Page 178 of Heartache Duet

Mom lifts her index finger, and Connor places the ball there, tries to spin it. It goes flying to the side, and Mom bursts out laughing. “That was too hard!”

Connor’s running after the ball, his shoulders bouncing with his own chuckle. “It’s harder than it looks!”

“Swap!” Mom orders when Connor’s back in front of her.

They swap tasks, and Mom does precisely the same thing Connor did. Now they’ve both lost it, their fingers swiping at the liquid joy in their eyes. And me—I’m doing the same. Because never in my life did I ever think I’d hear Mom’s happiness come out in this form or see her this free and this blissfully optimistic.

“I need to sit down,” she says through a cackle. “I’m not used to fresh air!”

Connor smiles as he sits down next to her, then lies down when she does. They stare up at the night sky, the stars bright against the darkness. Mom’s head lolls to the side, facing him. “Thank you, Connor, six-five, weak jump shot. I didn’t realize how much I needed this.”

“You’re welcome, Miss D,” he replies, pushing his hand through the sleeve and taking hers in his grasp. “It’s been an honor.”

I try to sniff back another onset of tears, but I can’t. And Trevor—he must hear it, or sense it somehow, because he throws his arm around my neck, pulling me to him. He kisses my temple and wipes his own tears across the front of his jacket. Then he clears his throat, his voice low and meant only for me: “When the world is at its darkest…”

I gasp. “…that’s when the magic appears.”

SEVENTEEN

ava

Connor: Hey, is your mom up?

Ava: Are we just going to bypass my greetings from now on? I feel used.

Connor: Good morning, future girlfriend.

Ava: Good morning. :)

Connor: Is your mom up?

Ava: Yeah, why?

Connor: I have to get to an early practice, but I have five minutes. Can I come by?

I glance up from my phone to see Mom at the kitchen sink, staring out into the yard. She hasn’t mentioned last night, and I’ve been too wary to bring it up.

Ava: Meet me on the porch.

“I’m just meeting Connor outside. I’ll be back in a couple minutes. Okay, Mama?”

Mom doesn’t respond, and Trevor and I share a knowing look. We’re both used to her short-term memory loss, but Connor… he hasn’t had to deal with it yet, and I’m worried about how he’ll react.

Connor’s already standing on my porch when I open the door, and so I step out to join him, closing the door behind me.

“Hi, future girlfriend,” he greets, planting a cold-nosed kiss on my cheek. “How’s my second favorite lady doing today?” He’s so happy and hopeful and alive, and I don’t want to break him.

After a sigh, I step closer to him and flatten my hands on his stomach when I look up and into his eyes. “Mom’s not having a good day, and I don’t know if she’s just exhausted from last night or if…” If this is just a repeat of the many days prior.

Connor’s grin falters, just for a second before his chin lifts. “She’ll be happy to see me.”

I can’t.

I don’t have it in me to destroy his hope, and so I open the door and step aside to let him in. Mom hasn’t moved from her position, and Connor’s quiet as he approaches her. “Good morning, Miss D.”

Mom spins to face him, her eyes void of any emotion, and there’s no inflection in her tone when she murmurs, “Hello.” That’s it. That’s all she gives him before going back to staring outside.

Leaning against the doorway of the kitchen, I let my head rest on the frame, hands behind my back as I watch Connor’s expression fall completely. Trevor’s loud sigh fills the silence. He gets up from the kitchen table and moves past Connor, patting his shoulder gently. In Connor’s ear, Trevor whispers, “Don’t let it bring you down, okay?”

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