Finding Refuge by Lucy Francis

never managed to shake the feeling of being ten years old, curled
in a ball in the corner of her room, trying to shrink down to nothing while her
mother screamed at her. Apprehension clamped around her stomach. Ma wasn’t
going to be happy. “I’ve made some decisions.”
    “Oh? Am I going to like them?” Her tone sounded even, but
that was part of the way she tricked everyone. There was no warning, just the
explosion.
    “Probably not. I’m staying in Utah. In fact, I need you to
meet the movers at my storage unit with the key on Monday afternoon so they can
collect everything.”
    She started muttering in Greek. Oh, that was never good.
    “Ma, this is a good thing for me. After things ended with
Peter—”
    “Yes, Peter, that reminds me. I heard this morning from his
sister that he’s moving to Boston. You broke his heart and now we lose a strong
member of the community here. It’s terrible!”
    Andri held her tongue with monumental effort. Ma would never
understand because she couldn’t explain, not if she wanted to protect Peter.
She’d given up trying to please her mother a long time ago, so it really didn’t
matter if she blamed her for failing to get married. “He’s starting over, and
so am I.”
    More muttering. “I should come to you, keep an eye on you.”
    “Ugh, Ma, really. I’ll be thirty this year. I’m a big girl.”
    “Yes, you are. I know you’re all grown up, believe me. I had
two children old enough to be in school by the time I was thirty, and—”
    Andri cut her off before she could fully launch into a
tirade. “Yes, Ma. Even if I wasn’t an adult, and required supervision, I
wouldn’t want to drag you out of Phoenix. I know how much you love it.”
    “Yes. This is my home, my favorite place since leaving
Greece. I don’t wish to leave it, but, God knows, children always come first
for a mother.”
    The irony dripped off her mother’s words, though she was
oblivious to it. Ma always remembered things differently than she and Dmitri
did. “Ma, no. You don’t need to leave. Please, Manoula ,
I’ll be fine, I promise. Don’t worry. This will be good for me.”
    A long silence made her glance at the phone, to be sure the
call hadn’t disconnected. Finally, her mother sighed. “It’s a good community in
Salt Lake. Very strong. If I had to leave Phoenix, I would choose to come there
to be with our people. Get involved with the community, Andri. You’re too much
like your father. And, by God, promise me you’ll go to church. Maybe the saints
will take pity on you and show you the path to another decent man. Maybe this
time you won’t walk away.”
    Her words yanked a vision of Travis into her head.
Definitely not what her mother had in mind for her, unless his family tree had
at least one Greek root in there somewhere. But, no. She’d already made that
decision. Friends only, maybe some benefits on the side, but definitely
friends. “I promise I’ll make it to church, Ma.”
    “And look for a husband.”
    “Love you, Ma. Gotta run, busy day, lots to do.” Andri
slumped in her chair, dropping the phone on the side table. That had gone well,
much better than she’d expected. Ma had always tended to be temperamental, but
now that she was sober, it was easier to catch her on a good day, when the
muttering and sighing wouldn’t necessarily escalate into screaming and throwing
things. Today, she’d gotten lucky. Maybe that was a sign that she was doing the
right thing.
    Her phone chimed as a text came in. She picked it up, a
shiver of delight coursing down her spine as she checked the name on the text.
    Travis: Hey
there. Busy?
    She typed a response. Not really. Any
ideas on a nice apartment complex for me?
    A moment later, the phone chimed.
    Travis: Can
recommend a few. Wanna check em out & get dinner?
    She grinned. Yes. Pick me up or should I
meet you?
    Travis: I’m
at home. Be there in a bit.
    She sat on the front porch steps, reading email on her phone
until Travis