Book 2 -30-

[Disappointment II]

SIERRA

Within those fleeting minutes, standing there unmoved, saying nothing, I felt my heart drop to my stomach. I never expected this moment to be so awkward as silence and surprise hung over us both like something grim. With my heightened senses, I could hear the way her breathing faltered in anticipation, while she steadily teetered on her heels.

After another few seconds of silence, everything started moving again. My mother was the first to avert her gaze as she closed the door and dropped her keys on the table, still refusing to say anything to me.

I couldn’t tell you what a thrill it was to see her, but I fear that excitement was one-sided. “Aren’t you going to say anything?” I asked, trailing behind her as she walked past me and into the kitchen. She slipped her handbag from her shoulder and dropped the two brown paper bags of groceries onto the countertop.

“What would you like me to say, Sierra?” She retrieved a pot from the cupboard, filled it with