I cut in. “You already planned this?”

I held out for about three seconds.

“Maybe.”

I sighed. “We don’t have enough pie tins.”

She grinned. “Mrs. Vera said we can borrow hers.”

“You already asked Mrs. Vera?”

“Maybe.”

I pointed at her. “You are exhausting.”

Advertisement

Saturday morning looked like a flour bomb had gone off.

She hugged me. “Please.”

I held out for about three seconds.

Then I said, “Fine. But when this kitchen becomes a disaster, I want it noted that I had concerns.”

She kissed my cheek. “You’re the best.”

“No,” I said. “Just weak.”

Saturday morning looked like a flour bomb had gone off.

Advertisement

At one point she got quiet.

Apples everywhere. Cinnamon in the air. Dough on the counter, dough on the floor, dough somehow on the cookie jar. Lila had flour in her hair and on her nose.

I said, “How is it on your forehead?”

She wiped her cheek. “Is it?”

“That is not your forehead.”

By 26, I said, “Next time, write a card.”

I stopped peeling apples.

Advertisement

Lila laughed. “You’re doing great.”