“I’m sure she would’ve loved to see you two now. She always used to say, ‘Eleanor, I apologize in advance because I know Parker will break Fitz’s heart.’ I’m sure she’d never be happier to be wrong than right now.” She sighs, motioning at the stack of photos. “I mean, look at you two. What a love story. And to think it hasn’t even really begun yet.”

It hasn’t, I think to myself. Because even after everything, Parker still isn’t mine.

Parker clears her throat. “It technically didn’t begin then either.”

Mom laughs. “Of course it did, sweetheart. Fitz always had the biggest crush on you.”

I try to hide my wince by reaching for my glass of water. It’s either not cold enough or the temperature of my ears has reached new heights because I start to sweat.

Parker tilts her head to me.

“In fourth grade,” I spit out while thinking and every day after. “But to be fair, Lucy Whitmore broke a lot of hearts when she only gave Joey Patterson a Valentine.”

Parker cackles. “Oh, so I was your second choice?”

I didn’t say Lucy Whitmore broke my heart, I think to tell her. But instead, I grab the menu. “Should we order?”

* * *

“Are you sure you’re okay to walk back to the hotel?” Parker asks, adjusting the strap of her purse that hangs across her body so it doesn’t bunch the sleeveless blouse she wears. “I can have someone drop you⁠—"

Mom declines, “No, don’t worry about me. I want to get in as much of the city as I can. I fly back out to Arizona early in the morning. You go now and be with your family. I’m sure there’s much to do.”

“We’ll send a car to pick you up. They’ll call when they’re downstairs.” Parker gives my mother a hug, the bag of photos hanging off her wrist. “Thank you for the pictures. They really mean so much to me.”

I reach for Parker’s hand when she lets go of mom. “You alright to ride back on your own?” My eyes move to Agent Samuels standing against the far wall of the restaurant, near the entrance to the hallway leading to what I assume is the kitchen and back entrance. I lift my phone.

“It’s okay. I told them we’re walking. I’d go with you but it’s in the opposite direction. Take your time.”

“I’ll try to be back in an hour,” I tell her and as soon as the words leave my lips, the air around us grows thick, and I’m suffocated now by the gazes of all the patrons at the restaurant. I’ve gotten pretty used to tuning them out. But now that feels a lot harder in a smaller, more intimate space where my mother is present.