"Thank you, Alisha, for this amazing dress and the shopping.I loved it."
"You're welcome, sweetie.I had fun too."Watching her try on different outfits today, seeing her confidence bloom with each new piece—it had been a balm to my wounded soul.This girl has wormed her way into my heart with her gentle spirit and hidden strength.
But now she's biting her lip, fidgeting with her ponytail.Classic Walker tells when something's bothering her.
"Okay, before you destroy those lips, tell me what's up."I pat the couch beside me.
"You remind me of my mom," she whispers, tears gathering in her eyes.
My heart stutters in my chest.
"This"—she gestures between us—"reminds me of our time together.Shopping, eating on the couch, just...everything."
I grab her hand, squeezing gently."Tell me about her.She sounds like she was an amazing mother."
"She was the best."Samantha's voice cracks."You would have liked her.She was strong and beautiful, like you."
Samantha opens her phone, scrolling through photos until she finds one that makes her pause.When she shows me the screen, my throat tightens.A younger Samantha beams at the camera, wrapped in her mother's embrace on a sun-drenched beach.The love radiating from that captured moment is almost tangible.
"Oh, Sam.You have her smile."I study the woman who'd raised this remarkable girl."She was beautiful."
"My mom wanted to be a lawyer."Samantha's hand drifts to her chest, a gesture so like Cole's it makes my heart ache."But when she got pregnant with me, she moved back in with my grandmother and found out Nanna was sick.She took care of both of us for years."
The weight of sacrifice colors her words."She used all her savings for hospital bills.Instead of law school, she worked two jobs just to keep us afloat."
"That must have been incredibly hard."I keep my voice gentle, sensing there's more.
"Yeah."Her fingers twist in her lap."Especially after Nanna died.I spent a lot of time alone when Mom had to work."
"No friends at school?"
She shakes her head, shoulders curling inward."Rachel was my only real friend in L.A."Her nose wrinkles."The guys at school...they found out where Mom worked."
My stomach drops, already dreading what's coming.
"She was a waitress at a strip club.Not a dancer, just serving drinks, but..."She swallows hard."These boys, they'd wave dollar bills at me, asking how much it'd cost to make me strip.Or they'd ask if my mom would take her clothes off if they hired her."
White-hot rage burns through me.I take a long sip of tea, trying to wash away the bitter taste of fury.Why are kids so goddamn cruel?
"And school here in Boston?"
Her eyes meet mine, a small smile forming."It's okay.I like it."
Relief floods me.Thank god, because if anyone tried that shit here, I'd personally ensure they never reproduced.
"Can I ask you something?"She's gnawing her nail now, another nervous tell.
"Anything."
"Since you always look so amazing..."She takes a deep breath."Could you show me how to do makeup?Since my mom isn't here...I was hoping maybe you'd want to..."
The longing in her voice breaks my heart.I stand, holding out my hand."It would be my honor."
Her face lights up as she takes it, wrapping her arm around me."Thank you so much, Alisha.Next to my mom, you're the coolest woman ever."
I laugh to hide how much that touches me."That's quite a compliment.But remember—" I fix her with a stern look."We're not plastering your face with products.You don't need it.Plus, your father would have an aneurysm."
Her snort of laughter echoes down the hallway as we head to the bathroom.But underneath my smile, worry gnaws at me.Speaking of Cole...what's he doing right now?Is he okay?
