and we forgave

Chapter 33

ADAM

I shiver as the car parks in front of the house. I still ask myself every time I get here how I got the luck to find this place. Or how desperate I was. There is no one else living on a range of fifty miles. Just this house and the fields around it. I sometimes feel like a monster for bringing her here. However, it is better than the monster she used to share a home with.

I swallow hard and get out of the car. I take the bouquet of irises from the passenger's seat, along with the box filled with pie. As soon as I lock my car, I walk the road up to the house and open the door.

Everything still looks the same as last month. No problems in sight. Good.

"I'm back", I yell, hoping to catch her attention. It does. I can soon hear her footsteps on the hallway and my heart starts beating faster.

"Adam", my Mom says and comes give me a hug. I wrap my arms around her in return and allow myself to take her in for a moment. Her scent that reminds me of home, her warmth...I only get one time per month with her, I always try to make it count.

Mom lets me go and I analyze her. Her ginger hair, the same color as mine, looks a bit messy, paint in it. Her hands are covered in it too. She's wearing a white denim overall and a light purple T-Shirt underneath. She's only in a pair of fluffy socks, no shoes in sight.

She doesn't seem hurt. My heart relaxes.

"Brought you some stuff", I say, handing her the flowers and the pie. She takes them smiling happily and lets out: "You're an angel", giving me a kiss on the top of my head. She has to lift herself on her toes to reach it. I smile.

Mom leads me to the kitchen and makes me a sign to sit at the table while she gets the tea ready.

"Can't believe you brought me pie", she says.

I chuckle. "You always say that."

"Maybe because every time I can't believe you bring me pie", she replies and gives me a kiss on my cheek. I smile.

"I'll always bring you pie", I tell her. She smiles. Yet a broken one.

I know she'd rather buy the pie herself. Buy it from her favorite pie shop in New York. The one I brought Nessie too. Mom always took me there when I was sad. I saw that Nessie was too and hoped this would make her happy again as it did to my Mom. It seemed to work. Although Nessie ended up giving me visions of us hooking up in the backseat of my car. I didn't hate them. But they were responsible for another few weeks of nights I couldn't sleep.

"You seem different", Mom says, looking at my face. She has already poured tea in two cups and now sits in front of me. I haven't noticed her. Was too zoned out.

I need to focus.

"I don't know what you're talking about", I lie. She chuckles.

"Adam, I am pretty sure I can tell if something is up with my son. I know it is. Tell me what's wrong", she insists.

"Nothing is wrong", I don't back out, making my voice sound as matter-of-factly as possible.

"You're in love", she lets out. I almost choke on the nothing in my throat. Mom smirks: "You are so in love. Oh my gosh, you're even blushing right now."

I cover my cheeks with my hands like a little kid. "I am so not blushing."

"And you're getting all cranky", Mom continues. "Who is this mystery girl?"

"Mom", I cut her short. She smiles.

"I am sorry if I finally get a little bit of excitement. There's not much going on here", she counters. I freeze. Because I know she's right. She notices. And says: "I am sorry, Adam. I didn't mean it like that."