Loving Cousin

"Well, what time do you want to meet up here on Saturday?"

"At three o'clock, right here," I replied, but I had to force the words out.

"Good. Tell John I can't wait to meet him!" she said, squeezing my arm in a friendly way, but the bruises I'd left caused me to wince.

"I will. See you later, Steph," I said. When she'd walked off toward the exit, I made my way to the arts and crafts store where Mom worked.

As I walked through the store looking for Mom, the coffee and lack of real food made my stomach cramp. As the manager of the whole store, she could be anywhere. I nodded to the staff members I recognized until one pointed in Mom's direction. I found her speaking to a woman about a sewing machine. Mom smiled at me over the customer's shoulder, so knowing it could be a while I browsed around the craft aisles until she was free.

"Kate! Where's John?"

"Home. Can I get a ride home with you?"

"How'd you get here?" she asked and gave me a quick hug.

"Steph and Holly."

"Did you remember to