Love, Mom

Chapter Three

Lily crossed the street and half threw herself into Elena's car, hunched over.

She closed the passenger door as Elena drove off, adjusting her mirror.

"Had a good day?"

Lily hummed in response, checking around her that no one had seen them in the car.

"I told Destiny not to wait for me."

"Does she know about-"

"No."

Lily sank into her seat, her backpack at her feet. Elena's car, inherited from her grandparents, had traveled for miles and miles before ending up in the hands of the young girl for her seventeenth birthday. She'd been using it ever since to go to high school and take Lily on dates. And, occasionally, to have some fun in the back seats.

"Are you okay?" Elena asked as she turned a corner.

"It's kinda weird," Lily replied. "It's like coming back to a crime scene."

"What?"

"Well, this is where it all happened, right?"

Elena heaved an amused sigh.

"Are you comparing our car sex to a murder?"

"We should put yellow tape, you know, like in movies," Lily continued. "Except it won't have written 'Crime scene' on it."

"What do you want written there?" Elena laughed. "'Someone came here'?"

Lily laughed too.

"That was awful!"

"Come on, admit it, it was kinda funny," Elena replied, laughing. "And no one is putting yellow tape on my car."

Lily, too busy laughing, didn't answer her.

Elena took the avenue, crossed the street, slowed down by traffic jams. Lily, a smile on her lips, watched peacefully around her. She loved car trips. There was nothing more relaxing.

Suddenly she saw a group of young people in front of her and she exclaimed:

"Shit, your team!"

She threw herself forward to hide between the seat and the dashboard, twisting herself to fit in with her bag. At the wheel, Elena was panicking.

"Oh my God, oh my God, what do I do? They're gonna ask me stop!"

"Pretend you're on the phone!" Lily replied.

"I can't find it!"

Lily shoved hers into her hand, watched with wide eyes as Elena drived past the team, smiling at them, the phone leaning against her ear. Elena glanced in her rearview mirror and handed her phone back. Lily, her knees to her chest, found that she loved the tight space that gave her a sense of peace. The pressure against her body allowed her heart to slow down.

"Honey, I know you like seating here, but you need to put your seat belt on. I wouldn't forgive myself if something happened to you," Elena said.

"Oh, right, I'm sorry," Lily replied, extricating herself from her hiding place to sit back in her seat, buckling her seat belt.

Elena smiled at her, placing a gentle hand on her thigh cautiously. Lily didn't shy away.

"It's alright. It's gonna be alright. I'll be with you."

"I know."

She watched Elena's dark-skinned hand for a few seconds before remembering her sister's lessons.

"And you, how are you feeling?" She asked.

Elena gave a shy chuckle.

"I'm a little nervous, to be honest. And scared. Scratch that, I'm fucking terrified. I'm sorry, babe."

"It's okay. Fear is a natural reaction to unexpected changes."

"It's more than that."

"I know. And it's perfectly okay. Your fear doesn't make you less of a support for me."

Elena gave her a dazzling smile that made Lily's heart race.

"How are you so calm? I thought I would be the one reassuring you."

Lily bit her lip remorsefully.

"You're having a shutdown, aren't you?"

"Yeah," Lily whispered.

"Babe, don't build it up to much," Elena said, her brow frowning in concern. "The breakdown is gonna be much more worse, and you need your emotions to make the right decisions."

"I know," Lily replied.

"I'm here for you, no matter what."

"I know," she repeated.

After a few seconds of thought, Lily tucked a lock of Elena's hair behind her ear and leaned forward to place a kiss on her cheek. Elena's smile grew more dazzling than ever.

Finally, after several minutes of driving, Elena pulled into the clinic parking lot, stopping the engine. The two young girls remained motionless in the car. Elena stroked the side of Lily's thigh with her thumb.

"We're gonna be okay, okay?"

"Okay," Lily replied.

"And I'm with you whatever happens, whatever you decide."

"Okay."

Lily turned to her.

"I love you. You know that, right?"

Elena smiled.

"Of course I know that. I love you too. I love you so much."

She leaned forward and kissed her long on the lips, Lily savoring the softness of her mouth on hers. After a few moments, Elena pulled away.

"We have to go inside, you know?"

"Yeah," Lily replied. "One last courage kiss?"

With a laugh, Elena leaned in to kiss her again, taking her face in her hands.

"Come on now. We're gonna be late. "