“Shewasalways at the airport, yes, because she wastraveling for work. But now, she’s staying home, so we’ll be seeing a lot more of her in person.” He threw me a glance as he set her down.
Bennie was beautiful like her mother had been, but I spotted more of Lee now, especially around the eyes. Not just the color, but the way they could trap you, as if they were seeing right through you.
“Aunt Debbie needs to keep packing so she can move out on time next week,” Debbie said. “Mom and I already ate, so you can have the dining room to yourselves to catch up.” She tickled Bennie’s side. “If I don’t see you before bed, good night, kiddo.”
“Good night, Aunt Deb,” Bennie said, looping her arms around Debbie’s neck.
“Good to see you, Stella. Come on, Mom. I’ll take you downstairs.”
“I need to pack too since I move in a few days, but luckily, my new apartment will be furnished.” Mrs. Orrico tucked a lock of hair that had escaped Bennie’s ponytail behind her ear.
“I heard,” I said. “My mother mentioned you asked her about the place.”
“Yes, she said good things. I’ll still be close, and my children can rest easy that I won’t get into any trouble.”
I laughed when she glared at her son.
“Mom loves it. It’s nice. Just be careful at bingo. Not for the faint of heart.” I chuckled.
“I look forward to it.” She laughed, reaching for her son’s arm. “I’ll let you catch up.”
“Good night, Mom,” Lee said, bending almost in half to kiss the top of his mother’s head.
“I’ll miss this one in the mornings,” Mrs. Orrico said, giving Bennie’s ponytail a gentle tug.
“But we can come visit all the time. And I can play bingo! We do it in school sometimes.”
Mrs. Orrico cupped Bennie’s chin with a shaky hand, making my nose burn. I would cry into my mushrooms for this family if I didn’t get it together.
I followed Lee and Bennie into the dining room after his family left, sweeping my gaze over the walls. Half the photos had been taken down, judging by the way they were spaced, and the shelves on the display cabinet in the dining room where I remembered Lee’s mother displaying her fancy plates were bare.
“They’re about ready to go, I see,” I commented, scanning the space.
“They are. Debbie and Tom’s moving date is right before my next long road trip.”
“They’re going to Chicago,” Bennie told me. “It’s in the middle west.”
“Midwest, baby girl.” Lee smiled, smoothing a lock of hair off her forehead. “There is a good pizzeria close by, and they deliver fast. I’ll get half mushroom and half plain. Hopefully the mushrooms stay on your side of the pizza,” Lee joked, a hint of a smile curving the side of his mouth.
“You love mushrooms on pizza too?” Bennie’s jaw dropped when his gaze snapped to mine.
“Yes, and your dad doesn’t know what he’s missing.” I crouched down in front of her. “How old are you now?”
“Seven and a half,” Bennie said, holding up five fingers on one hand and two fingers on the other. “How old are you?”
“Younger than your dad,” I said, smiling up at Lee.
“A lot of people are.”
“Nice, Ben,” Lee said, shaking his head at his daughter. “And Stella isn’tthatmuch younger than me.”
I laughed to myself, thinking of how much older Lee had seemed when I’d first met him. He was a year older than me, Gary’s age, but while my brother seemed like an annoying boy, Lee had looked more like a man even then.
It hadn’t been only that he’d been so much taller than us. His voice had been deep and smooth, his soulful eyes betraying whatever he was feeling without his saying a word, even now. I could spot sadness when he’d miss his father and the joy when they’d lit up as he’d told us about the girl he’d met at school.
I’d been scared to speak in that first group therapy session, and when Lee’s gaze had fallen on me, I still remembered the way my heart had stuttered at first, but then I’d found my voice. I’d turned my head to his beautiful smile, and that had been it.
Or the start of it. As we’d spent more time together, a switch had flipped inside me that no one else could see but had plagued me for years after.
