“What about?”
If I wasn’t mistaken, he stepped a smidge closer to me.
“The other night, when we went to dinner, was that a date?”
Weston’s lips lifted into a smile as he tilted his head. “I’d like to consider it one.”
I opened my mouth to list the reasons why it wasn’t, but he held his hand up.
“I know you just came out of a long-term relationship and you’re going through some very heavy stuff right now, but I can’t help how I feel. Ever since you walked into the gym—what was it, almost a month ago?—I have done nothing but think about you. You’re the first woman since my divorce who has sparked something within me, and that was before I even knew your name.”
I didn’t know what to say, except, “How’d you know I was single?”
Weston’s lips went into a thin line, and then he laughed. “I believe the chain went from Miriam, to Samira, to Jerome, to me.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
He smiled and touched my hip lightly, and I found myself stepping a bit closer.
“It seems I’ve waited for you for this long; I can wait a little longer if you’re interested. I don’t even need to know if you are, but I intend to come around until you tell me to take a hike.”
“I won’t do that,” I whispered, still unsure of where my head and heart were at.
“That’s good.” Weston gripped my upper arm, leaned forward, and kissed my forehead while trailing his hand down my arm until his fingers laced with mine. He squeezed my hand before letting go. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Weston hopped into his truck, started it, and backed out of the driveway, but not before giving me a little wave. As soon as he was gone, I turned toward the house and caught Miri in the window. She smiled before turning away.
Before I went in, I turned and looked down the driveway and replayed his words in my mind. Dinner had been a date, and a nice one, and the kiss, while not on my lips and unexpected, left me tingling with anticipation; even though I knew I’d see him tomorrow, my heart was ready for him to come back. Maybe I could call him with a ruse that we had more food to give him. Not that I’d need one to get him to come over.
Later, after everyone had left and the kids had gone to bed and I had Miri settled, we lay on our sides, facing each other.
“Do you want me to call your parents?”
“No, they didn’t want me when I needed them, and I don’t need them now. Let them read about my death in the paper.”
“Okay,” I said, nodding.
“Okay,” she said as she closed her eyes.
Chapter 26
Cutter
Nothing can prepare you to watch your only parent die. There wasn’t a class to take, but according to my guidance counselor, I could read a book. Who in the hell had time to read a book that wasn’t assigned as homework? Certainly not me. Not with everything going on in my life. Between school, basketball, and watching my mother disappear from my life, reading was the last thing on my mind.
Ever since Mom decided to stop treatment, each day I woke up, wondering if she was alive or if, by some grace of God, she’d fallen asleep after Nova and I had told her how much we loved her, drifting off peacefully. Because that was what I wanted for her. To just sigh and let go, to stop fighting a winless battle, for my and my sister’s sake.
We weren’t going to be good after she left us, but we’d get there eventually. Toni would make sure of it, but she wouldn’t be our mom, and things wouldn’t be the same.
Nothing would ever be the same again.
I’d never come down the stairs and find her in the kitchen, dressed in the ratty robe I’d bought her ten years ago, or look in the stands or bleachers to see her cheering louder than any other parent.
I’d never get to hear her laugh, see her smile, or smell the perfume she loved to wear. If I’d known that this past Christmas was my lastone with my mom, I would’ve tried to make it more special for her, but instead, I’d complained because I couldn’t see Eleni.
I’d never get to hear her yell my name to take out the garbage and then tell me she loved me when I came back from doing so. How many times could I say it now so that she’d remember when she was in heaven?
And Nova—would she even remember our mom? Would she remember the way Mom’s nose crinkled when she was about to sneeze or how every piece of art Nova brought home, Mom declared a masterpiece?
