Zephyr laughs. “I’m Zephyr, and this is Callum.”
She asks absentmindedly, “Why are you calling me Mom when Jax is Lily’s boyfriend.”
Callum claps his hands and laughs.
I still can’t find my voice or any humor in this situation.
Jax steps out and says, “Zinnia, come on. Give them a second.”
Zinnia walks off with the three of them and my mom sighs.
“You have three boyfriends?” she asks.
I’m still staring forward.
“What’s wrong, Lily?”
I shake my head.
“Lily? Talk to me.”
I close my eyes. “This is harder than I thought it’d be.”
“I don’t have to stay with you. I have friends.”
I don’t say anything.
She sighs. “I can tell they all care about you. Look at them.”
I wipe the tears from my eyes and catch all three of them looking at us. The image makes me laugh.
My mom laughs too. “There she is.” She sits forward and wraps her arms around the seat to hug me. “I understand if this is too hard, honey. It’s been six years, and I have a plan. I’m going to get a job, get a house, get Zinnia back––”
“What?” I turn to her. “No.”
“Lily,” she smiles softly. “You are young, honey. So young. You cannot raise Zinnia for the next ten years.”
“Yes, I can.”
“You don’t have to,” she says, touching my face. “I am going to get on my feet, and she will live with me. You can live here with your three boyfriends.”
“Mom,” I chuckle through the tears. “You can’t take her from me. Please.”
She chews on her bottom lip. “I know what it’s like to live with Damien.” She inhales. “I know what it’s like, but he’s going to be put away now. You’re free. I’m here. I will make sure you have a bedroom at my new house, okay? Just in case… this doesn’t work out.”
My eyes are full of tears. “You don’t know how hard it is, Mom. This economy… It’s not like it was six years ago.”
“I know. I’ve heard how expensive everything is, but I think you forget that your mom’s a hustler.”
I watch her face light up.
“You and Zinnia are my world. I need to make up for lost time.”
I nod, understanding.
“I can see how distraught you are, so I’ll tell you what. I’m going to call my friend––”
“Mom.” I shake my head.
