From the other side

Kamala barely waited for the door to shut behind Douglas before she grabbed her phone.

Her fingers fumbled across the screen as she paced the kitchen barefoot, still in her robe, hair messily tied back from sleep. She hit Lizzy’s contact and brought the phone to her ear, breath caught somewhere between panic and embarrassment.

“Pick up. Pick up. Pick up,” she muttered under her breath, chewing her thumbnail.

When Lizzy answered, her voice was bright and groggy. “Mummy? Everything okay?”

Kamala didn’t waste a second. “Lizzy—I think I said ‘I love you’ to Douglas last night.”

There was a beat of silence. “Okay… and?”

“I don’t remember what he said back.”

Lizzy paused again, this time longer, and then came the soft, amused hum. “Oh, Mummy.”

Kamala sighed, collapsing onto one of the kitchen stools like her knees had given out. “It’s not funny.”

“No, it’s adorable,” Lizzy said, and Kamala could hear the smile through the phone. “You’re spiraling.”

“I am not spiraling,” Kamala said. “I just—I don’t remember. I was barely awake. And what if I said it first and he just… didn’t say it back? Or worse—what if I made it awkward?”

“Mummy. Listen to me.” Lizzy’s voice dropped into that steady, grown-woman tone Kamala had both pride and terror about. “I have seen the way he looks at you. He’s smitten. You could have barked it in your sleep and he’d still be honored.”

Kamala let out a breath, trying to smile. “I didn’t bark it.”

“I’m sure you were very soft and lovely and half-asleep, which means it was perfect,” Lizzy soothed. “And if he didn’t say it back—which he did, by the way—you two would have talked about it this morning.”

“I didn’t bring it up.”

“Because you’re scared.”

Kamala closed her eyes. “Because I’m scared.”

Lizzy softened. “You’ve been strong for everyone your whole life, but love’s the one thing you don’t get to control, Mummy. Just let it happen. He’s there. He’s not going anywhere.”

Kamala swallowed hard and nodded, even though Lizzy couldn’t see her. “Thank you.”

“Always.”

A pause passed between them—soft and familiar.

“So,” Kamala said, shifting gears with a deep breath. “What’s on your schedule today, baby?”

Lizzy exhaled like she was stretching. “I have that early strategy meeting—Noah’s dropping me off since he borrowed my car yesterday. After that, I’m meeting Celia for coffee, then I’ve got a client lunch. Might swing by the apartment to water the plants if I have time.”

“Busy girl.”

“Not as busy as you.”

Kamala smiled at that. “I don’t know. My schedule doesn’t include lunch with friends and a handsome driver.”

Lizzy laughed. “He is handsome, isn’t he?”

“He is,” Kamala said with a playful edge. “Still watching him, though.”

“I’d expect nothing less.”

There was a pause, comfortable and sweet.

“I’ll call you tonight,” Lizzy said.