Carmine stood at the stove, the gentle hiss of sautéing vegetables filling the kitchen as she stirred the pan absentmindedly. The smells of dinner—roasted chicken and seasoned greens—wafted through the house. She set the spoon down, wiping her hands on her apron. Her body was tired, the kind of exhaustion that seeped into her bones after a long day of listening, helping, fixing. But tonight, she had to keep going.
She pulled the dishes from the cupboard, setting the table for two—her movements automatic. This part of the day had become almost ritualistic: make dinner, set the table, try to talk to Daniel, receive a handful of half-hearted responses, and retreat into her room, feeling like a stranger in her own home. She sighed, looking at the two plates placed neatly across from each other. It was like clockwork.
Finishing the food, Carmine carried the dishes to the table. As she set the last plate down, she heard it: the faint creak of Daniel's door opening.
He was coming downstairs.
Sitting at the table, she waited, her fingers tapping lightly against her thigh, already bracing herself for the usual detached dinner conversation. But when Daniel entered the kitchen and sat down across from her, something was… different.
He looked… lighter. There was a small, almost unnoticeable bounce in his step as he walked over to the table. His usual slumped posture seemed less pronounced. He didn't have that same faraway look in his eyes that had become so familiar to her. The sadness she had grown used to seeing in him was… softer, less sharp. He even offered her a brief smile as he picked up his fork.
Carmine blinked, surprised, her mind racing. What happened?
She said nothing at first, watching as Daniel started to eat, more animated than he usually was. He seemed almost… at ease. Why was he so different tonight? She wanted to ask. But she knew better than to push too hard. She had learned that the hard way.
Instead, she stuck to her usual script. "So, Daniel," she began, her voice careful, trying to sound casual. "What did you do today?"
In the past, this question had always been met with a shrug or a mumbled "nothing," followed by silence. She had come to expect it. But tonight, Daniel paused. She saw it—just for a brief moment—a hesitation.
He didn't look at her. "Played some video games," he said, his tone a little too quick, a little too rehearsed.
Carmine's eyes narrowed, but she didn't press further. He's not telling the whole truth. She could sense it, the way his fingers fidgeted with his fork, the way his eyes didn't quite meet hers. But, as usual, she didn't push. Something inside her recoiled at the idea of making him uncomfortable, even though the urge to ask more burned in the back of her mind.
She forced a smile, nodding. "That's good. It's… nice to see you relaxing a bit."
They ate in silence for a few moments, the clinking of cutlery against plates the only sound in the room. But Carmine's mind was still racing, turning over every possible reason for Daniel's change in mood. Could it be…? Her thoughts drifted briefly to Diana, the girl she had met once not too long ago. Daniel had introduced her in passing, but Carmine hadn't thought much of it at the time. She'd been skeptical—who was this girl, and why had she appeared so suddenly in her son's life?
Carmine cleared her throat. "Would you like to invite Diana over tomorrow?" she asked, her voice casual, but her eyes watching Daniel closely.
Daniel froze, mid-bite. Then, without warning, he choked on his food, coughing violently. "Daniel!" Carmine shot up, rushing around the table, her voice full of worry. "Are you okay?" She quickly grabbed a glass of water, setting it in front of him.
After a few tense seconds, Daniel managed to catch his breath, his coughing subsiding. "Yeah, I'm… I'm fine," he muttered, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, his face flushed from the sudden choking fit.
Carmine's heart pounded in her chest, but this time, the feeling was less about concern and more about embarrassment. Of course he choked, she thought bitterly. What was I thinking? She cursed herself inwardly for saying something so awkward—inviting a girl over? She knew Daniel wasn't the type to bring people home, much less someone he had just met. Why did she have to go and suggest something like that?
That was so stupid, she scolded herself. Of course, it was shocking for him to hear. She had put him on the spot, and now she was watching him recover from almost choking to death. Way to go, Carmine.
Daniel, still red in the face but seeming to recover, quickly brushed the moment aside. "We're not that close," he said hurriedly, his voice a little strained. "It'd be weird to invite her over."
Carmine blinked, her embarrassment still simmering beneath the surface. Not that close, huh? She didn't know much about Diana beyond that brief introduction, so maybe it made sense. But still… Daniel had seemed different tonight, happier. Maybe it had something to do with her. Or maybe not.
She wanted to push him to say more, to ask about what was really going on, but something in his voice stopped her. Don't press him. Not now.
Instead, she nodded, managing a smile. "Well," she said softly, "if you ever change your mind, she's welcome here."
Daniel gave a brief nod, his focus now entirely on finishing his meal. The brief moment of lightheartedness between them was already fading, slipping back into the usual quiet distance. But even so, Carmine couldn't help but feel like something had shifted. For the first time in a long while, Daniel seemed alive at dinner, even if just for a moment.
Daniel stood up, picking up his plate and carrying it to the sink. "Thanks for dinner," he said quietly, rinsing off the plate before placing it in the sink.
Carmine smiled softly. "You're welcome, sweetheart."
He nodded, heading towards the stairs. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," Carmine replied, watching as he disappeared up the staircase.
For a moment, she just sat there at the table, the soft hum of the refrigerator the only sound in the quiet kitchen. Her body was still exhausted from the long day, but her heart… her heart felt lighter. She had always hoped for a breakthrough, for a moment where Daniel would let her in, even just a little. Tonight, it wasn't much. But it was something.
She stood up, gathering the plates and cleaning up the kitchen. The usual heaviness that followed her around after dinner didn't seem as oppressive tonight. The dishes were washed, the counters wiped down, and as she turned off the kitchen light, a small smile played at the corner of her lips.
It wasn't a perfect conversation. It wasn't everything she wanted. But for the first time in what felt like forever, she and her son had shared a real, meaningful moment. And that was enough for tonight.
Carmine headed to her room, the exhaustion finally catching up to her. But as she climbed into bed, pulling the covers around her, she felt a strange sense of peace. Tomorrow, there would be more questions, more silence, more distance. But tonight, she allowed herself to feel a small flicker of hope.
Maybe things were starting to change.