“Yes, dear. I baked.”
It’s not that my mom doesn’t bake. She just hasn’t in a while.
“Mommy?” Mia asks me.
“Yes? Oh! Yes. What’s exciting?”
I imagine it’s something to do with baseball since her first practice was two days ago. My mom took her so I could do more unpacking. It was all Mia talked about through dinner and bedtime—Coach G this, and Coach G that. Hopefully I’ll make it to more practices once we’re settled in.
“About Nana!” Mia says, her face full of sheer joy.
My stomach dips. I raise my hand from my lap and grip the counter edge. Something tells me I might need an anchor for whatever’s coming next.
“She’s moving here!” Mia shouts.
My mom’s back is conveniently turned toward me. She’s pulling a muffin off the wire rack and plating it.
“To Waterford?” I ask, keeping my voice as placid as possible.
My head swims. If Mom’s moving here, what’s she going to do with the house in Maryville—my childhood home?
“Yes! To our very same house!” Mia shouts so loudly, I bet our neighbor, Jonathan, might hear.
“To our house?” I ask, not even hiding my shock.
Images of Mom rearranging furniture, directing our daily routines, filling the space with her things and her presence cause my lungs to tighten. I struggle to take a full breath.
“I’m already settled into the front room,” Mom says calmly, setting the plate with her baked peace offering on it in front of me.
“Avery …” I start to say, not even sure what to say next.
My sister had said she was more than willing to fill in when I’m working. Her job is flexible since she does her freelance graphic design work from home.
“Avery will be driving me back to Maryville today,” Mom says, not even waiting for me to finish my thought. “We’re picking up some essentials. I can’t be there long, what with the Realtors coming and going.”
“Realtors,” I echo numbly.
“Isn’t it the best thing ever?” Mia asks.
“It’s … amazing,” I say. My voice sounds airy, even to me.
“Are you upset?” Mom asks.
To be honest, I don’t know what I am. My head is reeling and my stomach feels like I’d better not take a bite of muffin right now.
“I’m just processing. It’s a … surprise.”
“I’m already here. I figured I’d just move in—for the time being.”
“The time being.” That doesn’t sound permanent.
“I’m selling the Maryville house,” Mom announces. “Toomany memories of your father in that home. Too much water under the bridge.”
“Too far from Waterford,” Mia chimes in, cheerfully.
“Too big a space to keep up with at your age,” Avery says, smiling from over Mom’s shoulder.
She knows Mom’s a little touchy about growing older. Avery just taunted Mom for my benefit—to detract from the fact that I’m spiraling so hard I could drill a hole in my kitchen floor.
