Evelyn
The second Mom sees me, her knees buckle.
Alexander catches her, and I lunge for her, folding her into my arms. She sobs into my shoulder, grasping my shirt like a lifeline.
“You’re here,” I say, realizing I’m crying, too. “You’re here, you’re here.”
I look up over Mom’s shoulder as she finds her feet, meeting Alexander’s gaze. “For how long?” I ask, wondering how much time I’ll have with her.
Alexander looks moved watching the way Mom and I grip each other.
“As long as you both want,” he says. “I’ve had a room prepared for her at the end of the hall.”
“She—” My breath catches, and I have to swallow down a sob. “She can stay? With us?”
Alexander holds my gaze. “That’s what you want, right?”
I can no longer see him through the blur of happy tears as I hug my mom close, murmu
