For a brief moment, something strange crossed Laura’s face, almost as though the gift confused her. She accepted the box, however, thanked me, and once again found an excuse not to invite me inside.
I drove home slightly disappointed but satisfied that I had done something kind. I had no idea that by giving away those chocolates, I had unknowingly changed what was supposed to happen next.
At exactly seven the following morning, Thomas called.
“Mom, how were the chocolates?”
The question immediately struck me as unusual because Thomas rarely followed up about gifts. Still, I answered cheerfully while pouring my morning coffee.
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