Page 5 of Let's Be Forever

“Don’t feel sorry for me. I should’ve known.” She shrugs the devastating emotions away, like always. She doesn’t smile, and she even seems indifferent. “Anyway, it’s all in the past, as I’m sure you want to keep yours in, so…”

“Yeah, I know.” I take a careful sip of my coffee. “How did Mom feel about you?—”

“We’re not speaking,” she drops casually.

My eyes bulge. “What?”

“She wasn’t happy about me not going to medical school even though I went to school for physical therapy.” She rolls her eyes. “But I don’t want to talk about her either.”

“Then what do you want to talk about?”

“Us. I know it’s been years, but I’d like for us to…I don’t know…fix things? If you want,” she says, not meeting my stare.

“I wouldn’t have let you in if I didn’t want that.”

For the first time since she arrived, she looks at ease, the visible tension fading away. “I promise to leave soon. I just arrived last night, and I really wanted to, uh, see you and meet my niece.” She gently taps Rosie’s space bun. “She’s big for a toddler and looks nothing like you.”

I haven’t missed that. Her saying things so bluntly.

She must realize because she backtracks. “Sorry.”

“It’s all right. It’s true. She doesn’t look like me. Although she’s not as pale as him, but still.” He wasn’t exactlypale, but I was always tanner.

Maya laughs. “The printer was low on ink.”

We look at Rosie and share a laugh. It dims but it’s not awkward. “I’m in no rush for you to leave. You can stay as long as you want. Though I don’t have much space as you can see, but you’re welcome here.”

“Thanks, but as much as I like being around, your tiny couch is uncomfortable. I’ve already got a kink in my neck.” She rubsher nape, face twisting in discomfort. “Did you grab it off the side of the road? You would do something like that.”

“No.” I roll my eyes. “It’s used, but I bought it off someone. Don’t judge me. It was cheap.”

Mostly everything in here is used or gifted to me by clients, Em, Jenny, or her aunt who used to live here and was my sitter.

“I’m not judging. I promise.” She raises her hands in surrender. “So…I’m just going to say it. I really hope we can make this work. I’m moving to Boston and plan to stay as long as you guys live here. I really want to be part of your life and Rosie’s. If that’s okay with you.”

How I’ve longed to hear those words. My eyes mist as I strain them to keep from blinking. I should think this through. She could walk away again…

“I promise I’m not leaving,” she insists. “Not unless you want me to.”

“I don’t. I’m okay with you being here.”

“Wow.” She exhales, relieved.

“What?”

“I thought you’d kick me out or hate me. I don’t know. I didn’t expect it to go like this,” she tells me, her voice quiet and embarrassed.

“Life is too short. I’m almost twenty-eight. I’m a mom,” I list, then pause. “And I missed you.”

“Yeah, me too.” She offers me the smallest smile and I return it.

It grows quiet again, and it’s both comforting and awkward. There is so much to say, but I don’t want to overstep.

“We’re going to figure it out.” She sounds so self-assured, speaking as if she’s got everything figured out.

She sounds like the Maya I used to know. Some things really don’t change.

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