15-05-2021-052358It-Ends-with-Us(1)

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