Unlikely Allies

"So, tell me everything about your accident and trip," she said, switching gears. "How was your dad? And how did you get lost in the mountains with your stepbrother."

"Foster brother," I corrected, sharper than I intended.

"Oh, foster brother, I see. Everything is looking a little bit clearer," she said, arching her eyebrows at me.

"Very fu

Figuring the begi

"What a jerk," she interrupted, sounding pissed that he dared criticized me.

"Let me finish," I said, breaking her tirade as I bit into one of the chocolate chip cookies my mom had dropped off for us.

"Fine," she teased, snatching up two cookies at once.

Smiling at her loyalty, I filled her in on the rest. Like how Mason and I started to have feelings for each other, how I grew to love teaching the kids about art, and then finally I told her about the accident. I tried to paint a visual picture with my words of what our little cave looked like and the way Mason had held me in his arms at night.

"He sounds dreamy," she interrupted again.

"He is," I agreed.

"So, you don't believe he doesn't have feelings for you, do you?"

"No, I know he feels the same, but he has to recover from his injuries first, and then we can re-evaluate."

"You little minx. You think he'll come after you."

"I hope he does," I said honestly, knowing the risk of calling his bluff. "But still, what if he doesn't come after me?" Panic seized me at the thought.

"He will. Clearly he knows of your fabulousness," she teased. "So, what are your plans for school?" she added, once again switching gears.

"Originally, I pla

"Wow, it’s seriously wigging me out to hear you say you want to work with kids. If I didn't know any better, I'd think your body was abducted by aliens while you were lost in the mountains."

"I know, right? Believe me, it sort of wigs me out too, but seriously, you should see how some of the kids opened up. They were like sponges as I took them through some of the basic art steps..." My voice trailed off when I noticed her studying me appraisingly. "What?" I asked, paranoid.

"Nothing, it’s just, I've never heard you talk like this. You sound so inspiring."

"Well, I guess that's because it's really inspiring. The kids changed the way I look at art."

"That's great, Kim," she said, giving me hug. "I'm a little sad you might be leaving me behind soon, but I'm glad you have direction," she said, sighing dramatically.

"You have direction. I thought you were going to major in set design," I said, trying to remember if that was the last major she had mentioned.

"I'm thinking I should do something more worthwhile like you. Think about it. You’ll be sculpting the minds of young children everywhere, that could be me," she said, holding back a smile.

"Right," I said, starting to giggle. Carol had six brothers and sisters and though she loved them all, she had vowed that when we went to college, she wouldn't spend more than a day with anyone younger than the age of eighteen for the next ten years. "Of course, that might make your vow a little tough or maybe you plan on teaching college boys," I said, wagging my eyebrows at her suggestively.

"Hmmm, that's not a bad idea. I'll make every class a nude study," she said, saucily.

I laughed because it was something I could totally see her doing.

"So, what are you going to do now?" she asked.

"Well, I can't go back to work until I'm done with those aluminum torture devices, so I plan on catching up on a few pieces for my portfolio. I want to catch the Rocky Mountains on canvas before the images fade away."

"What about school?"

"I guess I'll stay at UCLA for this semester. If Mason doesn't come around by Christmas break, I'm still moving to Colorado," I said, ignoring the dread that filled me at the thought. "I've made up my mind, boy or not, spending time with my dad is important to me."

"Sounds good, and at least I get you for a semester," she said, giving me a quick hug before darting out my door. "Bye, Ms. H," she said, passing my mom on her way out.

"So, you're going to UCLA this semester?" she asked nonchalantly, unzipping my suitcase.

"Eavesdrop much?" I asked.

"I was on my way in when I heard you tell Car," she said, defensively.

"Right," I said, sinking back against my pillow.

"Kim, are we going to be able to move past this?"

"Past what?" I asked, ru

"The hostility and sarcasm. I miss the old you. I miss us."

"I miss us too. I just don't know how to let go of the pain you caused. You hid the truth for eighteen years. Why did you even bother to tell us?"

"I promised myself I would tell you when you were eighteen and an adult."

"Because you knew by then he wouldn't be able to swoop in and steal partial custody from you," I said, seeing through her answer.

"Yes," she said, meeting my eyes before sinking on my bed beside me.

"Do you at least regret not telling us sooner?" I asked.

"I always said I wouldn't, that I would stand by my decision, but the moment I told Rick, I regretted it deeper than I've ever regretted anything. I'm not proud that I stripped you of a father figure, just as I'm not proud that I stripped him of a daughter. He and I talked about it a lot when you were in the hospital, and the impact of my decision hit me like a two-by-four. He wanted to know about all the things I got to experience: where we were when you took your first step, the first time you lost a tooth, your first day of kindergarten and most recently, the day you got your diploma. I'm sorry I robbed you both of sharing these experiences, so yes, I regret my decision. Not because I'm afraid you'll always hate me, but because of the reasons I listed."

"I don't hate you, Mom. I just need time," I said, reaching over to give her a hug.

"I love you, sweetie," she said, kissing the top of my head.

"I love you too, Mom."

"I'll let you rest for a while and then maybe we can order out Chinese."

"Sounds good," I said, sinking down on my bed until I was lying flat.

She covered me with my blanket like she used to when I was little before leaving me alone with my thoughts.

The silence of the room assaulted me and the emotions I had worked to keep at bay for the last twenty-four hours bubbled over. Mason's rejection the day before simmered in my heart like an open wound and tears of hurt burned their way down my cheeks. I thought coming home would be better by giving us a little space, but I felt the distance more acutely than I would have thought possible.

My tears ran down my cheeks hot and fast as my repressed sobs finally broke free. Muffling them with my pillow, I cried until I had nothing left and finally drifted to sleep.