Ash's POV
Mom gave June a quick hug and walked out of the room.
I went back into the kitchen with June, her eyes immediately dropped to the counter.
There were three different cutting boards out, bowls of chopped herbs, garlic skins everywhere, and two other pots waiting on the back burners.
"Ash," she looked surprised. "Wooooaaww..."
I went back to stirring the sauce. "What?"
"That's a lot of food. Like, a scary amount of food.""
"Yeah," I said, my voice sounding a little too flat. I kept the wooden spoon moving. "I invited some people over later."
"Really?"
"Yeah." I nodded, softly. "Just... wanted today to feel big, you know? I wanted Alia to have one really good, loud memory before... I don't know. Before life finds a way to ruin something else for us."
June didn't say anything. She just leaned against the counter, stirring at me.
The kitchen was warm. The sun was hitting the floor in these bright, clean squares.
