Page 101 of The Moment Promised

I shrug him off. It’s no big deal.

I slide off my phone case, and a folded picture falls out onto the table. I completely forgot about the black and white photo Charlie gave me. I took it out of the picture frame he gave to me and put it in my phone case. I unfold it, using the rag to gently pat it dry. I set it back on the table while I dry the rest of my phone and the case.

“Kids, I’d like you to meet someone very special. Adeline, Finn, this is Barbra.” Pete pulls the older woman to him, placing his hand on the small of her back.

She smiles with the equal amount of joy that Pete always emits.

My mom grabs the photo off the table and gives me a look I can’t place.

“Oh, my goodness! It’s so great to finally meet the famous Adeline and Finn! Pete’s told me so much about you two love birds.” She reaches out with both hands to squeeze our cheeks as if we were her own grandchildren.

“Barb is my girlfriend,” Pete says so proudly.

Barb introduces us to her daughter and granddaughter who just so happen to be the little girl on the roller skates and the woman chasing her down.

Eventually Pete and Barb’s family say their goodbyes and occupy the largest table in the restaurant. I watch from afar at the picture-perfect family Pete plays a role in, and I couldn’t be any happier for him. I even feel relieved, knowing he finally has what he’s always been silently searching for—companionship.

“Are you crying, love?” Finn brings a thumb to my cheek to catch the fallen tear.

“I’m just so happy for him,” I whisper. It’s about time I get to cry tears ofjoy.

“I know, my love, me too.” He kisses my hair and giggles at me as if I’m the most adorable thing in the room, sobbing over another person’s happy ending.

“You okay?” Finn asks.

I look up and realize his question wasn’t directed at me. It was directed at my mom, who just stares at the black and white photo.

“Who are these people?” She turns the photo around toward us.

“Oh, that’s Charlie,” I say.

“Yeah, we stayed with him when we were away in a little town called Authensville,” Finn clarifies, and my mom’s eyes slightly enlarge.

The town’s name leaves a hollowness inside me.

My mom slightly nods as a waitress sets a large pizza between us, along with my mom’s chicken parm.

“Who’s the girl he’s with?” Finn asks casually, grabbing a slice of pizza despite the steam that rolls off it.

“Oh, that’s a sore subject,” I say, waiting for the pizza to cool before grabbing a slice.

My mom chokes on thin air. She grabs her water and slowly sips it, resting the straw between her teeth to chew.

“Charlie’s ex,” I whisper, ignoring my mom’s weird behavior.

“Oh. The one from the Keys?” Finn asks around a mouthful of food.

“Yeah. She left him heartbroken with no explanation. Kind of a bitchy thing to do.” I flinch at how sour the words are on my tongue.

“Hey!” My mom starts. Smoothing over her features, she clears her throat and hands me back the picture.

I cock my head, waiting for her to continue whatever she was about to say.

“Um, she’s pretty, that’s all.” She shrugs, smoothing back her hair. “Maybe you shouldn’t call her names,” she whispers.

I shrug as if I’m indifferent toward it, but I feel anything but. I almost feel…guilt for calling her names.

But I don’t even know her.

---