“And so you’re an only child,” my mother says.
Erin nods, before telling everyone her story. I
didn’t know her mother lived in America and that
she had gone there with her when she was still
little. I knew that she lived alone with her father,
but I never dug any deeper than that. In reality,
there’s a lot I don’t know about her.
“I can’t imagine what it means living without
siblings,” Ciara blurts out. “It must be strange, but
really spacious.”
Everyone bursts out laughing but Erin limits
herself to a circumspect smile. I hope these
comments haven’t upset her.
After lunch we go into the living room for
coffee, which Erin refuses in favor of a much
lighter tea. I follow my mother into the kitchen to
help her with the cups. She would not accept
Erin’s help, asking her instead to sit down like the
others because she was their guest, but I like
helping out, especially in the kitchen.
I reach for the cups on the top shelf, and my
mother leans in close to me, rubbing my arm
gently.
“What month is she?” she whispers.
Nothing gets by Mama.
“I don’t know if she wants to talk about it,
Mom.”
“Yes, dear, that’s why I’m asking you and not
her. I never would have embarrassed her like that.”
I turn and rest my shoulders up against the
