“You’re ridiculous.”
There was something almost affectionate in his voice.
He spent the afternoon fixing the board properly.
When he finished, he tested it himself several times before allowing me to step on it.
Later, I realized Luke fixed things because he didn’t know how else to say:
I want this place to last.
—
A month later, he accidentally called me Mom.
It happened in the kitchen.
“Mom, have you seen my charger?”
We both froze.
Luke turned bright red.
I immediately faced the counter and pretended to search through a drawer because tears had already filled my eyes.
I didn’t want to make the moment too big.
“Kitchen counter,” I said lightly. “Beside the toaster.”
“Oh.”
He cleared his throat.
“Thanks.”
Neither of us mentioned it.
But he said it again later.
Then again.
Mom, I’m home.
Mom, what’s for dinner?
Mom, can you sign this?
