want to take it to a private investigator in case that made it invalid to be used in court.
Mom and I don't talk about our fight besides a brief I'm sorry and a hug. There's nothing to say. We both know that we loved Michael very much and that we each feel the grief in our own way.
She knows that I have a lot of suspicions. I am also more of a realist.
"I guess I'm going to have to prepare myself for another follow-up letter asking for a lot of money, huh?" Mom asks, pouring coffee into three mismatched mugs.
She grabs a tin of Girl Scout cookies from the pantry and I bite into one letting it melt on the tip of my tongue.
"I haven't had breakfast yet," I point out, "but this is delicious."
She smiles.
"Girl Scout cookies aren't the best way to start the day," she says and Dante laughs.
"I think you're wrong about that, Mrs. Archer. I think they're probably right up there with one of the best ways to start the day."
It's this moment of relief that puts me at ease and I realize just how tense I have been. As I laugh, my whole body relaxes in places where I didn't even know I was holding tension, the back of my neck, my jaw, my temples, and even the joints of my fingers and toes.
"You know, you don't have to call me Mrs. Archer, though I appreciate the sentiment. Elizabeth is just fine."
"Okay, Elizabeth. I wanted to let you know that I love your daughter very much and I've asked her to be my girlfriend exclusively."
"Oh, wow. Congratulations," Mom says, surprised. "I didn't realize my daughter was capable of being pinned down, but I wish you all the luck in that endeavor."
"I know, but she said yes for now, so I guess we'll take it from there."
The three of us laugh again and I appreciate Dante saying something like that to her.
We're not much into formalities in this family, but it's appreciated, nevertheless.
“So, since we're sharing," Mom says, putting her coffee down and reaching over to take Dante's hand in hers, "I just wanted to thank you personally for saving my life. It was just such an unexpected gesture and I'll never be able to pay you back for it but I wanted you to know that it means the world to me to be here; to continue living my life, to spend more time with my daughter, what a gift!”
"You're welcome," Dante says.
He opens his mouth to add something else like a brief don't worry about it or something casual but then he looks directly into her eyes and says, "I'm just glad that I was able to help. I'm happy that you're still with us and doing so well."
This moment of tenderness brings a tear to my eye that comes very unexpectedly.
I force myself to take another gulp of coffee just to make it go away and I blink my eyes to make the tearing up stop.
"Since we're sharing news," I say, clearing my throat, "I actually have some that is not that great. I mean, you may not think it’s that great."
"Okay," Mom says, furrowing her brow.
"I've applied for a position in Seattle."
Dante's eyes suddenly get big for a quick moment before he relaxes them and tries to pretend that nothing has happened. I feel him press his foot on top of mine under the table but I continue on.
"I just wanted to let you know that I applied for a job there at this company. No news yet, so I didn't want to get you excited, but I wanted to warn you."
"So Seattle, huh? Why so far?"
"Well, frankly, I haven't had the best luck here. I'm expanding my search, but it's a contract position, so it wouldn't be for more than six to nine months if I do get it."
"Okay, that's not too bad. Besides, now that I'm feeling better, I think I'd like to come visit you."
Her words take me by surprise.
I sit back in the chair and look up, uncertain whether I actually heard what I thought I heard.
"You're really not upset?"
"Of course not. You're living your life. You're graduating, you're looking for work. You have a wonderful, caring boyfriend; what more could I want for you?"
"I thought you'd be seriously annoyed with the fact that I might be going to the other coast."
"Nope, not at all. I want you to spread your wings. I want you to live your