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“Is Mrs. Sanders still in the same room?” Theo asked, his voice barely a whisper.
The woman nodded with an understanding smile and pointed us down the northwest hallway. Theo’s posture shifted as he stalled.
“Audrey,” he begged, and I joined him and intertwined our fingers.
“It’ll be okay.” I swallowed my own grief, this reminding me of that final night I said goodbye to my dad. Tears prickled at my eyes as Theo led us to a slightly open door. A woman lay on the bed with a TV on next to her. She had the same light brown, blonde hair as Theo, and her gaze was the same dark blue. She was beautiful.
Her attention slowly moved toward Theo, and the way her face shifted to a smile broke my heart. She was happy.
“Theo.”
He ran toward her and pulled her gently into a hug. They each closed their eyes, and I wished I could take a photo. It was precious. Special. She cupped his face and said something to make him laugh. Thank god.
“You seem well,” he said, sitting on the edge of the bed. “I’m so fucking sorry I haven’t visited.”
“Nonsense. You’re in your senior year!”
Theo had mentioned she showed remarkable progress from her aphasia. She couldn’t speak the first year but could communicate. She did aggressive therapy and had been communicating well the last six months. A stab of heartache hit me, thinking about his dad and what he’d done.
People reacted to horrors differently. My mom cut me out of her life apart from demands for money. His dad fucked up, sure, but he was still there and wanting to be better. I understood it, even though Theo didn’t.
“I love you, Mom. I won’t go this long without visiting or calling.”
“Don’t apologize. Are you happy? How is your dad?”
Theo tensed and met my eyes. She followed her attention and smiled. “Are you a new nurse?”
“Ha, no, she is a nurse, Mom, but this is Audrey. My girlfriend.”
“Theo!” His mom grinned, and she blushed. “I’m in my pajamas.”
“Mrs. Sanders, it’s okay. It’s such an honor to meet you as-is. Your son… he is the best person I’ve ever met. Will ever meet. You should feel so proud.” I swallowed and shook her hand. “You raised quite a man.”
She nodded and smiled warmly at me. “I did, didn’t ?” She beamed at her son. “Thank you for coming here.”
“I actually really wanted to ask you something, Mom.”
“I can step out for a second?” I pointed to the hall. “I’ll give you a minute.”
“No, please stay.” His eyes pleaded with me, and I couldn’t deny him. Not now. Not ever, really.
“If you’re sure?” My gut clenched at the thought of hearing him and his mom talk about his dad. It was messy. Hard. Emotional. It made me think of Quentin and me and how difficult our next conversation would be. If we ever talked again…
I swallowed. I wanted him to apologize and make a move. I needed to know I mattered to him for real and not just as an obligation. I missed him, even if our relationship wasn’t ideal.
Theo pointed to the chair next to the bed, and I sat there, legs crossed. Once I was settled, he went back to his mom. “Dad told me about the affair. I’m so fucking mad I can’t even…”
“I forgave him, Theo.” Her voice was kind but firm. “I love your father, and I know he loves me. The last two years have been tough on him. He wasn’t supposed to tell you.”
“It’s been hard on him, sure, but who’s been picking up the slack, Mom? Me. He stepped out and left me to be in charge. I… I don’t know if I can forgive him. He cheated on you. You. He lied. Numerous times. I can’t… lying is a choice. One he made.”
His mom slowly blinked and cupped his hand. “Theo Kingston Sanders. You are the best child any parent could dream of. I’m so mad at him for abandoning you. I’m so sorry you had to step up.” She swallowed, and she pulled back, a vacant look in her eyes. She sucked in a breath and stared at me, then Theo. “Who…what was I saying?”
Theo blinked and leaned back, the light in his eyes dimming as he stared at his mom. Cognitive confusion, losing a thread of thought, all of that was normal from a recovering stroke victim. Seeing it real-time, in the middle of an intense conversation, was hard.
“Mom.” Theo’s voice cracked. “Hi, it’s me. That’s my girlfriend.”
“Oh, she’s lovely.” She beamed at me, no trace of recognition on her face. “Why are you both here?”
