“I just miss my daughters, that’s all. Can’t I miss you? You were under my feet for over nineteen years. It’s still a little weird without you two here, and you never tell me anything. I have no clue what’s going on in your life anymore. Remember the days when you used to tell me things?”
She was fishing, and the knowing look in her eyes gave her away.
“Who told you?” I sighed, leaning away and side-eyeing her.
“Aha!” she clapped her hands together gleefully. “Nobody told me anything, I just sensed it. Does your father know?”
“Nope, and I’m not planning on telling him just yet,” I replied, biting my bottom lip. “We’re still figuring things out.”
Mom was quiet for a moment, reflective. “It’s a little different dating a man with a child, isn’t it?”
“Yeah,” I exhaled. “We’re just taking things slowly right now. He has to tell his ex and Sawyer first.”
“That makes sense.”
“Do you think Dad will be mad?”
“No,” Mom shook her head, smiling lovingly at me. “He just wants to see you happy.”
“I’m kind of worried he’ll fire Alaric,” I laughed nervously, tugging at the hem of my dress.
“I don’t think that will happen. He talks all the time about what a wonderful worker he is,” Mom replied.
“I hope your right. But either way…could you keep it from Dad until I’m ready to tell him?”
“Of course,” Mom said, squeezing my shoulder.
19
Olive Branch
Alaric
“Mommy! Guess what? I saw the fireworks on Canada’s birthday! And we had cake!” Sawyer exclaimed, her words escaping in a rush the moment Cheryl opened her front door to us.
“Oh that sounds so exciting,” Cheryl replied, smiling.
“And Daddy’s friend jumped with me in the castle too! She looks like the lady on Daddy’s leg.” Sawyer added, unintentionally causing her mother to glower at me.
“Is that so?” she replied stiffly, somehow keeping her smile in place.
I crouched, and Sawyer turned to me expectantly—unaware of the storm she’d unintentionally caused. If she caught on, she’d feel terrible—and I didn’t want her to feel bad. She’d done nothing wrong.
“I’ll see you in a couple weeks, munchkin,” I said, pressing a kiss to her cheek. Placing her small hands on either side of my face, she gave me a big kiss back. “Be a good girl.”
“I will! I’m always good. Bye, Daddy!” she said, twirling and bouncing past Cheryl into the house.
“Can we talk for a moment?” I asked, straightening to my full height.
Cheryl closed the front door and turned stiffly, her eyes piercing. “What, Alaric? I’m not in the mood to have it out with you right now.”
“I don’t want to fight. I want to talk.”
