Page 65 of Broken Pieces

When I get to the middle of the book, I find another picture. This one of my mom and me on the day I made my first dessert from the book. I was determined to make croquembouche, a traditional French wedding dessert, one of the hardest things to make. It turned out like shit, but I remember my mom being so proud I tried to make that first. My dad snapped a picture of us, capturing the moment I wish I could go back to.

To this day I still haven’t been able to make that damn dessert. And I make a promise to myself that I will do it successfully soon. For my mom.

I push the book aside and jump into Brooks’ lap. “I can’t thank you enough for finding this for me. It’s the best birthday gift ever.”

I feel him smiling into my neck as my arms are wrapped around his head. “You sure?”

I pull back and kiss him softly. “I mean it. This means so much.”

He puts his lips back on mine and I push him back onto the bed.

I lean over him and say, “And now I am going to show you just how much it means.”