It’s not a threat. Not even a judgment. It’s the reality of the situation; a truth I have to face.
“I know,” I acquiesce. “I hate that you’re right, but I’ve made my choice.”
Shaking her head, she chuckles dryly. “She must be really special.”
“She is.”
With a single nod, accepting my truth, she rises to her feet. The barely there bump she sported in Melbourne has grown to nearly the size of a basketball.
“I’ll go after him,” she says, glancing at the door half-heartedly.
“Give him time to cool off,” I suggest, standing to usher her to thedoor. “As stressful as this situation is, maybe a new level of responsibility is what he needs.”
She yawns, nodding.
“Sophie,” I say as we reach the threshold.
She turns back, her familiar smile teasing at the corners of her mouth.
“Keep me updated, please. He can spend his whole life shutting me out, but I’ll always love him.”
She takes my hand, squeezing once. “I will, I promise. I’ll call you later this week with an update. Maybe we can reach out to the mother of our grandchild together.”
I wince. Grandchild. Luca is going to be a father. I’m going to be agrandfather. It’s unfathomable, really. A new dose of anxiety surges through my veins, my concern for his ability to show up for another person as valid as it is disconcerting.
“Yes, but let’s try to go through him first so he doesn’t feel undermined.”
She lowers her chin, giving me a knowing look. “Fine. But if that doesn’t work, or if he doubles down, I will contact her on my own and I won’t apologize for it. I was wrong before.” A long sigh escapes her. “This isn’t a phase. That boy needs a major wake-up call.” Her lips tremble and her eyes go glassy. “Even if he takes a while to come around, I want to know my grandchild. And we need to make sure the mother of that child has support, regardless of what bullshit Luca pulls.”
“Agreed. We’re in this together,” I assure her.
She rubs her belly. “It’ll be interesting to see how close in age my first grandbaby and my next child will be.” Her lips quiver again, and she throws her head back. “Dammit, Luca. This issomessy.”
I give her shoulder a squeeze. “Messy isn’t always bad.”
She lets out a loud scoff. “Who are you right now?”
Fair question. “I’ve been asking myself that a lot lately, actually.”
“Because of her?”
Mouth pressed into a straight line, I nod. “Yes. Because of her.”
We say our goodbyes, but before I can shut the door behind Sophie, she groans. “Wait,” she says. “Hold on.”
I poke my head out into the hall, finding her bending over, her feet planted wide.
Rushing over, I place a hand on her low back to support her. “What’s wrong?”
“Here.” She hands me a single sheet of paper. “She must have dropped this.”
I take the page from her, then she waves and continues down the hall.
Frozen to the spot, I scan the document in my hand. My heart thunders in my ears, my eyes blurring as I reread the same line over and over again.
Sophie was right. Evangeline dropped this. It’s her resignation letter, signed and dated today.
She was going to quit.
