Breath Of Life

“I thought it was more our style to make the parental units worry,” Riley adds.

“I figured it was my turn to rebel,” I say drolly.

“None of this is funny.” My mother rushes over and hugs me.

“I agree. Hi, Mom.” I inhale her floral scent and hold her closer than usual. I’ll never take the small things for granted the way I used to.

“Hi, sugarplum.” She pulls back from me and gives me a slow once over. “How are you? You look like you lost weight.”

“The stress got to me.”

“It’s all over now, though, right?” Max asks as I move to hug my father.

“It should be. I don’t know how rational criminal types can be. The testimony’s been given, there’s no taking it back, and he’s in prison. I’ll be moving out of my apartment to a new location. I’m not sure where or when but hotel life is wearing me thin, so it’ll be sooner rather than later.”

“I don’t know, room service, maids, and no work, sound pretty cushy to me,” Max says.

“Until it isn’t,” I say with a roll of my eyes.

“Now quit picking on your sister,” my father instructs.

“Yeah.” I stick out my tongue.

“Always the baby brat,” Riley says.

“You guys can’t stop picking on me, can you?” I ask as I move to hug Riley. I close my eyes, welcoming the familiar lavender scent and the heat of her body. Riley always ran hot.

She pulls away and gazes at me. “You okay, little sister?”

“Yeah, I am. Shaken, but on the mend.”

She gives me a nod.

“Where’s that boyfriend of yours? Seems kind of shitty he let you come alone,” Max says as he gives me a bear hug and lifts me off my feet. I squeal.

“I decided we should both go solo to reassure our family that we were okay. Tempers were running high in the courtroom.”

“So I heard, slugger,” Max says as he sets me on my feet.

“You girls want to help me get the salad ready so we can serve dinner?” my mom asks. I understand the code. It’s time for girl talk.

“Sure, Mom.” We head to the kitchen where we wash fresh veggies and hand them to my mother to chop.

“What are your plans with this boy? Grief is an all-encompassing thing that never fully goes away. He’s not the same man you originally fell in love with. Are you prepared to deal with that?”

“It’s very serious. I understand he’s not going to be okay overnight, Mom.”

“There will be times of great sadness you’ll never understand. I saw it with my own mother after my brother drowned. It drove my parents apart and nearly ruined their marriage. I know you’re a grown woman, but I wouldn?

?t feel right if I didn’t speak frankly. My parents wanted a large family, but after Johnny died, that ended. Are you prepared to give up having children altogether? Have you discussed the possibility?”

“Mom, it seems ... premature and cruel.”

“Not if you’re throwing everything you have in with him. I know you, girl. You don’t love in halves.”

I look down at the avocado I’m slicing in two and squirting with lemon juice to keep it from browning. Dealing with Rolly convinced me I wanted children. I couldn’t put that wish back.

“I’ll bring it up.”