15-05-2021-052358It-Ends-with-Us

“You’re an adult. It’s your right,” she says, but I can hear a trace of
disappointment. I think she feels even lonelier now that I need her
less and less. It’s been six months since my father died, and even
though he wasn’t good company, it has to be weird for her, being
alone. She got a job at one of the elementary schools, so she did end
up moving here. She chose a small suburb on the outskirts of Boston.
She bought a cute two-bedroom house on a cul-de-sac, with a huge
backyard. I dream of planting a garden there, but that would require
daily care. My limit is once-a-week visits. Sometimes twice.
“What are you going to do with all this junk?” she asks.
She’s right. There’s so much junk. It’ll take forever to clear this
place out. “I have no idea. I guess I’ll be busting my ass for a while
before I can even think about decorating.”
“When’s your last day at the marketing firm?”
I smile. “Yesterday.”
She releases a sigh, and then shakes her head. “Oh, Lily. I certainly
hope this works out in your favor.”
We both begin to stand when the front door opens. There are
shelves in the way of the door, so I careen my head around them and
see a woman walk in. Her eyes briefly scan the room until she sees me.
“Hi,” she says with a wave. She’s cute. She’s dressed well, but she’s
wearing white capris. A disaster waiting to happen in this dust bowl.
“Can I help you?”
She tucks her purse beneath her arm and walks toward me,
holding out her hand. “I’m Allysa,” she says. I shake her hand.
“Lily.”
She tosses a thumb over her shoulder. “There’s a help wanted sign
out front?”
I look over her shoulder and raise an eyebrow. “There is?” I didn’t
put up a help wanted sign.
She nods, and then shrugs. “It looks old, though,” she says. “It’s
probably been there a while. I was just out for a walk and saw the sign.
Was curious, is all.”
I like her almost immediately. Her voice is pleasant and her smile
seems genuine.
My mother’s hand falls down on my shoulder and she leans in and
kisses me on the cheek. “I have to go,” she says. “Open house