#CHAPTER 145: Mother and Father

MILA I sat with my parents on the front porch of their house–a large beachfront cottage that overlooked the sparkling sea. My mother prepared us each large mugs of peppermint tea and I settled into a porch swing, suddenly and remarkably completely at peace. Alexander, my father, had wept when he realized who I was. Even though they both technically had more work to do at the docks, they both insisted on taking the rest of the day off to spend time with me. It was an odd feeling, to have a family that was willing to drop everything else going on in their lives just for me. My parents fussed over me, trying to make sure I was as comfortable as possible. Was I too hot? Was I too cold? Was I feeling all right? It was as if they were making up for twenty years of parenting. Once we were all cozy on the porch, my mother looked at me tentatively over the lip of her mug. “May I ask you a question, Mila?” “Yes?” I asked, taking a big gulp of tea. “Are y