everything you could. You wouldn’t be
left wondering for the rest of your life what would’ve happened if you’d looked
for her.”
“She
could still show up on her own. Maybe it would be better if I waited for her.”
“Maybe,”
Stone agreed. He took my hands in his large, warm palms. “Look, Dara, I wish
I knew what to tell you. The truth is that I can understand it whichever way
you decide. But if you really want to have a relationship with her, then maybe
if you reach out to her, it’ll help her know that you’ve accepted her, you
know? Maybe she’s just as scared as you are. But neither of you will ever
know, if one of you doesn’t do something about it.
“I
just want you to be happy, and I’ll support you either way.”
I
wrapped my arms around his waist, and he pulled me to his chest, his arms
encircling me protectively. “I want my mom in my life.”
“Then
we’ll find her,” he said, squeezing me. He turned me loose and slapped me on
the butt. “Now, let’s go before we’re late to school.”
I
handed him the keys and hopped in the passenger side while he slid behind the
steering wheel.
***
Even
though today was a half day, school seemed to drag on forever. When the final
bell rang, I scooped up my books and raced out of the classroom, eager to
escape the vibrant blue writing on the whiteboard and the dull drone of my
calculus teacher as he lectured about derivatives.
Ready
to begin the search for my mother, I hurried to my locker and sifted through
books, pulling out any that I needed for homework or for studying for finals.
Stone
approached me from behind, snaking his arms around my waist and pulling me
backwards into his lean, muscular chest. Even though we’d been together for
several months, my pulse still raced at his nearness. I smiled, genuinely
happy to be in his presence and excited about our road trip to Oakley.
Pressed
against his body, I tilted my head to the side and glanced up at him. “Ready
to go?”
He
brushed his lips against my temple in a quick kiss. “I’m always ready.”
I
slammed my locker shut, and he released me. Picking up my overstuffed
backpack, he slung it over his shoulder with ease, despite its weight.
“Where
should we start?” I asked, slipping my hand in his as we walked down the
hallway.
“I’ve
already asked about her at half of the hotels in Oakley. Are you sure you can’t
remember the name of the one she worked at?” he asked, weaving a path through
the sea of students.
“I
don’t think she ever mentioned the name.” Clinging to his hand, I stayed close
to his side.
“But
you’re sure it’s in Oakley?”
We
pushed through the exit doors at the end of the hallway. “I’m sure.”
“It
just doesn’t make sense,” he said as we crossed the parking lot.
“What
doesn’t?”
“I’ve
already called all of the hotels in Oakley, and none of them have ever heard of
your mother.”
“Maybe
you missed one,” I suggested.
He
shrugged. “Maybe. I could definitely see one of the hotel owners in Oakley
not being savvy enough to have a listing on the Internet.”
When
we reached my car, he pulled the key fob out of his pocket and hit the unlock
button. I waited for him in the passenger seat while he stored our backpacks
in the trunk. Sliding behind the steering wheel, he reached over and rested
his palm on my thigh. “Dara, are you absolutely sure this is what you want?”
I
nodded. “I haven’t changed my mind. I want to find her.” As soon as the
words escaped my lips, my nerves began to jumble. All my insecurities darted
through my mind like dragonflies zipping through the air. What if she was
avoiding me? What if she was picking drugs over me again? What if she hated
me? Just like my birthday, maybe I wasn’t worth remembering. Maybe….
Stone
squeezed my thigh. “No matter what happens, remember that I love you.”
I
nodded, trying
left wondering for the rest of your life what would’ve happened if you’d looked
for her.”
“She
could still show up on her own. Maybe it would be better if I waited for her.”
“Maybe,”
Stone agreed. He took my hands in his large, warm palms. “Look, Dara, I wish
I knew what to tell you. The truth is that I can understand it whichever way
you decide. But if you really want to have a relationship with her, then maybe
if you reach out to her, it’ll help her know that you’ve accepted her, you
know? Maybe she’s just as scared as you are. But neither of you will ever
know, if one of you doesn’t do something about it.
“I
just want you to be happy, and I’ll support you either way.”
I
wrapped my arms around his waist, and he pulled me to his chest, his arms
encircling me protectively. “I want my mom in my life.”
“Then
we’ll find her,” he said, squeezing me. He turned me loose and slapped me on
the butt. “Now, let’s go before we’re late to school.”
I
handed him the keys and hopped in the passenger side while he slid behind the
steering wheel.
***
Even
though today was a half day, school seemed to drag on forever. When the final
bell rang, I scooped up my books and raced out of the classroom, eager to
escape the vibrant blue writing on the whiteboard and the dull drone of my
calculus teacher as he lectured about derivatives.
Ready
to begin the search for my mother, I hurried to my locker and sifted through
books, pulling out any that I needed for homework or for studying for finals.
Stone
approached me from behind, snaking his arms around my waist and pulling me
backwards into his lean, muscular chest. Even though we’d been together for
several months, my pulse still raced at his nearness. I smiled, genuinely
happy to be in his presence and excited about our road trip to Oakley.
Pressed
against his body, I tilted my head to the side and glanced up at him. “Ready
to go?”
He
brushed his lips against my temple in a quick kiss. “I’m always ready.”
I
slammed my locker shut, and he released me. Picking up my overstuffed
backpack, he slung it over his shoulder with ease, despite its weight.
“Where
should we start?” I asked, slipping my hand in his as we walked down the
hallway.
“I’ve
already asked about her at half of the hotels in Oakley. Are you sure you can’t
remember the name of the one she worked at?” he asked, weaving a path through
the sea of students.
“I
don’t think she ever mentioned the name.” Clinging to his hand, I stayed close
to his side.
“But
you’re sure it’s in Oakley?”
We
pushed through the exit doors at the end of the hallway. “I’m sure.”
“It
just doesn’t make sense,” he said as we crossed the parking lot.
“What
doesn’t?”
“I’ve
already called all of the hotels in Oakley, and none of them have ever heard of
your mother.”
“Maybe
you missed one,” I suggested.
He
shrugged. “Maybe. I could definitely see one of the hotel owners in Oakley
not being savvy enough to have a listing on the Internet.”
When
we reached my car, he pulled the key fob out of his pocket and hit the unlock
button. I waited for him in the passenger seat while he stored our backpacks
in the trunk. Sliding behind the steering wheel, he reached over and rested
his palm on my thigh. “Dara, are you absolutely sure this is what you want?”
I
nodded. “I haven’t changed my mind. I want to find her.” As soon as the
words escaped my lips, my nerves began to jumble. All my insecurities darted
through my mind like dragonflies zipping through the air. What if she was
avoiding me? What if she was picking drugs over me again? What if she hated
me? Just like my birthday, maybe I wasn’t worth remembering. Maybe….
Stone
squeezed my thigh. “No matter what happens, remember that I love you.”
I
nodded, trying
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