Gabriela laughed. “You think our house wasn’t a mess when you were Tomás’s age? Hah!” Her smile relaxed, and it was only then that Maya noticed the tight creases at the corners of her eyes and mouth.
Gabriela shook herself. “Now, where is the kitchen?”
“No, Mom, you’re not cooking for us when you just drove all this way—”
Maya showed her through the house, nursing new anxieties. What was her mother stressed about?
What had brought her all this way?
Maybe the chance to see her daughter and grandson again?she thought guiltily.
They left Corin and Tomás playing downstairs as Maya showed her mom around.
“Let’s get your bags up to my room,” she said. “I can sleep on the sofa, or Tomás’s room.”
“Actually … I was thinking I might stay in the bed-and-breakfast next door.”
Maya froze.
Something wasdefinitelywrong.
“Sure,” she said lightly. “We’re, um, pretty busy at the moment, but let me call Mrs. H and see if she can put you up.”
Because Maya’s mom didn’t want to stay in her house.
Worst daughter worst daughter worst daughter,she thought to herself as she made the call. Technically, all the rooms were booked, but at least a couple of the guests had been unofficially sharing rooms the last night or two. Mrs. H promised to sort it out.
Maya sent out a silent apology to the contractors who were about to have a sweet little old lady knock on their door and suggest they shack up on a more permanent basis.
Corin mastered the microwave while they were upstairs. He pulled Maya aside for a moment when they came downstairs.
“Don’t worry about Tomás shifting. Leave him to me.”
Corin kept Tomás busy with very important jobs—carrying plates and plastic cups, solemnly handing Maya and Gabriela one random piece of cutlery at a time, all tasks that required him to stand upright and use his human hands. Gabriela fussed over him, and there was one thing Maya didn’t have to worry about. Tomás clearly remembered her. Of course, they’d kept up video calls since she moved here, but…
Corin put his hand over hers and smiled at her. She grimaced back. Was it that obvious how stressed she was?
Probably as obvious as the fact that something was bothering her mom, still. Even as she fussed over Tomás, Gabriela sat stiffly, as though she was uncomfortable in her own body. Had she hurt herself?
“Mom—” Maya began.
“He’s so good at feeding himself!” Gabriela said approvingly as Tomás directed a spoonful of beans directly into his own eyebrow. He cackled, head thrown back with delight, and the contrast with Gabriela’s uncomfortable stiffness couldn’t have been greater.
“There was something you wanted to talk with me about?” Maya asked.
“Y-yes.” Gabriela glanced at Corin. “Perhaps while I’m here … but I didn’t realize Maya had her old job back?”
The awkwardness levels rose. “I haven’t,” she said. “Mr. Blackburn—uh, Corin and I…”
Her mom’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh! Well, another reason for me not to throw you out of your own bed. That sofa isn’t big enough.”
“Mom!”
“I have my own place in town,” Corin said diplomatically.
“Aren’t the Dans staying there withyourmom?” Maya reminded him.
“On second thoughts, I would take the sofa.”
