Page 101 of One of Them Girls

“This will always be your home, baby girl. Even when you have your own children running around,” he reminds me.

“Then I’ll be dropping them rascals off with you every time they cause me trouble,” I warn.

“Then we will ply them with sugar for hours and send them home just like Mama always did to us.” Mama comes around to wrap her arm around Dad.

“Evil. Pure evil,” I glare.

“Karma. Pure Karma.” Mama winks.

“Whatever. I thought we were going to bake some cookies.”

She smiles brightly at me. “Of course we are. Let’s get to baking.”

“That’s my cue to get out of here.” Dad pats my shoulder, heading out of the kitchen, toward the living room.

“He doesn’t know it, but I bought him a new TV for Christmas. It’s an eighty-inch, much bigger than the sixty. You think he’ll like it?” Mom whispers.

I giggle. “I think he’ll love it.”

“Good.”

We work in silence for a little bit, each knowing our task at hand. I’ve been making cookies with my mom for years. I don’t think I even need to look at the recipe card anymore, even though it’s sitting on the counter next to me. Ryan used to sit with Dad sometimes, but other times, he would sit at the counter, taste testing each batch. He’d always say, “I’m testing to make sure it’s not poisoned.”

We knew he was full of it, but Mom let him do it.

“Honey, are you okay?”

I startle at Mom’s words. “What?”

That’s when I feel it. The tears falling down my face.

“You’re crying. What’s wrong?”

I shake my head. “I was thinking about Ryan.”

She wipes her hand on her apron, moving to pull me in for a hug. “I miss him too.”

“I think we all do. Jared’s going to counseling, you know.”

She gives me a sad smile. “Laura told me. It seems to be helping him a lot.”

“I think I want to try it.”

She nods. “Then that’s what we will do. There’s no shame in going to therapy. Your father and I went for a couple months after Ryan.”

“What? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“We tried talking about it with you once, but you shut down. We decided it was best to wait until you were ready.”

“Thank you. I’m so sorry I was so selfish all of them months.”

“Don’t be. I think we all were a bit selfish, working through our own stuff. No need to apologize for it now.”

“Thanks, Mama.”

We get back to baking, laughing, and joking the entire time. Then once we’re done, we start on dinner. It’s the best day I’ve had in a while.

That’s why a knock at the door catches me off guard.

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