“I was thinking about your mom earlier.”
“You were?”
“When I got my first period, I went to Jo.”
“You did?” His eyes widen as I nod. “Huh, I never knew that.”
“I wasn’t going to tellyou.She was so kind. You get that from her.”
“I can be a douche sometimes.”
“No, you don’t say?”
He sticks out his tongue at me. “That’s what I inherited from Dad.”
“Maybe.” I laugh when he shoves my arm.
“He was a real jerk to her.”
My tone softens. “He was.”
His gaze turns downcast. “I was glad when they split up. Did you know he used to time her at the grocery store?”
“He did?”
“Yeah. When he was between jobs and had time on his hands.”
“I… didn’t realize.”
“I didn’t either. Until he left for Canada and it felt like a massive weight had been lifted from the house.” His shoulders hitch as he takes a deep inhalation. “Anyway, sorry. Didn’t mean to?—”
“Hey! It’s fine. I’m always here to talk about your mom. You know that.”
He graces me with a tight smile. “Why didn’t you talk to Mel?”
“Why didn’t I talk to Mom about what?”
“Getting your period. You and her discuss the weirdest shit but not that?”
“Oh! Well, it happened when I was at your house and it was just… easier with Jo. Mom would have made a big fuss about it. How I was a woman now.
“I was still cringing from her taking me bra shopping for the first time?—”
“You were? Why?”
“You genuinely want to know?”
“Not sure there’s much I don’t want to know about you, Denny.”
His softly uttered words pack a punch straight to my solar plexus.
This is what I mean about him inheriting his mom’s kindness.
It’s not his fault that I’m taking things the wrong way right now.
“I’m not sure if you…” I cough. “I kinda have big boobs. I did when they first popped up too. She was excited that I wouldn’t have to get surgery. She cried.”
“Surgery?!” he blusters. “How old were you?”
