“Nope,” Tom said. “Who was it?”
“She didn’t say. I didn’t ask.”
Tom nodded. “I bet it was that—”
“Don’t do this to yourself,” she said. “It doesn’t matter now. Not when you’ve already left her. I don’t think I ever thought you’d do that.”
“Me neither,” Tom said.
“I thought you loved how different you and Sophie were. Opposites attract and all that.”
Martha let out a big sigh, and they both turned to look at her. The color was returning to her face. To both of their faces. “Everyone looks for different things in people, I guess,” Laura continued. “But not making you laugh and not having the same interests? They’re big things to live without, if they’reimportant to you.” She kept her eyes on Martha. “You know what I found in your dad? Why I fell so completely and utterly in love with him? And don’t pull that face,” she added, smiling. “I felt safe. He made me feel safe from the moment I met him, and he still does.”
Tom stared at Laura, finally understanding, maybe properly for the first time, how she felt about his dad.
“I never believed you,” he said. “I didn’t think you really loved him. Didn’t think youcouldreally. He’s so much older. I just... I didn’t get it.”
Laura smiled. “I don’t blame you. If it were my dad, I’d have felt exactly the same. Especially having lost your mum the way you did. I always knew I had a hard role, and I never wanted you to think I was trying to take her place, especially given my age. But I can promise you I do love your dad. I love him so much. I love all of you,” she added, stroking Martha’s hair.
Tom looked from Martha to Laura and back again, realization washing over him as the weight of the day fell heavily upon him. Whether he liked it or not, this was his family. He had a stepmum who wasn’t much older than him, and he could continue resenting that for the rest of his life or he could just accept it, because she loved his dad, and she wasn’t going anywhere. She had, in fact, protected him the way his own mother might have done, without him even knowing it. There was something about the act that was thawing him further; that she hadn’t wanted anything in return.
“Fine,” Tom said. “Well played. But I will neverevercall you Mum.”
She looked at him, smiling. “If you even so much as attempt it, I will smack you in the face,” she said, resting her other hand on top of Martha’s, who stirred, reaching up to pull the mask off her face.
“Oh no, sweetheart,” Laura said, leaning forward.
“You lied,” Martha said, looking at Tom.
Tom placed his hand on his heart, pushing away thoughts of Sophie. “I would never lie to you,” he said, meaning it.
“Does she need to put her mask back on?” Laura asked, turning to one of the staff.
“She’s okay,” the paramedic said back.
“You said I was your favorite person, but I’m not.”
“Of course you are. Who else could possibly be my favorite person, but you?” Tom asked.
“Sounds like I missed averysentimental chat,” Laura added.
“Daisy. Daisy is your favorite person,” Martha said, her voice raspy.
A jolt of pain hit Tom in his chest as he heard that, realized the truth in it at last. It was true, and he still wasn’t sure if he’d damaged their friendship by trying to help her live the life she wanted. He swallowed. “I do like Daisy, it’s true.”
“If you onlylikeDaisy,” Martha said, “why do your cheeks go red when you talk to her and why do you get that smile on your face whenever I say the wordDaisy? See. You did it then.”
Laura turned to Tom, raising an eyebrow. “Youdohave quite a creepy smile on your face.”
Tom’s dad appeared at the back of the ambulance, doubled over and breathing heavily, causing all of them to startle, including the staff.
“Is she.... Is she...”
“She’s fine,” Laura said, standing up to greet him, kissing him on the lips. For the first time since they’d been married, Tom didn’t mind the sight of it. “She’s already talking.”
Tom’s dad moved to sit by Martha, reaching for her hand. “What are we talking about?” he asked. “Hi, Tom,” he said, turning to Tom, who nodded, his thoughts on his bus companionwho he’d been thinking about pretty much nonstop since he last saw her. But that was normal. He’d got used to seeing her every day, that was all. Wasn’t it?
“We’re talking about Daisy,” Laura explained.
