Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
I stalled in place. “That was … thoughtful.”
My mom laughed softly. “I can be thoughtful sometimes, dear.”
I didn’t respond to that. It would only result in an argument, and I could see my mom was trying not to fight.
“So,” she said softly, “I did this.”
She passed me the envelope. I tore it open and found a letter, signed by dozens of women. I recognized at least half of them. Inside was a check written to me for five figures. My eyes bulged.
“Mom!” I protested.
“It’s from all of us. In lieu of a party … and since I’m not paying for the wedding,” she said quickly, “I wanted you to have this.”
“It’s way too much. Dad needs it for his treatment. You need it for after …” But I couldn’t get the words out.
And my mom choked on the sound of after. She dabbed at her eyes. “His insurance is covering most of it. I’ll have life insurance for … after.” She pressed the check back into my hands. “You need this for now.”
I deposited the check into my purse. “Thank you,” I said even though I had no need for my mother’s money. I knew how much it meant to her to be able to provide.
“And this,” she added, handing me the box, “I’m hoping you’ll wear it on your wedding day. Your … something old.”
I flipped the lid on the red box and found a diamond studded tennis bracelet that I’d seen my mom wear every day growing up. “The one Grandpa got for you for your wedding day?”
She nodded. “It was new when I wore it, and now, it’s old for when you wear it.”
“Mom,” I whispered, slowly closing the lid, “would you have given me this if I were marrying someone else?”
She bit her lip and looked down at the box still in my hand. “If you’re asking about Safia, then … yes.”
She met my gaze, and I saw tears there.
“I want to believe you, but you left. You left instead of staying in California and getting to know her.”
“I know. I thought I was making the right decision at the time. My church would still say that I made the right decision. But not talking to you for months after that? Not being involved in your life? Not even being a person that you wanted to tell that you were engaged? I don’t want to be that kind of mother.” She sniffled, wiping at her eyes. “With your dad so sick … I’ve had a lot of time to think about what happens after. What he’s going to miss out on. It’s changed my perspective.” She clasped my shoulder. “I want to be in your life.”
Maybe it wasn’t perfect. Maybe it wasn’t the proclamation that she was suddenly fine with having a bi daughter. It was still more than I’d ever thought I’d hear from my mom. A fresh start to figure out what our relationship could be in the wake of this new understanding.
So, I hugged my mom and promised to wear the bracelet. She smiled back at me, and we headed down to the fireworks together.
Gavin was seated on a quilt between Wesley and Wynona, who were both animatedly discussing every ride and game they’d played that day. They both had light-up swords of some kind and randomly smacked them against each other across Gavin’s lap. He just laughed, egging them on all the while. Carrie and Wyatt sat in chairs directly behind them with Dad seated heavily in another chair. Mom sank into the seat next to him and immediately began fussing over him.
“Well, isn’t this cozy?” I said with a laugh. “Where am I going to sit?”
“Next to me!” Wynona insisted.
“No! Me!” Wesley chimed in.
“That’s my cue,” Gavin said as he vacated his seat, and I plopped down between the children.
Gavin took the seat on the other side of Wesley, where he could lean over and link our hands together.
He whispered, “Everything all right?” and nodded at the box I was carrying.
I nodded. “I’ll tell you later.”
With the sun finally setting, a firework burst into the sky, and silence fell over the awaiting crowd. Gavin kissed my cheek and then turned his face up to gaze at the night sky. We sat there for a half hour as colors and loud noises and shapes were displayed over and over again. It was magical as the display came to a close with a cacophony of sound.
Wyatt and Carrie herded the yawning children back toward the cars, and we followed behind them. We said good night and then piled into the back of my mom’s car. A half hour later, after we managed to get stuck in fireworks traffic, we were back on the farm. We said good night to my parents and then trudged our way to an upstairs bedroom.