This felt weird.

Trent had put this part off for as long as he could, but it was now literally the day before Longest Night, and he couldn't put it off any longer.

As he walked across his backyard, towards Mae's, he considered everything, trying to make sure he had it all.

After getting Ann moved in, which had been a pretty simple task, they'd gotten pretty baked and ordered Taco Buck and relaxed. For awhile, at least. Eventually, he'd gotten to work preparing his house. He'd cleaned up everything he could think of. Borrowing Mae's mom's car, they'd gone to the grocery store to prepare for everything. He'd bought food and drinks, cups and plates and plastic silverware. Firewood, that was one he almost forgot. Hot chocolate and cider. Marshmallows. He'd talked with Mae's dad about grilling, and apparently he'd been pretty thrilled at the idea of bringing his grill over and going at it regardless of how dark or cold it was. So he'd bought some hamburgers and hotdogs and all the extra stuff to go with that.

He'd also stocked up on taco makings. That was going to be his contribution.

He'd bought a handful of other random things that Ann had suggested, and also had gotten her some stuff. Mainly toiletries she'd left at her place for her mom or she had run out of. He'd cleaned up the backyard and Ann had helped him fix up the firepit. It was mostly bricks fitted into a rectangle. Some had fallen off, but it had been easy to repair. He'd also bought a few outdoor chairs to go with the ones he already had, and Mae's dad had promised to bring a few over himself. He'd talked with everyone he could think of, and Ann had talked with a couple people she thought Mae might like to see drop by the party.

But he felt like he wasn't really doing his due diligence unless he spoke with Mae's mom, in case he was missing anything.

He also had something on his mind that felt like playing with fire to even consider bringing up.

And yet, he couldn't stop thinking about it.

He'd called up Mae's mom just a few minutes ago to ask if he could talk with her. She was at home, and she told him to come over, she had time. Mae was still asleep, but it was before noon. He'd awoken early.

Trent crossed into her backyard and got up to the back door, where he knocked.

"It's open!" Candy called.

He opened it and walked in. Mae's mom was sitting at the kitchen table reading, as she often seemed to be.

"Trent," she said, "it's good to see you."

"You too, Mrs. Borowski," he replied, sitting down across from her.

"What did you want to speak about?"

"Longest Night. I've been putting together this party for Mae for a little while now and it's tomorrow and...I want to make sure I've covered all my bases. I guess I wanted to know if there was anything you could think of I should add."

"Do you have a present for her?" she asked.

"A few," Trent replied.

"Mmm. I imagine you've gotten all the basics. Firewood, party supplies, food."

"Yep. And tacos."

"That will make her happy." Candy paused. "I'm curious...why are you doing this? Don't get me wrong, I appreciate all this trouble you're going to for my daughter and her friends and even us. It just feels like...there's some ulterior motive."

"I don't know, I guess...it's become obvious to me how much Mae has been through. She's told me about a lot of her problems, and the bad things that have happened to her in her life, and some of the things she struggles with. I...feel bad for her. I want to make her happy. What got me started on it was...she was telling me about a dream she'd had. Only she didn't realize it was a dream for awhile. It was the dream she'd had the night before she called you and started making arrangements to come home from college. She thought it was a memory. Of her, and Gregg, and Angus, and Bea. Sitting around a fire during Longest Night, talking about the constellations. But then she realized it wasn't a memory, and that...broke her heart. I could just see it, in how she was talking about it. She was devastated that it wasn't real. Selma suggested we make it a memory. We make it happen in real life, and I thought that was a great idea."

"That's incredibly thoughtful, and sweet," Candy said. She scrutinized him closely. "I must admit, you've impressed my husband and myself greatly. Mae seems very happy. But I want to know...why do you care about her so much?"

"I…" Trent felt stuck for words. "I...don't know. I just do. I just...care for her. I want her to be okay."

"Do you love her?"

Trent felt his heart starting to hammer in his chest. He had not expected this. Or had he? It was hard to tell. "I...think so," he replied. It was the most honest answer he could give.

Candy stared at him intensely. Somewhere, a clock was ticking, faintly but somehow loudly.

Wind whistled outside.

He heard the hum of the refrigerator.

"I apologize for the intense questioning," she said, relaxing. "You have to understand the situation I'm in. Mae...she's my daughter, first and foremost. I love her. I would do a lot to keep her safe. But more than that, she's...unique. And not entirely in good ways. Which pains me to say, as her mother. I know that she's had difficulties, and that in some respects, she probably always will. I've known for awhile that whoever she ends up with, they'll need to love her. Dearly. Because she's going to require a lot of patience. I worry about her so much. She'll always be my little girl, but she's...an adult now. For better or for worse."

