The texts stop, followed by approximately twelve photos of baby turtles in various poses, Mom and Ricardo looking ridiculously happy, and one extremely blurry shot that might be the inside of her purse.
I'm still smiling at the screen when footsteps sound on the stairs.
Stacey appears in the doorway, wearing pajama pants and one of Carlos's old band t-shirts. "Was that your mom? I could hear you laughing from the guest room."
"She wants me to sell the house so she can stay in Mexico with her boyfriend Ricardo."
Stacey drops into the armchair Carlos dragged up here specifically for visitors. "I love your mom."
"She's living her best life. Setting fires with Aunt Linda. Learning Spanish incorrectly. Dating a younger man."
"How much younger?"
"She's sixty-seven. He's thirty-two."
Stacey chokes on her coffee. "Your mom is dating a thirty-two-year-old?"
"And learning to surf. And witnessing baby turtle hatches."
Stacey sets down her mug and stretches, her back cracking audibly. "So I've been thinking."
"Dangerous."
"Shut up." She grins. "I've been thinking about what I'm doing. I showed up here with a suitcase and a lot of feelings and I just... never left. You guys have been amazing, don't get me wrong. But I can't live in Carlos room forever."
"Why not?"
She blinks. "What?"
"Why not?" I gesture around the office, out toward the rest of the house. "The extension is done. We have three extra bedrooms now."
“And you have fantastic ideas for the business?”
"You're serious. It’s just that there isn’t enough work for one person, let alone two,” Stacey says.
“Exactly! I need help expanding, and it’s hard work,” I say, trying to reassure her. I must admit, I love having Stacey around, she makes everything feel fun and alive.
"All four of them are okay with me living here indefinitely?"
"Carlos said, and I quote, 'Stacey's cool. She laughs at my jokes.' Sergio said you're respectful and helpful. Pedro said you've been eating better since you got here, so clearly the arrangement is working. And Nacho just shrugged and said 'whatever makes Jessica happy.'"
"Nacho's a man of few words."
"Very few words. But he means them."
I stand and cross to her, pulling her into a hug. "Stay as long as you need. Help me with the business if you want or don't. Just... be happy."
"When did you become so wise?" Stacey's voice is muffled against my shoulder.
“Running from my wedding day.”
She laughs, pulling back. "Okay. I'll stay. At least for now."
"Perfect." I grin. "Now you can come with me to visit Mom in Mexico."
"Visit your mom? In Mexico? With the thirty-two-year-old boyfriend?"
"Exactly. She's already planning to feed us tamales."
