“But you’re stuck here, honey,” she whispered, lifting her head, her face wracked in pain.
“Yeah, maybe I am, but I’m stuck here with the two most important people in my life,” I said. “Trust me, I can easily repeat ten years with the two of you.”
The three of us spent another hour talking about what had happened. We went over the repercussions of my choice and what that could mean for all involved, but ultimately Mom and I agreed we were fortunate. I assumed Mom would have a million questions. I figured she’d want to know all about my life, her life, her friends, maybe even the world, but she didn’t want to know a single thing. We agreed that no matter what, we’d never speak of what was to come.
Druzella agreed with the decision. Her reasoning made sense as well. She figured that my arrival could change our paths from then on so why not plan on being open to new possibilities rather than try to have me keep track of what comes next from my list of memories.
“I’ll never know why this happened or how I did it,” Mom told me. “But we certainly live in a wonderful world, don’t we?”
Druzella and I nodded.
Her words were never truer than then. “How about we make the best of it, Michael?”
“How about we do exactly that?” I concurred. “I love you, Mom.”
“I love you too, honey,” she said, smiling through happy tears, her stunning green eyes sparkling. “How about we start today? Is Cooper coming over for dinner?” she asked.
“As always,” I said.
Mom stood up and grabbed the necklace from the table and placed it around my neck. “I think I’d like it if you’d wear this for us, son,” she said. “And how about we add a stone for your father too?”
“What stone is for April?” I asked, liking her idea immensely.
“Diamond,” Mom said proudly. “Like a diamond in the sky. That was your father.”
I squeezed the ring tightly in my hand causing the necklace to tighten around my neck, a reminder of all that matters in our lives. The love for family and the families our love creates.
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE: Cooper
“You’re smiling at me again, Mrs. H..”
She blinked and shook her head after my observation. “Oh, am I?” she replied. “I’m sorry, Cooper. I guess I’m happy you joined us for dinner.”
“I always eat here, Mrs. H.,” I stated. “Figured you might be sick of me by now.”
Mikey’s mom rested her chin in her hands, gazing at me and smiling again. “Can you do me a favor, Cooper?” she asked.
“Will you stop staring at me if I do?” I asked.
Mikey grabbed my arm. “Be nice, Coop. Mom’s been swooning nonstop all day.”
“Okay, Mrs. H., lay it on me.”
“Could you call me mom?” she asked. “Like Michael does.”
That wasn’t the favor I’d imagined. “Really?” I asked, looking from her to a grinning Mikey. “Just Mom? Just like Mikey does?”
“I’d like that, son,” she said, reaching for my hand. “I think of you like another son already.”
Of course, I cried over her request. Why wouldn’t I? I had the best boyfriend in the world now and an extra mom to boot.
“Okay, you two balls of mush,” Mikey said. “Enough of this gooey stuff.”
“Why now? I asked. “Is it because Mikey and I are a couple?”
“Something like that, kiddo,” she answered. “That and I just love you so much.”
“Gee, Mrs. . . . Mom,” I corrected. “I feel so specialright now.”
