"Watcha doin?" Mom stood next to me. I was sitting on my bed. She started to play with my hair.

"Drawing." I glanced up at her.

She smiled. "I was wondering if you wanted to go to the mall?"

"You need to get something?" I asked, putting down the pen in my hand.

Mom shook her head, "No. Well. You said you really wanted those converse, the black ankle ones?"

"The high-tops?"

A nod.

"Mom, those are kinda expensive." I had mentioned that I really wanted high-top black converse. I didn't actually expect to get them.

"They're not. Shush. Do you wanna go to the mall?" Mom wanted me to say yes. I could tell.

"Sure. When?"

"Now?"

"Can I change quick?"

"Of course. Yay! I'm excited." Mom said, a big smile on her face as she walked out of my room.

I changed out of my sweatpants and t-shirt and into something slightly more presentable. Leggings and a sweater. I had changed into comfy clothes the second I got home from school- I hadn't thought we were going out.

"Should I ask Callie to meet us there?" Mom called out.

I didn't respond. How do I say that I kind of wanted to spend time with just Mom?

I finished changing, and opened my door.

Mom looked at me, waiting for an answer.

"No?" She asked.

"Can it just be me and you? We spent basically all last week with her." I didn't look at her. I didn't want to make her sad. I just really wanted to spend time with Mom alone.

"Of course, honey." Mom wrapped her arm around me. "Mom and Olive time."

"Don't make it gross." I giggled.

Mom laughed, "Ok, ok. Are you ready?"

"Yup." I nodded.

When we got to the mall, Mom brought up the shoes again.

"Which store for your shoes?" She asked as we walked inside.

"Mom. I don't need those." I really hadn't meant anything when bringing it up. I didn't want Mom to spend all that money on shoes. I had a pair of converse already- I didn't need another.

"But you want them. Don't you?" Mom was smiling.

"Mom."

"Olivia. Do you want them? You said you did?"

"But I don't need them."

"Do you like them, though?"

I nodded hesitantly. I did like them. But I didn't want her to get them. I felt bad.

"You'd wear them?"

"Well, yeah. They'd go with everything." I shrugged.

"Ok. Which store?"

"I don't n-"

Mom cut me off. "You don't need them. I know. But, you want them. And I want to get you them. So tell me which store."

I pushed my tongue into my cheek. "This way." I said quietly.

Mom smiled excitedly as we walked to the shoe store. She made me try them on and walk around like your typical Mom does, and then she bought them for me.

"You really didn't have to do that." I said as we walked out of the store.

"But I wanted to." Mom looked at me, "You look cute in them. You always look cute, though."

I laughed. "Thank you Mom. I love them." I did love them. It was probably the most basic shoe you could get, but my old converse were white and low cut. And no longer actually white. It was a nice upgrade, and they would match with all my clothes. I was very grateful.

"Of course, honey." Mom seemed pleased with herself.

We continued walking, doing quite a bit of window shopping. That was always our favorite.

"Ooh! Wanna get pretzel bites?" Mom asked as we approached the pretzel place.

"Yeah," I nodded. They were Mom and I's favorite. The pretzel bites. With the cheese sauce, of course.

We found a table in the food court to sit and eat our little snack.

Mom and I were sat across from each other, the pretzel bites and cheese sauce in the middle of the table. Mom picked up a pretzel.

"Have you been seeing the articles about your Dad's trial?" She asked quietly.

"No?" I honestly wasn't paying attention. I didn't want to know.

"Oh. Well." Mom sighed. "It's not good."

I looked around. I didn't want anyone to hear this conversation.

"Sorry." Mom said.

"No I just..."

"You're embarrassed. I know." Mom finished for me.

I nodded.

"Feeling lucky you're a Robbins?" She asked playfully.

I smiled, "Mom."

"It's not a joke, I know. But, at least future jobs won't know he's your Dad from a quick google search."

I giggled.

"Ok, but it is serious."

"Did he get a sentence?"

"Not yet. But the rumors are spreading like wildfire- it could be 5 years."

"Oh. Wow." That was... a lot.

"Yeah." Mom let out a breath, eating another pretzel bite. "I'm sorry. I wish I could change it all for you."

"It's not your fault Mom."

She nodded, but part of me knew I hadn't convinced her.

It was not her fault though. How could she have known?

I would never blame her for that.

She was the parent who was always there for me.

"What have you seen? The articles." I said after a few moments of us both just eating the pretzel bites.

"Not much. All the same stuff, really. A rather insanely detailed list of what exactly happened." Mom dipped a pretzel in the cheese sauce. "Neither of us are mentioned though. I read like 50 times to make sure."

I nodded a little.

"I'd prefer if you didn't read it. Just because. But, I get you might be curious." Mom said.

"I don't know if I want to know."

"Okay." Mom nodded her approval. "If you do read it, come talk to me. I'm not saying you can't. I'm just saying I hope you don't."

"Okay." I replied.

"The rest of it is just... the publics opinions. Everyone has to get their predictions in," Mom laughed sadly. "It's overwhelming to see it all. I'm glad you haven't seen much."

I frowned. "I'm sorry."

"In no way is any of this your fault." Mom said quickly, firmly.

"It's not yours either." I reminded.

Her shoulders dropped. "I know. It just sucks. I wish we weren't... in this situation."

I just stayed quiet. I knew Mom was upset about it- the fact that we had lived with him. The fact that we could have been in danger. I didn't want to tell her it was okay- that felt wrong. So, I stayed quiet.