SAMANTHA
A cake, balloons, groceries, flowers, and an inflatable chair greeted Summer and me on Friday morning. They were piled in front of our door when Summer got up to leave for the restroom.
“Uh…” She stepped back and cleared her throat. “Sam?”
I had no words. “Um…”
“Oh.” A bright laugh came from the hallway. The inflatable chair was picked up and lifted before Malinda’s flushed face was seen. “Happy parents’ weekend, Samantha!” She shoved the chair behind her and waded through everything else.
Her arm was thrown up, and I had a second’s notice before she crossed the room’s threshold, grabbing me in the tightest bear hug I’d experienced in a long time.
She rocked me back and forth, smoothing a hand down my hair. “You look surprised. Good.” She pulled back and patted me once on bo
