on a moonshadow.

          “but i bet wherever you’re going with mommy is way more fun than abuela and papa’s,” mateo pointed out, a hint of a mischievous smile tugging at his lips; he was hoping he could angle at getting out of his staycation, or at least getting his mother and step-father to stick around a little while longer. “how come you guys want time away from me?”

          gracia was happy to do whatever her father asked of her, especially if it meant putting a smile on his face. his reaction to her reading had been reward enough, and she wouldn’t mind continuing on to make him happier, but she wasn’t sure her reading was anything truly special. her big brother could read. her mother could read. her father could definitely read. he could read with anyone he wanted to, and everyone else was likely a much better reader than she was. “if you want me to,” she acquiesced, after the smallest of sighs. “but anyone could read it to you, you know.” gracia’s little fingers turned the page, though, and she soldiered on.

          “i don’t know,” rebecca answered through a sigh of resignation. “he clearly prefers you, but when it comes to me, i feel like it’s a lost cause, no matter who’s on the other end of the conversation.” it may have been defeatist, but she wasn’t exactly feeling any other way about it. she turned to look at him, her exhaustion showing in her eyes (and underneath them, despite any protest she may give to the contrary). “i just don’t know what i’m doing to make him hate me so much.” a rare moment of true vulnerability, but she was truly struggling with her relationship with kevin, and her failed efforts at reparation.