Page 166 of Time To Learn

“Because of that woman you’ve met? Laura?” Her lips turn down but I shake myhead.

I wonder if I can get away with a white lie, but discard the thought immediately.

“She’s the main reason, yes,” I start, instinctively knowing that I have to tread carefullyhere.

Her eyes draw closer together,

“There’s more thanone?”

I grin ather.

“Her daughter, Ailith, is another.”

Mum’s eyes grow as wide as saucers and while I never thought I’d be able to smile given where we are, I can’t helpit.

Thinking about my girls always does that tome.

No fucking letter will changethat.

“Oh,” Mum breathes and then slumps in her seat, clearly surprised by my revelation.

“Look,” I start. “I want you to meet both of them soon, but…not just yet, okay? I have…” I bite my lip and run a hand through my hair. “We have a lot of things to talk about first, Laura and me. But, once they’re over and done with, I hope you’ll fly over for a visit.”

Mum’s eyes soften and she rubs her hand over her thighs, thinking about what I’vesaid.

“I’d love to meet her,” she finally says and tilts her head at me. “Do you have any photos?”

I smile as relief fills my insides.

“Fucking thousands,” I grunt, overcome with emotion.

She shakes her head atme.

“Language.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I nod and turn my head back to Dad as his breath grabs our attention. I sit forward in my seat and place my forehead on our clasped hands when his breathing turns heavy, yet shallow at the sametime.

“Go, Dad,” I whisper softly as tears clog up in my throat once more “It’sokay.”

I feel Mum’s arms come around my shoulders, and as we wait, I keep thinking about my girls athome.

Nothing in Laura’s letter matters, except for those six words she wrote at theend.

Come back, please. I loveyou.

Yeah. A love like ours is the kind you don’t ever letgo.

I know it deep down to mysoul.

And I know she feels the same aboutme.

Why else were some of her words smeared, wet from her tears?

* * *

I leanmy back against the wall outside Dad’s room and slide down to sit on the floor. I don’t know what time it is, only that it’s the middle of the night. There’s an eerie feel to a hospital when it’s this late. The lamps above my head are dim, and it’s so quiet, you can hear every single sound.

I pull up my knees and reach for my phone in my back pocket. As I swipe the screen, the photo I took of Laura, Ailith, and me only a few days ago stares back at me, and warmth settles in my soul at the way Laura’s tucked into my side, laughing at the camera as I took the selfie.