Then she blinked, and the moment passed. But not before I saw it.
She knew something. Or thought she did. And whatever it was, she wasn’t saying it out loud.
“Thank you for telling me that,” she said, even though I hadn’t told her anything that made sense. “I can see why my son is…helping...you. That’s not the right word. He’s…looking out for you.”
Her voice was warm and steady, grounding in a way that made me feel like I wasn’t going crazy.
“You do remind me of someone. Someone from a long time ago.”
Great,I thought, bracing for her ideas on who that would be. But before I could, she went on.
“No. It’s not possible.” The words were quietly spoken but still left a punch.
She didn’t say the name; she didn’t have to. I felt it anyways, like a shadow brushing past me.
She looked at me again, this time with a tenderness that made my throat tighten. “Kasey…with a C?”
I shook my head, not able to look at her.
“What has my son gotten himself into?” She murmured; the words clearly meant for herself, not for me. She let out a long weary sigh, the kind only a mother could make, before adding a little louder. “He means well. He always has. But he’s got to let go of the past.”
I doubted that. Not with the way Evander talked. Not with how certain he was that I wasthatboy.
But when Maren looked at me again, really looked. There was something in her eyes. A flicker of recognition she didn’t want to acknowledge. A puzzle piece she refused to fit into place.
The weight of her gaze made my arms fold around me before I could stop them, like I could hide in plain sight if I just made myself small enough.
As I moved, my shirt – Evander’s shirt – slipped off one shoulder, fabric sliding down my arm and exposing more skin than I meant to. I tugged at it quickly, but the damage was done.
Her eyes softened further, most likely catching marks that I hadn’t bothered to look at.
She looked at me like she was looking at a ghost. A mix of hope and sadness all rolled into one.
Then she blinked, forcing a calm, soft look to reappear.
“Are you hungry? Thirsty?”
“I’m…I’m alright.” I should say more, but like so many times before, the words were lost on me.
Before I could figure out what to do or say, the front door opened.
“Kasey?” Evander called, voice warm and steady, like he expected me to answer right away. “I’m back.”
My heart lurched. Not in fear, just in sheer overwhelming relief.
Maren’s eyes flickered towards the sound, then back to me. Something unreadable passed through her expression. But she didn’t say a word.
“Kasey?” Evander called again, footsteps moving closer. “Where are you?”
I swallowed, forcing my voice to work. “I’m…. here.”
The word came out small, but he heard it. His steps quickened, purposeful, heading straight towards his bedroom.
Evander stepped into my sight right as his mother moved out of the doorway. His eyes found me right away, like they always did. And then, he froze when he saw his mother.
“Mom?” Surprise flickered across his face. “Hi. I didn’t expect you to be by? Or home be today?”
Maren didn’t answer right away, still looking at me.
