Page 111 of The Deals We Make

An hour later, I stand facing something more intimidating than a stalker. And the flowers in my hand do little to ease the tension.

“Mrs. Williams,” I say when I look at Vex’s mom, the woman who created my second home. “Do you have a minute to talk with me, please?”

Mrs. Williams looks up and down the street, then lets me in. What she’s looking for, I don’t know. Perhaps Ti told her about the stalker. Or she doesn’t want anyone to see her let me in.

She takes me straight through to the kitchen, and I hand her the flowers.

“I’m sorry.”

Her shoulders soften as she sighs. “Sit.”

She points to my spot at the kitchen table.

My spot.

The one I sat at when Ti and I did homework together. The one where I cried on the anniversary of my father’s death. Theone where I drank hot chocolate when Ti took some other girl to prom when I was hoping and wishing he’d pick me.

After he’d left, Malik had told me to go get dressed because he was going to take me to prom because his brother was an idiot.

When a mug of hot chocolate is placed in front of me, interrupting my thoughts, I almost cry.

“Always was your favorite,” she says, as she sits down opposite me.

Now that I’m here, I don’t know where to start. How much has Ti told her? How much should I tell her?CanI tell her?

“You broke everyone’s heart,” she says. “But Ti tells me that your reasons for leaving were big and valid.”

I wrap my hands around the hot chocolate. “They were. But maybe…I should have written. Tried to explain what little bit I could.”

Mrs. Williams tuts. “You were an eighteen-year-old. Technically an adult, but in reality, still a child, despite all your bluster at that age that you knew everything about the world.”

The hot chocolate is a hug in a cup. Sweet, sugary, and warming. I know she isn’t letting me off the hook, but it shows me there’s a path back to the relationship we once had.

“I was. But over time, I’ve learned better. There wasn’t a statute of limitations on writing you a letter at any time since then. I’m back, Mrs. Williams, and I have a lot of relationship rebuilding to do. With my mom, with Ti, with you.”

Mrs. Williams nods. “With yourself?”

Those two words stop me in my tracks. I’ve lost me over the last decade. Not the businesswoman. But who I am when the business world isn’t watching. I don’t have hobbies. Barely have time for friends. “You always were too astute.”

She smiles at that. “It’s easy to run rings around your kids because you always have the benefit of age and hindsight.” Herhand reaches across the table for mine, and I take hold of it like I’m drowning. “I look forward to getting to know who you are now, Calista. And maybe it’s time to let go of the formalities I’ve always held dear. Perhaps now you’re an adult in a relationship with my son, perhaps you should call me Omari. Or Auntie. Maybe one day it will be Mom.”

“I’d like that.”

“You’re always welcome in my kitchen.”

We sit and chat for another half an hour. In those thirty minutes, she offers me more hot chocolate, some cookies she made earlier, leftovers from a stew she made yesterday, and a scarf she thinks suits my skin tone.

As I let myself into Vex’s home, I think about how sharp Omari still is and how fragile Mom is. In some ways, the world isn’t fair, but I am lucky I have a second chance at a relationship with both of them.

It makes me even more determined to stay.

My phone rings and I see Becca’s name on the screen asking for a video call.

I quickly check my hair in the hallway mirror. “Hey, Bec. What’s up?”

Her eyes are wide, and she’s grinning so hard I worry for the safety of her cheeks. “You’re never going to believe it.” Her voice is super-high energy, giving me clues that whatever it is must be big.

“What?”