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I nod.
“He never talked to me, never looked at me. He was a stranger living in my house. I was so desperate for any crumbs he’d give me, and they were so rare. I missed the boy I read stories to at night, and made waffles for in the morning, but I settled for crumbs.” She dabs at her eyes, removing unshed tears.
She’s never seemed so vulnerable to me.
“Do you want to come in? It’s a little messy…” I trail off, feeling self conscious about the interior design queen seeing my poorly put together place.
She smiles the warmest smile I’ve ever seen on her. I try not to look as surprised as I feel when she nods and says, “I’d like that.”
We sit at my dining room table, and it’s weird. Not because of her or our conversation necessarily, but because I never sit at this table. I thought it would be more appropriate in this scenario than plopping down on my couch. It’s like I’m seeing my apartment from a whole new perspective.
“I don’t think you know what happened that day,” she continues. “I was sick. Coughing and sniffling so much that I had to leave work early. I could barely keep my eyes open by the time I walked through the front door, but then I saw them. It was shocking, I had never seen him with anyone but you. My first reaction was that it was wrong, because he would’ve told me if you’d broken up. And Isabelle looked way too happy with herself. I didn’t like her much at first.” The admission surprises me enough to laugh.
“Next thing I know, my son who hadn’t talked to me in years was confiding in me. I was on top of the world, despite the circumstances. I’m not a perfect person, I was finally getting all I’d wanted in so long. He told me he tried to end things with you,and you were giving him a hard time. Showing up to the house, and refusing to leave him alone.”
She reaches over and puts a hand on mine. “All I thought when I saw you from then on was that I had to protect my boy. I had to do what I could to get more of those moments out of him, and it seemed like a good place to start. I can’t believe how wrong I was, how cruel I’ve been to you.”
Her eyes are expectant, and I know it might be the part where I'm supposed to tell her she's forgiven, but none of it is sinking in yet.
She adds, “I know it’s no excuse, but being a parent is so hard. It’s only one of a million mistakes I’ve made, but I can’t stand how much you’ve been hurt because of this one.”
I stop her. “Why now? What changed?”
“Both of my children had an enlightening conversation with me earlier,” she explains.
Earlier today? Miles hadn’t said anything. Andbothof them? It's definitely odd to picture Justin admitting to what he did wrong.
“I’ve never seen him like this, you know. He really loves you.”
That'sa lot.
She knows he loves me, and she doesn’t look angry. She looks the least angry I’ve ever seen her, I think. Hope ignites in my chest.
“Kaitlyn misses you. She mentions you all the time.”
I can’t help but smile.
“I miss her too. She’s messaged me a couple of times to check in.”
Amelia pauses for a moment, zoning out and staring at the table. “I would offer you your job back, but from what she tells me it doesn’t seem like you need it anymore.”
I shrug. “No. I guess I don’t, thanks to her. I’ve been utilizing my extra free time, getting this next book ready to be published.”
“Do you have a date yet?”
“Not an exact one. A few months away at most.”
“You should keep me updated. I’ll get you something to say congratulations.”
“That’s sweet of you,” is all I think to say.
She looks back down at my table, making me feel self conscious, but she lands on a stack of Polaroids. I’d forgotten about them, actually.
“Can I?”
I nod.
The picture on top of the stack is of Miles and I. The one where we both looked at Reya after she snapped a photo of… a moment.
