Chapter 28

The cabin wassuper quiet to sleep in. The window above Mommy Amelia's bed showed a canopy of stars above them, all bright and shining for the two of them.

They snuggled up close together, pajamas cast aside in favor of skin touching skin. As Mommy Amelia slept, Mandi lay awake for a while, looking up at the heavens.

Hey, universe, she thought. It's been a whole while but look at me now.

The last time she'd lain in bed like this, thinking thoughts out into the ether, it had been after her breakup and she'd lain frozen, numb, lost.

Now though, she felt alive, warm… found. She'd found herself again, found her Little, found her home. She was taking life and making it her bitch. Well, maybe not quite that, but something approximating that.

She was going to have a roommate, which was exciting! And it seemed like she and Tay were going to become friends. That was good; she definitely needed more friends.

Mandi vowed then and there to speak to at least one new person every day—outside of her job. It didn't have to be a long conversation, but a few sentences exchanged, and soon she'd find herself with lots of new friends, and perhaps slightly less scared of meeting strangers.

Mommy Amelia snuffled and rolled over, and Mandi giggled. She really was the luckiest with her Mommy. She was kind and funny and hotter than hell itself. And she was going to explore this thing they had between them, let it play out slowly, like a proper relationship. Put down roots, grounding so they didn't become unmoored in every storm that passed them.

Mandi smiled and nestled up against Mommy Amelia to sleep.

When she awoke, blinking, in dawn's sweet colors, Mommy Amelia was still fast asleep. Quietly, she snuck out of bed and managed to make her way down the ladder without bumping her head.

Tiptoeing across the cabin, she made it to her bag and extricated the card and pens she hidden in there.

It was Mother's Day and she was going to make sure that her Mommy had the best card the world had ever seen.

It was safe to say that Mandi was not an artist.

She'd tried, that much was clear, but apparently she could not draw flowers. She'd abandoned the flower idea in favor of drawing bookcases briefly but abandoned it when it became apparent they just looked like the world's largest ladder. So flowers it was.

Her roses looked droopy, her daisies chaotic, and the grass looked like tiny green knives, stabbing upwards.

But inside, inside she'd managed to redeem herself.

Dear Mommy,

Before I met you, I didn't really know what it was that I was looking for in a partner, I didn't really think that I even wanted one, but somehow you came into my life and I instantly felt safe.

You feel solid, like someone I can lean on when I'm anxious, but also when I'm happily sleepy after a nice day.

Spending time together and getting to know you has made me understand the kind of person I want to be and helped me realize some of those goals. Every day I strive to be more confident, open to meeting new people, and adventurous; because without adopting those three qualities, even for a moment, I'd never have met you.

I love you.

Your,

Mandi

She popped it onto a tray she found in the kitchen, along with a mug of coffee and a plate of Italian pastries she and Tay had begged from Chef Guilia, and managed—somehow—to balance it as she made it back up the ladder.

A very sleepy Mommy Amelia sat up at the sound of her tripping over the top rung and swearing softly. "Is that my sweary princess?"

"Yes, sorry, Mommy! I almost spilt your coffee."

"Coffee, oh you angel, let me look at—" When the other woman turned her sleepy gaze on Mandi, her mouth dropped open in surprise. "Is that… are those… pastries?"

"It's Mothers' Day," explained Mandi. "I know you're not really, but you're my Mommy and so it only seemed fair that you get breakfast in bed, and a card. I drew it myself," she added sheepishly.

But to be fair to Mommy Amelia, she didn't laugh at the card, not even at Mandi's attempt at drawing a tiny ant, that looked more like a felled body than an insect. "You made this for me?" she said, and then went very quiet indeed as she read the message on the inside.

Mandi stood awkwardly, waiting for the verdict, and then fell upon the bed to kiss her Mommy when Mommy Amelia turned eyes brimming with tears upon her.

"No, no, no, Mommy!" she said, covering her face with kisses. "No tears; it's 'cause I love you."

"I love you too, my darling, and I can't wait to show you all the ways in which I do. You"—Mommy Amelia paused, taking in a jagged breath—"have changed my life completely, babygirl. I was content, but you've brought joy. Laughter. Things that always felt like they belonged to other people and not me." Tears fell now, not sad tears, Mandi realized, but happy tears. "I'm happy, petal, and I don't think I knew that I wasn't happy before."

"We shall be happy together," said Mandi.

"Yes," said Mommy Amelia, brown eyes shining, and Mandi determined to always bring her Mommy happiness.

"Happy Mother's Day, Mommy," she said, and kissed her love.