And beside it…
Another slice of tiramisu.
Mom covered her face.
“Alaric.”
“What?”
“I already had dessert.”
He placed the plate in front of her.
“Then maybe don’t skip dessert this time.”
The restaurant laughed.
Mom stared at him for half a second.
Then she started laughing too.
Not the embarrassed laugh she used when she wanted attention to disappear.
A full, genuine laugh.
She laughed until tears ran down her cheeks.
Then she picked up her fork.
I watched her take another bite of tiramisu.
She closed her eyes.
Smiled.
And kept eating.
On the drive home, we were quiet for several minutes.
Then Mom looked out the passenger window.
“Daphne?”
“Yeah?”
“I meant what I said earlier.”
“About what?”
She turned toward me.
“Maybe I should go out more often.”
