Page 103 of Our Broken Pieces
Chapter Seventy-One
Gigi
As Wednesday approached, my anxiety grew around meeting my mother. I honestly don’t know why I’m worried. I’ve gone years without this woman, but maybe the child inside still wants to know the answer to so many questions. When the day finally arrived, Marcus woke up before his alarm, quietly slipping out of bed and going downstairs. I wasn’t even asleep after tossing and turning all night, so I rolled out of bed and followed him down to the kitchen a few minutes later.
When I enter the room, he’s standing in front of the coffee maker. I walk to him and put my arms around his waist.
“Good morning, G.”
“Hi.”
“Looks like you slept as well as I did.”
“I don’t even know if you can call it sleep. I kept waking up.”
“I know. I felt you rolling around all night.”
“Sorry.”
His hand goes to the back of my neck. “Don’t be sorry. I know you’ve been worried about today.”
“I really think I’m ready, though. I’ve worked through the shock, and now I just want to see what she has to say. I sort of just want it to be over now.”
“And Audrey is still going to be there?”
“Yup.”
“I’ll be at the office, so I’ll be close by, too, if you need me.”
“Okay.” I kiss his arm. “Thank you.”
“Anything for you, princess.”
I release him to grab the almond milk for the coffee.
Audrey and I agreed to meet at her place and then walk over to the coffee shop a couple blocks away. When I arrive, I feel like a crazed mess of nerves and caffeine.
“Are you ready?” She looks into my eyes.
I blow out a breath. “Yeah.”
“Okay, remember, say the word and we’re out.”
“Got it.”
She grabs her purse, handing me mine, and we leave.
When we walk into the coffee shop, my eyes scan the people seated at the tables. She said she would be wearing a green sweater. Not seeing anyone in the crowd, I glance over at the group of people waiting for their orders, and I see her.
She’s taller than I am, her hair is a little past her shoulders and a bright white. She’s thin, and she just looks old. I got a copy of my birth certificate when I was eighteen, so I know she’s sixty-one, but I didn’t imagine that sixty-one would look like this.
I tug on Audrey’s arm. “That’s her over there.”
Audrey acts like she’s looking at her phone, but her eyes move to my mother. “Wow, she’s really here.”
“I know. I feel like I can’t catch my breath.”
“Are you okay? Do we need to step outside?”
