Page 23 of The Lucky One
Weirdly, it wasn’t like that just with candy. I felt like a completely different person here—a person I liked more than my German self.
I reached into the box and found a handwritten note from Mama.
Für meine süße Zuckermaus. Lasst es euch schmecken! Wir vermissen dich!
Holding something she had touched—it made me realize how much I missed her physical contact. Talking on the phone just wasn’t the same. I wished I could hug her again, just once.
“What does it say?” Gena asked, scrutinizing the note. “Is Zucker sugar?”
“Yes! She wrote, For my sweet sugar mouse, um... enjoy the candy. And that they miss me.”
“Aww.”
I picked up the first product. “This is Milka chocolate!”
“We’ve got that too,” Henry said proudly.
“Right... but these taste better!”
“What else do we have?” Gena asked, and we all leaned over the box.
“Haribo, they’re the best gummy bears!” I held up the golden package.
Gena reached for the package, turning it around and squinting at the ingredients. “Why am I trying to read the back?” she asked, and we all burst out laughing again.
“Marzipan!” I held up small pieces of candy covered in dark chocolate.
“What’s that?” Henry asked, acting like it was the most exciting thing he’d seen in months.
“Um.” I scanned my brain. “I think it’s like ground almonds with lots of sugar. People either love it or hate it.” I picked up a packet of Ahoj-Brause. “This you normally put in water to make lemonade, but I just like to put it on my tongue because it bubbles.” Followed by—“Kinder Schokolade, Ü-Eier, Knoppers. It looks like Mama got everything.”
Zack sprinted up out of nowhere. “I want that bubbly stuff!” In no time he’d ripped it open, spilling half of it on the table.
“Zack,” Gena chided, but he leaned down and licked it off the tabletop while we all made ewww sounds.
We spent the next hour tasting and trying everything. Even Henry, leaning back and rubbing his belly like he’d just finished a five-course meal, agreed that German Milka tasted different. Then I excused myself to get dressed and call Mama. The phone rang but no answer. Disappointed, I tried reaching my brother, but Kelly—his girlfriend—picked up instead.
“Oh, Emily! Wie geht’s dir?” How you doing?
We spent a few minutes talking before I asked her to pass the phone to my brother. I liked her a lot, but right now I wanted to talk to him so badly, I could barely hide my impatience.
“Emi, ist alles in Ordnung?” Is everything okay?
“Yeah, I just got a package with German candy from Mom,” I said, switching to English. Talking in German had become almost exhausting by now.
“Oh, she told me she sent it. The Ahoj-Brause was my idea. Ah, Kelly, stop!” He burst into laughter, and I could tell he wasn’t truly with me. He was so happy with Kelly, whenever she was around, he literally forgot everything else. Kind of like how I felt when I was with Jon.
“How’s Mama actually doing?” I asked, cutting to the chase.
He went quiet, and a second later I heard a door closing. “Why do you ask?” he said, more serious now.
“It’s just...” I inhaled deeply. “I feel really comfortable here.”
He took a long breath of his own. “I understand.” I was glad I didn’t have to elaborate further. “Well, things have been easier since I moved out. From what Mama told me and the way she acts, he seems to be treating her better.”
I closed my eyes, absorbing his words. It felt like a huge weight was lifted off my heart. She was better off without me. Because if I wasn’t there, Richard wasn’t jealous of the time she spent with me without him. It would be best for everyone if I stayed away. Mama could improve her relationship with Richard, and Lucas had Kelly anyway.
After we hung up, I went back into the living room, the sugar high lending me the confidence I needed. Henry was still on the couch, cheeks glowing from laughter and candy. Gena had gathered up all the empty candy wrappers and was taking them to the kitchen.