Look at him

Lilly

F

riday and Saturday passed in a blur and steeped in delight. The sunny weather, my daughters’ laughter, and a feeling blooming in my chest made me happier than I’ve been in a long time.

Sunday came around and with it Noona’s party. A celebration of her fortieth birthday. As I drove toward her house with our windows down, I couldn’t help but wonder where the time went. Life was short. Too damn short and I had wasted a lot of it already.

When we arrived, her party was already in full swing. My second party in a week. My social skills are improving, I thought wryly.

Just as I got the girls out of the car and headed for the garden gate in the back of the house, I ran into Chance.

“Hello, Lilly,” he greeted me casually, while I tried to process whether my imagination was playing tricks on me.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

Saoirse ran to him, like they were best friends and she had known him forever.

“Hi, Chance,” Saoirse chirped. “So nice to see you.”

“Now that is a greeting,”