“She’s just beautiful,” he said.
I nodded. “She is. I wish I could keep her.”
He nodded too but didn’t ask any more questions. He hugged me. “Daisy,” he said, calling me by my real name, which was somewhat unsettling. “Anything I did, I did because I love you so much. Okay?”
“Okay,” I whispered. “Text me when you get home.”
“Will do.”
I sat in front of the box for a long moment after he shut the door. And then, finally, I made myself open it and remove the first parcel inside. I opened the bubble envelope, and then the card, which read:
I can’t believe my daughter is sixteen—and I know she is sweet! In my heart, I’m celebrating with you and eating a strawberry champagne cake we made together in your honor. Drive safeout there on those roads. Maybe come see your old mom sometime? I love you so much. xoxo Mom
Below it, she put her phone number and address. I unwrapped tissue paper to find a monogrammed silver key chain, inside a small blue felt bag that had kept it from tarnishing. On the back was engraved:Happy sweet 16! Love, Mom.I got up, grabbed my keys off the hook, and put them on the key chain.
I selected the next package.
Dearest Daisy, Do you remember how we used to make ice cream together? I thought you needed an ice cream maker to keep you cool this summer! Can you believe you’re going to be eighteen in only a few weeks? I can’t. I had just turned nineteen the first time I met you. Wow! Time flies. Make some ice cream. Think of me. Never, ever smoke, but you should buy a pack of cigarettes to celebrate, you know, just because you can. That’s what the five bucks is for. And always, always vote. You have a big, beautiful voice, and it should be heard! I love you. I wish I was with you blowing out your candles. But I’m always carrying you in my heart! xo Mom
I was wiping tears I didn’t know had fallen when I heard a voice say, “Knock, knock!” followed by the door opening. I scrambled up, wiping my eyes again, and gathering wrapping paper to put back in the box.
Carmen entered, looking uncharacteristically worried. “What’s the matter?” Laura filed in behind her and hugged me. “Are you okay?”
I shook my head. “Yes. I’m good! Let’s watch the movie. I’m so excited!” Really, I thought I might catch fire if I didn’t see what else was in that box.
“No, ma’am,” Carmen said. “What is all this stuff?”
I sighed and flopped down on the couch. “It is, apparently, gifts my mom sent me that my dad never gave me.”
“What?” Carmen asked. “You’re kidding me.”
“I just can’t believe Julie is your mom,” Laura said.
I scrunched my nose. “Well, kind of. Evidently, she never actually adopted me. So, things are hazier.”
Carmen gasped. “That makes so much sense! So,that’swhy she couldn’t have custody of you.”
I nodded.
“She didn’t seem like the kind to totally abandon her own child,” Laura said.
I pointed to the box. “Yeah. She definitely made an effort to reach out. I feel like I probably owe her an apology.”
I got up. “Hey, I have wine! And snacks!”
“I’ll get those,” Carmen said. “You keep looking through your box.”
Laura nodded. “We’ll be here for moral support.”
“But the movie?” I asked weakly.
“Oh, honey,” Carmen said. “This is juicier than any movie.”
I was grateful for my friends while I waded through these remnants of a past that I felt had somehow passed me by. I still wasn’t one hundred percent sure what to believe. But one thing was for sure: Julie hadn’t absconded into the night and forgotten about me. And that, at least, was a huge relief.
TILLEYTown Gossip
Tilley didn’t know that Robbie had told Trina about their bizarre exchange. She didn’t know that Trina had confessed to Robbie that, deep in her heart of hearts, because of the way Tilley spoke about Robbie, she suspected that maybe Robbie was her son. Trina was a little ditzy, but women’s intuition was real.
