Another lovely Thimbleful Thursday prompt. I went over word count again, because I’m bad at flash fiction. >.> Only by like…120 though? That’s better than usual?
Anywho, this is in the world of RATHER LARGE PUDDLE, set post-book. I’d say there are spoilers, but I’ve been talking about this book for so long and it’s an obvious romance ending, so one would imagine you’d figure this out anyway.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” I frowned, looking at my mother’s trembling hands, barely seeing the cedar box she held.
“It’s…” My mother sighed, a soft smile finding its way to her lips. “It’s nothing, dear. Just an old woman watching her baby girl grow up.”
I bit my lip and hugged her, and she shifted the box to one hand so that she could return the gesture. “I’d say I’m not going that far away, but…”
“But that’s not true. My little river, all the way across the ocean.” Mom brushed a hand against my cheek. “I can’t believe you’ve already graduated.”
“You know I’ll be in good hands over there. The whole Taylor family–well, except for Allen at the moment of course–has said they’ll look out for me. Maggie’s so excited she can’t see straight.”
“I know.” Mom chuckled. “But it’s still strange to see. But here. This is what I wanted to give to you.” She handed me the box, and I looked down at it. Nothing fancy, nothing special…just a plain wooden box with her monogram–with her maiden name–etched on the top.
“It’s really nice, Mom, but…I don’t get it.”
“Open it.”
I did as I was told, and immediately sucked in a sharp breath. Inside was money–and a lot of it. All in cash, a good chunk in large-ish bills…and a single slip of paper. I shifted my grip so that I could pick it up and realized it was an envelope–holding a debit card. I looked up at my mother, frown deepening. “Mom, I really don’t get it.”
“It’s…I’ve been saving a little nest egg, I guess, for you ever since you were born. I gave one to CJ when he left as well. I know it’s not much, but I hoped it would be enough to get you started. All the bank information is in with the card; there’s a good chunk of change in there. I don’t know what it will turn into with the exchange rate, but…” She took a deep breath. “I know you’re going over there with a good chance of coming back with news of a lovely young man you’re involved with. And you both being writers, poor artists you, I wanted to help you have a little bit of a start.”
I could feel the tears burning my eyes as I set the box aside and wrapped my mother in a huge bear hug. “Thank you so much, Mom. Thank you so…so much.”
“I love you, sweetheart.”
“I love you too.”
I am not lost... 