I’m not hurt she didn’t tell me about him before the moment she chose to tell me.We were in our own little world, for those barely three days, it felt like life outside it didn’t exist.And that’s okay.
She was always going to step outside that world eventually, and now I’m witnessing where to.
Three boys approach her and Bill, and I can’t believe how grown-up they all look, her brothers.Boys I once built Lego sets with and raced Hot Wheels against are now as tall as I am.
Something inside me warms at the sight, glad to see them growing into themselves.
“Miles?Is that you?”a voice asks, and I turn around to see a woman I used to see so often behind a rustic wooden counter, the best cook ever, still no doubt.
“Miss Nour, you can’t imagine how much I’ve missed your chicken pies,” I blurt out, and she walks over with open arms.
“It’s so good to see you,” she says, her eyes smiling.“Look at you, all grown up.Have you been well?”She watches me with pride, emotion pulsing gently through her words.I feel it.It’s been a very emotional day.
We talk for a while, and she joyfully introduces me to her ten-year-old daughter.
Mr.Tylus, from the school’s stationery shop, joins our conversation.He remembers me too, which surprises me, because in the midst of so many teenage faces, I hadn’t expected he would.His calm, quiet manner used to ground me in the noisy rush of high school.
And then I’m the one who doesn’t recognize a face that approaches me.Joseph, a kid from the CIC’s Youth Club, who’s no longer a kid at all.He walks over and greets me with a firm handshake.Seeing him now, all manly at eighteen, makes me feel both old and strangely emotional too.
“Last time you saw me, I was an eight-year-old learning my first guitar chords from you,” he says, understanding my bewilderment.“Can I show you something?I’ve got my guitar in the car, let me just go grab it!”
I nod, and he heads off with the same spirited energy I remember, just several inches taller.
I look around.Miss Nour invites me for dinner.
I wasn’t expecting such a warm welcome.
Joseph returns with his new guitar and eagerly calls Muriel.
I wasn’t expecting to return to a place that still held me so dearly in its memory.
Chapter 52
Miles
April 6th, 2009
Monday
I enter Mr.Mandela’s office.I’ve never been here before, but I know exactly where it’s located.Mr.Mandela is part of a long lineage of lawyers in Evermere.I’m not familiar with the entire family tree, but I do know that his father and grandfather were lawyers.All of them practiced law in this very office.
“Good afternoon, Mr.Mandela.”We shake hands.“How’s the family?”
“Good afternoon, Miles.”He sits back in his chair and gestures for me to sit across from him.“Everyone’s great, thank you for asking.Forgive me for not talking to you yesterday.There were just so many people there.Truly touching.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it.It really was a beautiful ceremony.Just as she deserved.”
“And I’m sorry I had to be the one to break the news to you, Miles,” he says in his slow, low voice, the same one he used on the phone to tell me about Miss Amara’s passing.
“No, please, don’t be sorry.I appreciate you calling me right away.It gave me the chance to come here in time for the ceremony.I thank you for that.”
He nods and gathers up some papers.I stand silently, observing the quiet pause he seems to be creating.
“Just out of curiosity, how did you get my phone number?”
I was in shock during our phone call.He caught me on my way to a meeting.I didn’t even think to wonder how Mr.Mandela had my cell phone number.
“Miss Amara left contact instructions.You know, she’s always been a cautious woman,” he says, and we share a quiet chuckle.“She made sure long ago that I had clear instructions on how to contact you two.”
