cafes on the terrace, me laughing with all my teeth when I didn’t even remember that I was capable of it.
Sophie cornered me in the kitchen while everyone was talking and laughing.
“Mom,” she sighed, “that’s enough now. This… relationship… is causing a stir. The neighbors are talking, people are asking questions. It’s not healthy.”
“What’s unhealthy?” I asked. “That someone takes care of me without complaining?”
He’s taking advantage of you! Can’t you see it?
I looked through the open door. Marc was outside with my twelve-year-old grandson, showing him how the motorcycle engine worked. The boy’s eyes were shining, and he was asking a thousand questions. Marc answered patiently, didn’t make fun of him, and didn’t interrupt.
“The day you left me at the motorway service station,” I said softly, “I thought I was going to die.”
