Page 152 of One Night with Number Nineteen

I nod.

And only then does he walk a few feet away, stealing Reed from Harper.

“Sawyer,” my mom begins, and her eyes go glassy.

My lungs expand on a breath, every instinct to ask her what’s wrong, to fix what’s wrong, what’s hurting her tearing through me.

Fuck, this is hard.

Then suddenly, I’m not alone.

Or maybe I never was.

Leo’s back behind me and Lainey’s hand is in mine and I can breathe, can think.

But it’s not the mom I’ve known for a decade who’s standing in front of me. It’s…my mom from before. Or maybe it’s the mom she’s going to become.

Because she just says, “I spoke with Ally.”

My stomach clenches.

Maybe not.

“She gave me Lainey’s address⁠—”

Bile burns the back of my throat. “Mom⁠—”

“And a few phone numbers. One for the senior center and another…” A breath. “For a home-care aide.”

“Mom,” I begin.

She pats my cheek, looks around. “You’re busy, honey. I just…I wanted to take a first step.”

Lainey’s hand convulses on mine and then she slips her fingers free.

And it takes me a minute to realize it’s because I’m leaning in. “Thanks,” I murmur, hugging her close.

Her arms wrap around me, the familiar scent of her in my nose.

Then she exhales, and though it’s shaky, she does it pulling away. “Talk to you soon, baby.” She turns for the driveway, starts walking down it, then turns back.

My pulse speeds.

But all she does is pass me a bag. “For you”—a flick of her gaze around us—“and the rest of your family.” Her voice drops. “Because I haven’t been much of one for you.”

Her fingers find mine and she kisses my cheek.

“Talk soon, baby.”

And then she’s gone and I’m left with…

Lainey at my side and Leo at my back and my friends all around me…

And maybe, my mom coming back to me.

“I’m perfectly capable of keeping the doors locked and the alarm armed.”

I nod, ignoring the twisting in my stomach. “I know that.”