Her First Mistake by Carey Baldwin (books for 10th graders txt) 📕

This is your moment.

Time to step up.

Mia opened the door to a smiling Alma and hurried to wrestle a tray out of her arms. “What’s this?”

“We skipped breakfast before, and I want to be sure we don’t make the same mistake today.”

“Thank you.” Mia rested the tray on the desk and peeked beneath the plate cover—bacon, scrambled eggs, and a cinnamon roll. The smell made her mouth water. “But you’re not my hostess. I work for you, remember?”

“Nonsense. You’re my guest, assistant, friend, and more. We should dispense with the labels. I’ve eaten already, but you’ve been looking after me so well, I want to return the favor. And I’ve been going through some photos of Celeste.” She paused and took a long breath. “I thought it would be nice to have company on my stroll down memory lane. Is that too sentimental? Do you mind if I hang out?”

“Of course not. You want us to look at photos together?”

Nodding, Alma pulled a wallet-sized album from the pocket of her skirt. “Last night I dreamed of the old days, when it was just Celeste and me. This was before I met Baxter, of course.”

“You were a single mom? I had no idea.” She’d never have guessed Baxter wasn’t Celeste’s biological father, and it made his grief, his obvious love for her, all the more touching.

“Oh boy, was I. I got pregnant with Celeste at seventeen. Her father was nineteen and when he found out he threw me against a wall. After that, I was terrified of him, but thank goodness he wanted no part of his child’s life or mine. I lost my parents in a car accident when I was twelve, but luckily, like you, I had an aunt who took me in when they died. After Celeste was born, my aunt’s place was just too small, so we moved out. Not long after, my aunt met a wonderful woman and they fell in love and moved to Alaska together. I love her dearly and we’ve always kept in touch, but Alaska’s far, and at the time, it seemed like all Celeste and I had was each other.”

How long should she wait? She had to tell Alma the truth about the keys, but now wasn’t the right moment. Not when Alma had that faraway look in her eyes. Not when she was lost in her memories of Celeste.

“These pictures got me thinking about you and your mother. Don’t laugh, but I feel like you and I have parallels in our lives that connect us. I suspect you and your mother had to rely on each other like Celeste and I did. Sometimes, when you’re lonely, it’s hard to be a good parent. I think I leaned on my little girl too much. Anyway, and forgive me if this is too personal, but I wondered if your mother relied on you too much as well. Maybe you felt like you had to take care of her. Maybe that’s why you’re such a nurturer.”

Mia backed up to the bed and sat down.

Don’t cry. Don’t ruin the moment. This may be the last time you have a heart-to-heart with Alma.

“I don’t mean to pry.” Alma looked concerned.

“No. It’s fine. Come sit with me and let’s look at that album.”

“Don’t you want to eat first?”

“In a minute.” Mia patted the space beside her.

Alma sat down and began turning the pages. The album was just the size to hold snapshots. The cover was worn with plastic peeling off the corners. A lot of the photos were smudged and grainy—reminding Mia of the Polaroid she’d found in her mother’s hope chest. She had a nearly irresistible urge to dig it out and compare memories with Alma, but realized she shouldn’t.

Not now.

The only thing she should be thinking about in this moment was how to tell Alma about Celeste’s keys. She couldn’t keep putting it off. She didn’t deserve Alma’s confidence. Not until she told her the truth.

“See here—this is Celeste at four. She loved it when I braided her hair. It was kind of our thing.”

“My mother used to brush my hair a hundred strokes before bed. She said it kept it shiny and healthy.”

Alma tipped her head to the side, nearly touching Mia’s. “Here we are at the diner where I worked before I met Baxter. That’s Celeste sitting on the stool gobbling a hot-fudge sundae, hamming it up for the camera.”

“How old was Celeste when you and Baxter married?”

“Six—just turned. He never batted an eye at taking on a ready-made family. In fact, I was the one dragging my feet; before I brought someone into our lives, I had to be sure that he would be good for both of us. Baxter was patient, unwavering, and one day I woke up and I just knew he was the one. He married us both—that’s the way he puts it. A year later, he adopted Celeste. I know he’s not perfect. He has his flaws, but unlike Celeste’s biological father, Baxter has been good to us.” Alma closed the album, and then stared down at the wedding ring on her hand. “We’re very lucky. Or at least we have been until now.”

“Maybe luck was part of it, but give yourself credit for taking your time. For making good choices.”

“Mm. I suppose you’re right.”

Now’s not the time.

When will be?

“Alma, I need to tell you something.”

Alma looked at her, that faraway gaze changing to one of intense focus. She picked up Mia’s hand. “Whatever it is, it will be okay.”

How could she possibly know how terrified Mia was? Alma must have some kind of sixth sense. Her heart squeezed in her chest. She was probably going to lose Alma, and she didn’t know how she would bear it.

Unable to turn away, yet unable to look Alma in the eyes, Mia closed hers. The sound of Alma’s breathing, synchronized with hers, filling the room.

Time passed.

Mia didn’t know or care how much.

And then Alma squeezed her hand.