Page 30 of Nocere

Chapter Five

"Tell me more about this girl, Rosie," implored Rebecca as we walked down the street. Both of us indulged in towering ice cream cones after our lunch spent together. "What is she like?"

"Different. Intense. She's a doctor."

"You mentioned the latter. How'd you meet?"

"From Ainsley and her group of friends." I couldn't help the smile that made it to my lips while I crunched on a piece of cone.

Rebecca stopped walking and we turned to face each other. She chuckled, her brown eyes wide when she looked at me. "You're glowing."

"I'm not."

"You are, Rosie girl. Look at that grin."

My face heated almost immediately. "We kissed last night."

"When are you seeing her again?" She reached forward and brushed something off my cheek. Her endless smile gave me a boost of confidence.

"Tonight. I'm going over to her place again to watch a movie," I said as Rebecca urged me to sit with her at the picnic tables in the park. We sat across from each other and she gave my hand a squeeze.

"Good for you, sweetie. It's been awhile since you've dated someone that you were seriously interested in," she said, finishing off her strawberry cone in two bites. I laughed at the funny face she made while chomping on it.

"Yeah. I've dated, but more just hook-ups and such. Samirah doesn't feel like a hook-up."

"Nope. It doesn't seem that way. I'm glad you're branching out, Rosie. Maybe the timing is right."

"Yeah. Maybe." I drew a deep breath before I said, "I told her what my mother did to me. She got really upset."

"It's a really upsetting thing to hear about when you care for someone." Rebecca reached across the table to hold my hand. "But it's important for them to know where we're coming from."

I turned my palm up to grip her hand. "Yeah. Have you ever tried contacting my mother?"

"Years ago when you were a teenager after she lost her parental rights, I gave her a piece of my mind. Other than that, no." She shook her head. "Are you considering it?"

"No. I was curious. I haven't talked about her in a long time and it made me wonder."

"It's okay to wonder, Rosie. Even though she did terrible things, she's still your mother and whatever you feel for her is valid." Rebecca brought my hand to her lips for a quick smooch. "I got your back no matter what."

"I know you do." My eyes welled with tears at both her words and the gesture. "You're my real mom, Rebecca. You always have been. Even though I'm thirty-three, you're still the mom I need."

She stood from her seat and scurried around the table to capture me in a hug. I leaned into her and rested my chin on her shoulder as she held me. I couldn't help the smile that found its way to my face when she leaned me back and kissed my forehead.

"I'm happy to be your mom. Not many people get to pick their children, but I'm so glad that I picked you." She sat beside me, holding both my hands in hers. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

"Me either. Thank you." I drew in a deep breath as we shared an unusually emotional moment.

"Thank you right back."

"You know if you actually gave birth to me, you'd have been like twelve, right?" I laughed around my teasing and she flicked my knee in response.

"Are you calling me old, squirt?" She snickered and pulled me up to stand.

"I'm actually calling you young." I linked my elbow with hers and we headed off back down the street.

"Acceptable." She grinned and tugged me closer to her. "Let's head back and get this work day wrapped up so you can rush home to get ready for your date."

"Okay." I leaned my head on her shoulder, and let her lead the way back to work.

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