Her expression shifts, her lips tilting up into a thin smile. She knows she’s won. She takes her win and steps closer, brushing past me toward the kitchen.
“Well, I’ll just have to come by more often then,” my mother says like she’s offering a gift instead of a burden.
My nana reappears from the kitchen, carrying a plate of cookies and milk for Milo. “Alright,” she says brightly. “Milo, sweetheart, come grab a cookie.”
Milo scrambles off the couch, his cast bumping against the cushions as he makes his way over to Nana. She crouches to his level, offering him the plate with a bright smile.
I glance at my mom, expecting her to say something, but she’s quiet. Her gaze burns into Milo with an unreadable expression, and I don’t have the energy to decipher her current mood.
Instead, I step back, letting the noise of the moment fill the space between us. Sometimes, it’s easier to let her believe she’s doing her part than to remind her of all the ways she hasn’t. I hope someday I can, but today, I pray for peace.
CHAPTER 19
When I hear the sound of two car doors shutting, I sink into the couch beside Milo. The weight of the day presses down on me like a heavy blanket. He leans against me, his little hand resting on mine, and I draw strength from his quiet presence.
A knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts. For a second, I debate on ignoring it, too drained to deal with anything or anyone else. But something about the knock, gentle yet deliberate, makes me push myself up.
When I open the door, Henry is there with his hands awkwardly pressed to his sides. His eyes light up when they connect with mine.
“Hey,” he says. “I heard some commotion and was just checking to see if you guys are okay.”
For the first time all day, I feel a genuine smile tug at my lips. “Yeah. We’re okay.”
He nods, his lips beginning to mimic my own smile. “Good. I just wanted to make sure.”
“Thanks,” I say, my voice softer than expected. “Do you want to come in?”
Henry glances past me to Milo, who waves enthusiastically from the couch. He grins. “Sure. If it’s not a bad time.”
“No, it’s not,” I reply, stepping aside to let him in.
I close the door as Henry walks into my messy living room. I cringe when I notice the pile of clothes that haven’t been folded in a week and Milo’s toys scattered across the floor. It’s a miracle he didn’t break his arm in here.
Soon, my attention is pulled away from the mess to the scent of something sweet wafting through the air. My eyes fall to the small paper bag Henry is clutching onto.
“What’s that?” I ask, nodding toward it.
Henry grins and opens the bag slightly so I can see inside. “I brought Milo some cookies from the bakery in town to cheer him up. I hope that’s okay.”
My throat grows thick, and a familiar warmth spreads inside my body. “Yeah, of course. That was so nice of you.”
At some point, Milo peeled himself off the couch and is now tugging on my pant leg to get my attention. I look down at him and his little face lights up with curiosity. “Treat?” he asks.
Henry crouches down to Milo’s level, pulling one of the cookies from the bag. “That’s right, buddy. I got you a special cookie—one with sprinkles. What do you think?”
Milo’s eyes go wide, and he looks up at me again for permission before grabbing the treat with an excited squeal. “Mama! Blue!”
I look at the sprinkles, and sure enough, the cookie is covered in Milo’s favorite color. My heart expands, feeling constrained against my chest.
“You mentioned one time that he was obsessed with the color blue, so I assumed that was the right call,” Henry says nonchalantly, like he didn’t just remember a small detail about my son that most people wouldn’t bother with.
I blink rapidly to keep my emotions at bay. That momentwith my mom earlier had unlocked the floodgates, and I needed to get it under control quickly.
“Yeah,” I squeak out, my voice a little uneven. “That was definitely the right call.”
Henry glances up at me, still crouching down next to Mi. His smile is soft and genuine, and all I wanted to do was jump straight into his arms. “Good. I wanted to make sure he had something to smile about today.”
Milo is already halfway through his cookie, crumbs dusting his tiny hands and cheeks. “More?” he asks, holding up his sticky fingers in Henry’s direction.
