Chapter 40

LilaMom arrived just as the sun was dipping low, turning the sky a soft burne orange. I heard the car pull up before I saw her the familiar crunch of tires on gravel, and the quiet heep of the lock. I was already at the door when she stepped our suitcase in one hand, phone in the other, looking tired but smiling the moment she saw me.We met halfway up the porch steps. She dropped her bag and pulled me into a tight hug, arms wrapping around me like she hadn’t seen me in years instead of weeks.“I missed you so much,” she whispered into my hair, squeezing harder. “You have no idea.”“I missed you too,” I said against her shoulder. My voice cracked just a little. I hadn’t realized how much I needed this – the normal, safe smell of her perfume and the way she always rubbed small circles on my back when she hugged me. “When’s Dad coming back?”“Tomorrow evening,” she said, pulling back to look at me properly. “He’s wrapping up the last meeting in South Carolina I wanted to come sooner, but work…” She sighed, then smiled again. “But I’m here now. And I brought you something”She reached into her bag and pulled out a small paper bag. “From Aunt Delaney. She said you’d like it. Natural honey real stuff. And some of those little pastries and fruits you love.”