“Of course he is, you did it,” Kayla says warmly.
“Wedid it,” my mom says, squeezing tighter.
I’m enjoying this group hug, though I’m sure Kayla’s hating every second of it. She’s just better at pretending than I am.
My mom’s phone rings as we break apart. She puts her finger to her mouth and walks inside.
“Is this weird for you?” Kayla asks dryly.
“Why?” I ask, confused.
Kayla shrugs.
“Did I do something?”
“The dad thing, since yours…” She trails off but I suddenly understand what she’s saying.Because your dad abandoned you.It’s the first time Kayla’s shown any real concern for me.
It takes me a second to gather my thoughts. “Oohhhh, yeah. No, I’m good. It’s been a long time.”
Kayla nods. “Listen,” she says, fiddling with one of her small gold hoop earrings. “Deanna talked to me. She basically called me out for excluding you—”
My heart sinks. “Kayla, I swear, I didn’t ask her to—”
“No, it’s fine. She’s right, and she doesn’t know the half of it. I’m sorry for being so harsh. I guess this whole thing has just been an adjustment. It was already a big change to have your mom in the picture, and then when they told me you were coming home, and I had to show you around and keep your secret, I guess I took my frustration with all the changes out on you. It wasn’t cool, and I really am sorry.”
“I get it,” I say, still wrapping my mind around Kayla’s apology. I could tell from the moment I arrived that she was dealing with her own stuff, and I try to picture how I’d feel in her shoes. I remember how much I hated the center when I first got there—it was jail, sure, but it was alsochange. It isn’t easy when your life looks completely different overnight.
I feel my shoulders relax, the pressure releasing, letting go a little bit. Maybe things will be different now. Maybe.
Kayla’s about to say something else, but we’re interrupted by the sound of the front door opening and my mom scrambling back into the sunroom. She jumps when Travis pops around the corner.
“Surprise!!!” we all shout.
Travis laughs.
“You were supposed to tell me when you pulled up,” my mom says, slapping his arm.
“I knew you guys were up to something.” He looks around at the decorations. “This is sweet. Thank you.” He plants a kiss on my mom, the kind that would gross me out if they didn’t look so in love.
I think of Kayla’s question and wonder if my mom thought about my dad today. I hope that if she did, she knows that things ended up how they were meant to be.
“Can I get a hug from my girls or is thatcringe?” Travis asks.
“You get a one-day special,” Kayla says, walking into his open arms.
I don’t move. Did he saygirlorgirls?
“Damnnn, Jasmine, dissing me on my birthday?” Travis keeps his arms open.
“I, umm, wasn’t sure you meant me too,” I reply awkwardly.
“My girls,” he says, pointing at each of us. “Now get over here and give this old man a hug. My arms are starting to ache.”
My mom nods her approval in my direction, and I walk into his arms as well. I feel tears and blink them away quickly while my face is buried in his sweater.
“Also, please refrain from usingcringeagain,” I say when we let go.
Then