Candy sighed and paused for a few seconds, looking down. She drew a deep breath and let it out slowly, then looked back up at him. "Trent, you're going to need to be there for her. I know she's not...an invalid. She's smart and fierce and capable and strong. But she's...vulnerable. She's rash and headstrong. She's angry. She's made improvements since coming back, and I'm so proud of her for that. But she needs people in her life who will care for her, watch out for her. So I have to be sure Trent, that you have her best interests at heart. You understand that, right?"

He nodded. "I do, Mrs. Borowski."

"I feel that you do. When I met Mae's father...I knew. Pretty quickly. He was the one...I realize it's prying, but...has Mae told you that she loves you?"

"...yes," Trent said.

"I see. You're her first love. Hopefully her last. But who knows? I understand Selma has moved in with you both?" she asked. He nodded. "I've been getting the impression that you and Mae and Selma are...a bit closer than just friends."

Trent maintained silence, and a poker face.

She smiled. "Well, I suppose I've delved deep enough. It's none of my business, anyway. And, if I'm being completely truthful: I trust you. I believe you, that you'll care for her, and watch out for her. That you'll keep her safe, and you'll try your best to make her happy. I think many people undervalue that: someone trying hard to make them happy. And I think Mae will appreciate it. And I know that as troubled and angry as she is, Mae has a good heart. She'll do her best to take care of you, too."

"I believe that, too," Trent replied.

"I'm glad...well, I can't think of anything else to give you with regards to Longest Night. Honestly, you're helping me out. Stan is thrilled about this. The chance to grill for people, he hasn't done that for awhile." She paused. "Will there be alcohol there?"

"I doubt it," Trent said. "That is to say: I will not be purchasing or providing any. Nor will Selma. And from what I've gathered, Mae doesn't like it. I don't either. I don't think Selma does either."

"Okay, that's good. I...this family does not have a happy relationship with alcohol."

"I'm sorry."

"So am I...will there be anything else?"

Trent hesitated. Well, he'd come this far. "Yes. Although I'm afraid the question I have for you will be, uh, breaking protocol between the girlfriend's mother and boyfriend."

Candy laughed loudly. "I think it's already shattered. Ask away."

"Okay. I mean this as respectfully as I can, but...why did you pressure Mae so much to go to college? She makes it sound like you had let her know that she was downright destined for college since...elementary school. And it's obviously upset her. It's been bothering me, and I guess I just have to ask...why?"

Candy sighed, losing her cheer, looking away. "I'm not proud of that," she said finally. "No Borowski has ever graduated college. Up until recently, I honestly thought it was the best course of action for her. I'm still not entirely unconvinced that it's not...Possum Springs is a dead end. I wanted her to get out, to make a life for herself, and it was the only way I saw it happening. I wanted her...well, I wanted what every good parent wants for their child: to have more than I did. I wanted her to find a career she could fall in love with, or at least enjoy, and use to fund her life. I wanted her to live somewhere better than this. You're still young, both of you, but once you hit a certain age, or experience enough...ah."

She shook her head morosely. "Life is very miserable. Money is everything. Debt is everything. We've been in debt for a lot of our lives, Stan and I. We still are. We might lose this house. We probably will, unless something big happens. I don't want Mae to experience that. It's soul-crushing. It's awful. Debt is like...a slow death. I hate that she even knows. I regret telling her...I was mad. Mae has a way of bringing out anger in everyone...but that's no excuse, I suppose. But that's why I did it, Trent. I wanted her to be ready for it. A few weeks ago, we had a long, long conversation about her difficulties, the problems she's experiencing. Her...shapes. I still don't fully understand it, and I'm not sure I ever will. But I'm trying to help her."

"We all are," Trent said. "She's doing good right now. She's happy. She's relaxing. I'm trying to give her a place she can just...be."

"I appreciate that...and listen. If Mae ever needs help, truly needs it, I don't care what it is, will you please call me?" she asked.

"I will," he said.

"...thank you." She smiled. "I must say, it is nice that Mae found someone like you. I can't deny that she's in much higher spirits lately."

"I definitely can't claim all the credit. Her friends do a lot for her."

"Oh yes, they're great. I'm so glad she has them, too."

"Well...I should go. I have more to do to prepare."

"I understand. Mae isn't awake yet, is she?"

"No, she's still asleep."

"I figured. Good luck, and I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow, Mrs. Borowski."

Trent left Mae's house feeling better than he thought he would. He headed across the backyards and into his own house. It was still quiet inside. He decided to go check and see if his packages had arrived yet, they were said to be being delivered today.

That was another thing he'd bought: wrapping paper. And he wanted to get the gifts wrapped before Mae woke up.

Trent opened up his front door and felt his heart skip a beat.

"Finally," he whispered. There was a small pile of boxes waiting for him.

He quickly gathered them up and brought them inside.

This was going to hopefully be the best Longest Night of his life.