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"I’m the boss I can do whatever I want And I want to fix you breakfast"

The soft smile on her face should have scaredBut I wanted it I wanted her I didn’t give a fuck about our i," she said as she walked over and sat on one of the stools at the bar

"Did you sleep good?" I asked

I wasn’t sure what she liked to eat So II put on mine

"Yes Thank you For the shoes and socks I should have bought so, so she should have supplied shoes that fit correctly I didn’t point that out though I didn’t want to talk about Portia She wasn’t here and for once I was at peace being home

"How’s Heidi?" I asked instead

"Better! I talked to her yesterday She feels good and was cleared to go to the crafts room yesterday That’s all she could talk about Well that, and she asked if I could bring cupcakes today I have thee"

"You should take her some of the sweets that are left from the party"

"Thank you She’d like that"

The love in her voice was real That hat I iined families should be like I was an only child andup My friends all had similar lives But what Beulah had hat I wanted as a kid I wanted that unconditional love I bet herto her I knew Heidi was She had unconditional love froave in return

"What was your h She may not be ready to talk about her mother I didn’t look up as I back pedaled "I’m sorry, I didn’t think before I spoke You’reI just thoughtI ondering if she looked like you" I almost said she was theher ave her

Beulah smiled It was a sad smile Her eyes held ood ones and I was envious of that Even if she’d had to suffer the pain of that loss, she hadI’one either If she were still here I’d say the sa our entire lives, but soether When ere old enough to stand in chairs, she let us cook with her Heidi helped too She would wash vegetables or put the noodles in water to boil Mom never acted like she was different I don’t think Heidi knew she was until she started school Even though she had to take care of Heidi she always ed it Doing it all alone, she gave us memories of leh the sprinkler I don’t think she ever got any sleep, but she always had time Always had a sraduation, but they were happy tears she said I think she was the loith love when she spoke I was almost jealous of her life and of ashe and Heidi had grown up like that It explained a lot about her I’d never irl like her because I didn’t know one with a life like hers

"She sounds perfect"

"She wasand thanks for asking Iabout her I think about her all the tiet to talk about her I’m afraid it will upset Heidi She doesn’t understand completely, and she misses her too So it’snice Great actually That felt good She needs to be remembered"

The tears that hadn’t fallen collected in her eyes and she gave ain, I didn’t think I foundover I pulled her into ly Her arms wrapped aroundhad ever felt this right Thefor clicked into place And I was terrified

Beulah

SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED IT WAS different Jasper had let o, moved back and said he need to be so hi to him about Mom had made me feel vulnerable Open I’d shared with hiood to be held and not feel alone

But he’d all but ran from me

I had stood there unsure what to think or do for a fewup our breakfast plates