Mom squeaked and sat upright. Dad turned on the bedside lamp, and as soon as Mom’s eyes landed on her son, tears filled them. “You’re here.”

“Happy Mother’s Day,” he said, placing the tray over her lap and kissing her cheek.

She cupped his face in both of her hands. “But you said you were busy. And with everything going on, I thought…”

“I missed your birthday. I wasn’t going to miss this too. Ryan and Zayne can handle everything for a few days without me.” He kissed her again and straightened. “I’d ask if you’re happy to see me, but your blubbering tells its own story.”

She laughed and nodded. “One of the best Mother’s Day presents you have ever given me.”

I nudged my brother out of the way to hug her and placed the gifts in her hands. “Save the tears for the presents. Open them, open them!”

Garret dropped his arm over my shoulders as we watched her open first the envelope that had not only a Mother’s Day card in it, but also a trip for two to Mexico for two weeks. Garret felt so bad about missing Mom’s birthday that he’d splurged and paid for a vacation for our parents.

Whatever was going on with him and Cali—or whoever she was claiming to be—had changed him for the better. He was more affectionate, even from the other side of the country. He called Mom at least twice a week, and he even texted me once a day just to ask how I was doing. At first, it was weird, and I hadn’t completely trusted his concern for my well-being, but after the first month or so, I’d actually started looking forward to his texts.

Reminding myself to thank my friend for whatever spell she’d put on my brother, I watched as Mom’s eyes nearly popped out of her head when she realized the amount of money and thought Garret had put into his gift to her. He’d sent everything to me a few days before, thinking he wouldn’t be able to give it to her himself, but I was glad he was here now. It made it even more special for Mom.

“This is too much,” Mom said, dashing at her continued tears. “You shouldn’t have spent so much money, Garret.”

“I’m not hurting for it,” he assured her. “I’ve got a cushy bank account. This trip didn’t even put a dent in it.”

“Okay, then. Thank you, honey. I can’t remember the last time your dad and I had a vacation on our own.” She beamed up at him. “This is perfect. I think it’s exactly what we need after Nova graduates in a few weeks.”

“I figured you would want to wait until after the shrimp was gone,” Garret teased. I elbowed him in the ribs, causing him to groan, his arm tightening around me as he ruffled my hair.

Sticking out my tongue at him, I turned back to Mom, who was opening my present. “My present isn’t nearly as extravagant as Garret’s. But since you’re going to the beach, I thought you might want a day at the spa to get prepared. Facial, mani, and pedi. Haircut and wax. Whatever you want. I got the same thing for Aunt Raven as well, so the two of you can make a day of it together.”