The rest of the evening flew by as Kepa and Maite celebrated with their friends. The town only had three bars, but they bounced from one to the next all night. It was early in the morning before they finally found their way home. Kepa drove Maite home to her parents’ apartment in Gernika before returning to his own home, the baserri he shared with his mom. He had considered asking Maite to stay over since it was so late, but decided his mom might not be ready for that quite yet.

The next day started late. Kepa could hear his ama puttering around downstairs, but he simply groaned and turned over in his bed, pulling his pillow over his head. It wasn’t until early afternoon that he finally pulled himself out of bed and made his way downstairs. He found his ama in the kitchen, a cup of hot coffee waiting for him.

She smiled at him. “Have a good time?”

Kepa returned her smile. While he didn’t go out like this very often, whenever he did, his ama always just smiled at him. It always made him wonder about her younger days, what she got up to.

“How was California?” she asked. While he had stopped by after landing, he had only had time for a brief hello before rushing out.

“It was great,” replied Kepa as he savored his first sip of coffee. “Maite’s interview went very well.”

A slight frown flashed across Mari Carmen’s lips before disappearing like a ghost. “When would she leave?”

Kepa shrugged. “She isn’t sure she wants to go.” He took another sip of coffee. “You know, her parents and all.”

“They would want her to go, I’m sure.”

Kepa nodded. “Bai, but she isn’t ready to leave them.”

“Is that all?”

“What do you mean?”

“There isn’t another reason for her to stay?”

Kepa blushed. How could she possibly know?

He took a bigger sip this time, trying to delay his response as long as he could, wishing she might forget what she just asked, knowing she wouldn’t let it drop.

“Maite and I are dating,” he finally said.

Mari Carmen’s face beamed. “Azkenean! At last!” She pulled grabbed her son’s head, pulling it close and planting a kiss on his forehead. “I’m so happy for you!”

Kepa pulled back. “We are just dating, ama! Don’t expect any grandkids any time soon.”

Mari Carmen just smiled as she went back to the stove.

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