Page 148 of Now and Then

Just the faint hum of the heater and the smell of coffee drifting up from the kitchen.

Before I roll out of bed, I send Hunter a quick text.

Me: Good morning.

Me: Thanks for letting me have time to myself.

Me: It’s exactly what I didn’t know I needed.

Hunter: Good morning, babe. I’m glad. But I miss you like crazy.

Me: I miss you too. I’ll be home later, okay?

Hunter: I love the sound of that about as much as I love you.

Me: I love you too.

Mom’s already up. Like usual. She’s at the stove humming and flipping pancakes like she hasn’t spent the last night stitching my heart together and giving me the confidence I need.

“Morning, Daughter,” she says, handing me a mug.

I take it, fingers curling around the warm ceramic and breathe in the hazelnut aroma. “Morning, Mother.”

We fall into an easy rhythm of cooking, setting up the table, and simply being near one another.

When we sit to eat, she gives me a knowing look.

“There she is.”

“What are you talking about, Mom?” I shovel in a gooey bite.

“You look lighter.”

“I feel lighter,” I quietly say. “I think I want to start therapy.”

“You think or you know?”

I open my palms and place them face up on the table. She covers them with hers.

“I know.” And with two words, I can breathe again.

After breakfast, I grab my coat and keys.

“I’m going to head over to Hunter’s,” I say. “Check on him. Make sure he actually came inside like he said he would instead of working in the backyard all night.”

“Love you.” Mom kisses my cheek. “You know . . . You’re doing better than you think.”

I smile, tucking that away as I step onto the porch. The air is crisp, the kind that makes your lungs feel new.

On my way to the house, a text comes in. I press the play button, and the message reads over my car speakers.

Easton: Hey, I’m back in town. Mind if I stop by?

My chest tightens. What could Easton want? With renovations finished, there’s nothing left for him to do. Maybe he wants an early tour of the house. I press reply on my dashboard and leave a voice text.

Me: I’m headed to Hunter’s. Come on by.

When I arrive home, the sun is doing its best to shine through the heavy clouds. The house is quiet when I enter, a candle flickers on the coffee table, and Hunter is fast asleep on the couch.