Page 115 of Lily In The Valley
“I’m coming. Can I stay with you?”
My throat tightened.
“Yeah. Yes, of course.”
“And Kelly?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.” His voice broke at the end.
And it broke me. My heart palpitated in my chest and tears lined the rims of my eyes. My heart broke for Khalil. Years of learning to live without the love and nurturing of a mother. Years of saving, bearing the weight of needing to save everyone around him because he couldn’t save the one who needed it most. I swiped at my cheek to wipe away the tears that fell.
Chapter 35
Khalil
The wheels hitthe tarmac harder than expected. I didn’t exhale until we reached the gate. The chaos of deplaning began. People in middle rows stood first, reaching over those in aisle seats to grab their belongings from the overhead bins. Folks stretched in the aisle like they’d been sitting longer than the four hours of the flight duration. But I moved slow. Methodical.
I stepped off the plane and into the tunnel of glass and steel, Seattle’s gray skies pressed flat against the windows. The air smelled like jet fuel and coffee. The walk to the rideshare pickup felt longer than it should’ve. Every step, my mind spun tighter—around her voice, her face, the ghost I’d carried in my ribs since I was a kid and now may have to face with skin and breath. And another child.
LaToya Baptiste.
Not just a name. Not just a wound.
My mother. Breathing. Somewhere in this city.
I climbed into the backseat of a black car. My palms itched. My throat felt too dry, and my stomach hadn’t stopped its quiet somersaults since I boarded the plane in Houston. The rideblurred by. Tall buildings. Wet pavement. A skyline that didn’t belong to either of us.
But she did.
Kelly.
And that was the only reason I wasn’t coming undone.
She opened the door before I could knock twice. Hair tied up. A thick hoodie and leggings covered her body.
“Khalil, I told you I would pick you up from the airport.”
I stepped inside. “You got something to eat?”
She arched an eyebrow. “You’re really asking me for food right now?”
I grinned, but it was weak. “I was hoping you’d take care of your guest since last time didn’t go so well.”
She didn’t say anything at first. Just walked forward and pulled me into a hug. And that was it. All that cool I’d rehearsed on the flight? Gone. Melted into the sleeves of her hoodie. I wrapped my arms around her and didn’t let go for a long time.
“Okay,” she whispered eventually, voice warm against my chest. “You don’t have to be strong for me.”
I swallowed. Didn’t speak. Just stood there, eyes closed, letting the weight of what I’d carried fall between us. Karter trotted over like he owned the place, tail wagging, eyes full of judgment.
Kelly pulled back and kissed my chest. “Let me get you a drink, my sweet boy. I guess you can have one too, Big Head.”
I laughed, following her to the kitchen. She handed me a bottle of ginger ale and leaned against the counter.
“How are you feeling?” she asked, softly.
“I’m all over the place.” I drank from the bottle. “How’s her daughter doing?”
