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“Colson played basketball in school,” she said. “He was good.”

“That’s bussin’, ” Bella said.

Colson looked at her. “It means sweet or sick.”

“I figured that out. I was just glancing over at you to see if you knew that.”

“Yeah right, you keep telling yourself that,” she said.

“I’ll get some snacks out,” Jane said.

“I’ll help you.”

She followed Jane into the kitchen while Colson and Bella talked basketball.

“I have to thank you,” Jane said.

“For what?”

“For everything. I haven’t seen Colson this relaxed and more like his old self in years.”

“I was thinking the same thing just now. That there were touches of him from our youth. It’s nice to see. Maybe I needed to see some of it myself.”

“He’s been dealt a hard hand. Not just what I put him through.”

She put her hand on Jane’s. “He doesn’t blame you.”

“Oh, he did. Just like Bella will blame him for things when she’s older. It’s what kids do.”

Jane wasn’t wrong. “But he knows better now.”

A plate with cheese, crackers and some meat came out of the fridge. She took it to pull the wrapping off it. “He does and he’s apologized for things he’s said. But when you’re in the middle of a storm and you forget your umbrella, you don’t always think to go back and get it. You just move on and hope you don’t get too wet.”

“That’s a good analogy.”

“It’s how I felt for years in my marriage. I should have left Robert sooner, but I held on thinking things could change. One thing I learned is you can’t change someone. They have to want to do it themselves; otherwise you’re both wasting your time.”

“Good advice,” she said.

“And that’s for both of you,” Jane said. “Because you’re both who you are, and though maybe I had some doubts early on, I sure don’t now.”

This was news to her. “Colson never said a word.”

Jane smiled. “Because I never told him. I was reserving judgment and I’m glad I did.”

“I love your son very much. I don’t want to hurt him or Bella. I know they are a package deal.”

“Do you know, you’re the first woman my son has brought home who has told me they loved him?”

She smiled, refusing to feel any jealousy over those past women who didn’t work out.

“I am?”

“You are. I can see it in your eyes too. What you two have, it’s good. It’s solid. But being solid today doesn’t mean it will be later. Not without work.”

“If there is one thing Marly is good at,” Colson said, coming into the room, “it’s hard work. And making sure those around her do the same.”

She walked over and put her head on his shoulder. “I keep telling him we bring the best out of each other.”