Page 101 of Tilly in Technicolor
“Should I be afraid?” Micah stage-whispers.
“Yes!”
“No.”
My voice tangles with Ollie’s and we both frown at each other before bursting into giggles.
“Miss Two-Jobs is suddenly too good to get the door?” Mona asks, power walking out of her room and shooting me a goofy look. “Come on, Tilly.”
With a deeply tortured sigh, I stand, my friends following my lead.
The door creaks open and Mona’s voice rings through the apartment, punctuated with a short giggle. “Mom!”
“Oh, my baby!” my mom says, voice muffled.
I feel my pulse in my palms as the pair rounds the corner and enters the living room. Mom stops, looking at me, her smile only growing as she takes me in.
“Tilly,” she says, crossing the room and pulling me into a warm, consuming hug. It feels… genuine. Comfortable.
“Hi, Mom,” I say into her shoulder, hugging her back.
After a few moments, Micah clears their throat, pulling a laugh from me.
“Mom,” I say, untangling myself. “These are my friends, Micah and Marcus.” I gesture at the duo.
“Pleasure,” Micah says, leading the charge and shaking my mom’s hand. Marcus follows suit.
“Nice to meet you,” Mom says.
“And, uh, this is Ollie. Oliver. Oliver Clark,” I say, gesturing wildly at the person in question. “He’s kind of, um, my boyfriend.”
Mom’s mouth drops open.
“Oh?” Her eyes bounce from Ollie to me to Mona and back in a wild loop.
I push my lips together, trying to tamp down the smile that wants to burst from me. It’s hard not to absolutely screech in happiness every time I get to introduce Oliver as mine.
“I… Well. This is a wonderful surprise,” Mom says, reaching out for Ollie’s hand.
He shakes it, eyes fixed on her shoulder. “So thrilled to meet you. Tilly’s told me so much about you.”
Mom’s laugh sounds a little forced. Maybe even… nervous? What could she have to be nervous about? I’m the one twisted in knots.
“Well, we’ll leave you two to catch up,” Micah says, grabbing Marcus’s and Oliver’s hands and leading them to the door. “Tilly, will we see you later?”
“Uhh.” I glance at Mom and Mona. “I’ll text you,” I say, waving them off. “Have fun.”
A hush falls through the room as they depart.
“Well, they seem lovely,” Mom says, looking at me. She’s smiling, but it’s edged with something sad tugging at the corners of her eyes.
In a blur of movement, she reaches out for me again,wrapping me in a second hug. “I really have missed you,” she says into my hair. Eventually, she pulls back. “I’m so excited to be in London, oh my gosh.”
Mona beams. “Happy to have you, Mom. Hungry? We could go get lunch. Or I could fix something here?”
“That would be great but, um…” Mom smooths a hand through her hair. “I was actually hoping to talk to Tilly for a bit? Alone, if you don’t mind?” Mom’s glance flicks between me and Mona.
“Whatever you need,” Mona says, already backing out of the room.
