The Truth About Delilah Blue by Tish Cohen

Author:Tish Cohen [Cohen, Tish]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, General
ISBN: 9781443400329
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2010-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

THE INSIDE OF her place had the sorrowful stillness of an apartment that had sat empty for too long. One that had seen too many residents come and go to waste any energy on absorbing the personality of any particular person. The curtains were gathered so tight that they seemed more intent on keeping in the dark rather than blocking out the light, and the minimalist futon-sofa-and-black-TV-stand decor allowed the stains on the battered carpet to become the only real focal point in the room. If Lila had hoped to gain any insight into whom her mother had become in the years since they’d parted, it wasn’t going to come from this lifeless space.

“The furniture came with it.” Elisabeth yanked back the curtains. “Amelia said I wouldn’t be here long, which gave me such hope. Of course, now I hope she’s wrong because I don’t want us to be apart.” Staring at Lila, Elisabeth set her hands on her hips. “Now what can I get you? A cup of tea?”

Lila nodded. “I haven’t had tea in years.” It was so different with Elisabeth. So easy. With Victor, she had to fight for her place as child of the family. He had always needed his daughter to pick up grapefruit juice from the store, top up his scotch, soothe irate neighbors who found notes on their cars. With Elisabeth, she could just stand back and let her mother be the parent. Take Lila for breakfasts on Sunset, brew her tea. It felt delicious.

She followed her mother and dropped into one of two vinyl chairs squeezed into what was probably not meant to be an eat-in kitchen. Just as she kicked off her boots, settled back in her chair, and tucked her feet beneath her, Lila felt a small, demanding presence. She turned to find Kieran standing, calm and silent, right behind her. “Kieran! Where did you come from?”

“From the babysitter.”

“Just across the hall,” said Elisabeth. “Works out well because Kieran can run home as soon as she hears our door thump shut.”

Kieran blinked. “I go there after school some days.”

Lila looked down at the girl’s outfit. Same as at the restaurant: trim white blouse, pleated skirt, kneesocks, and oxford shoes. “Must be some fancy school.”

“Just the local public school,” said Elisabeth as she set the kettle on the stovetop. “That’s just Kieran’s way of expressing herself, right Kiki?”

The girl ignored her, opening up the pantry and pulling out three yellow mugs that she set on the table. She pried the lid off a striped ceramic jar and plunked tea bags in two of the mugs. Then, making little clicking sounds with her tongue, she took a carton of milk from the fridge and filled the third mug. After setting the carton in the middle of the table, she sat and stared at it. Quickly, she looked at Lila. “Do you take milk in your tea?”

“Yes.”

“My mummy does too.”

Lila couldn’t help herself. Having Elisabeth back was still so fresh. “Our.”

Kieran scrunched her nose.

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