The next one I ask out loud.
“She’s coming back, right?”
Because that’s what moms do. They come back. They drop you off at school, and they come back to pick you up at the end of the day.
Miles’s head swings side to side. Tears fall down his cheeks in ripples, much like the lake in a storm.
I grip his hand tighter. I think he needs it. I want to show him he still has me. That even though I’m leaving tomorrow, I’ll come back. That I’ll never leave him forever like she did. I’ll be back next summer, and we can tadpole-hunt and catch frogs named Miley and swim in the water and find rocks that look like hearts. We’ll always be best friends.
But I don’t know how to say all those things out loud to someone who is this sad. So, I just dip my forehead against his like a silent promise, and he presses into mine like he understands.
Please don’t let my mom leave me like Miles’s mom did, I pray in my heart.
If only that heavenly being could have answered me. Maybe I would have heard the warning. That Iwouldalmost lose her, in a different way, but that I’d be okay. Maybe then I would have been more prepared for the fact that it would be four years before I ever saw Miles again.
CHAPTER SEVEN
NOW
“Isee the two of you are getting reacquainted,” Mr. Morgan intrudes between smacks of his gum that send me spinning on my heels to face him.
“We sure are,” Reed remarks with a grin so wide it could lift him in the air like a sail. “Teddy here was just informing me about how much she finds gum chewing repulsive.”
Mr. Morgan’s jaw stills. “Very funny. I take it you two haven’t gotten to the tour part yet?”
“We were just waiting for you, Captain.” Reed salutes his dad.
“Right.” Mr. Morgan rolls his eyes while smiling at me. “Good to see you again, Teddy! Let’s get started then.”
He waves for us to follow him.
“The menus are kept on the shelf beneath the hostess desk. Empty pitchers, ice machine, and the tap are on the far side of the bar. As servers, you’ll relay the special. It rotates daily. Today’s special is the crab cake sliders with a side of coleslaw. At the beginning and end of every shift, you’ll clock out the old-fashioned way. The timecard slot is in the file folder besidemy office door. Since you both are doing the opening shift, we’ll stagger your breaks at 3:00 and 3:30. We’re expecting a full house for the grand opening, so anticipate fast-paced work. Here’s an apron,” he rattles on, “and you’ll find a notepad and pen in the front pocket. Any questions?”
“I’ve got a question!” Reed jumps in.
“Something tells me it’s a question I’m not gonna like.”
“Can we open the garage doors now? It’s a little stuffy in here, don’t you think, Teddy?”
Reed nudges my foot with his bare one, catching me off guard.
“Um… I…”
“Don’t worry, you’ll get used to him.” Mr. Morgan smirks at me before backing away. “And the answer’s no, Reed.”
“Okay!” Reed hollers. “Just thought I’d check.”
“What you need to check is that bare foot of yours. Get your damn loafer back on!” he shouts from out of sight, and I hear what must be the latch of his office door shutting.
I follow Reed as he makes his way to the back door.
“Do you always goad him like that?”
“The man’s uptight. Someone’s got to do it.” He winks at me over his shoulder.
“You’re a flirt, aren’t you?” I say, my hands planted on my hips.
“With you, yes,” he says, taking giant backward strides toward the cracked door and slipping his foot into his shoe without ever looking at it.
