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“It’s no big deal,” I say.

Mom pulls me close and kisses my cheek. “It is a big deal. That money was for you to spend on something you want. That’s a lot to give up.”

“You give up stuff all the time for us,” I tell her. Oh boy, now she’s crying. “Mom,” I groan.

Mom laughs.

Momma steps into the room. “Hey. Everything okay?”

I shrug again.

“Vicki was planning to order pizza for us for dinner with her birthday money.”

Momma smiles. “Is that right?”

She called Auntie Tam. I’d bet my book report on it!

“That’s very generous,” Momma says.

I shrug and hear Mom giggle.

“You don’t need to spend your birthday money on our dinner,” Momma says.

“It’s my birthday money,” I tell her. “You said I should use it for something special.”

Mom looks at Momma and lifts her brow.

“I did,” Momma says. “Okay. Are you sure that’s what you want to do?”

I nod.

“All right—if you’re sure, I will let youhelppay for dinner.”

“Really?” I ask.

Momma smiles at me. “Really.” She looks back at Mom. “I’m going to hop in the shower.”

“I’ll be right there,” Mom says. She turns back to me. “I’m proud of you, Vicki.”

“It’s just pizza.”

“No, it isn’t,” she says. “You remind me so much of your momma right now.”

“I do?”

“Yes.” Mom kisses me on the cheek again. “I love you, Victoria.”

It’s just pizza. Why does she need to get all mushy?

Mom laughs. “Someday, Vicki, you’ll be sitting with your daughter or son, telling them how much you love them, and they’ll squirm like you put a worm in their pants, too.”

“Mom! Gross!”

Mom laughs harder and gets up to leave my room.

“Mom?”

Mom turns. “Hm?”