I stayed there with my head still resting against Mom's shoulder. Her fingers moved slowly through my hair while the fountain echoed softly beside us.
Neither of us spoke for a while.
"You still have time to choose differently," she whispered.
I shut my eyes briefly, breathing in slowly.
Then….
"There you two are." Dad's voice cut through the quiet garden.
My body stiffened immediately. My defense mechanism whenever I heard his voice.
Mom's fingers paused slightly in my hair.
The warmth just vanished. I lifted my head slowly, feeling totally exposed as Dad walked into the garden.
He was dressed neatly already, with his hair slicked back, and this tension all over his face.
