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When she asked, she was looking at Alessandra instead of me. I glanced at her as well. Her expression was carefully blank, but she readily nodded her acceptance. I got up and moved over to Mom, and she took Trent into her arms. She looked at him in awe, and I found myself smiling.
“He looked a lot like you when you were a baby,” she said, a tiny smile curving her lips. “The same large deep blue eyes, pale blond hair. It reminds me so much of your father.”
That last bit was whispered. I could feel Alessandra tense beside me, and I squeezed the hand I held in mine. When Mom looked up, her eyes were misty. When she smiled, her lips trembled.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Sorry about a lot of things. I’m sorry that your father will never get to meet your son, and I’m sorry for the problems I helped cause between you two. I shouldn’t have done any of what I did in the past, and Alessandra… I know I was horrible to you, but I honestly thought I was doing the best I possibly could for my son, especially once I was left alone.”
I hadn't seen my mom this way, ever. Even during the funeral, she had kept calm and relaxed. That wasn’t to say that she hadn't been affected by any of it, but Mom wasn’t the kind of person to quickly show her emotions around others.
We could both tell she was sincere. I glanced at Alessandra, and her own eyes were looking a little misty as well.
“I can't say I understand,” Alessandra said. “Or that I can forgive you for everything immediately.”
Mom nodded in understanding.
“But,” she continued. “If you don’t mind, I would like to go one step at a time.”
Chapter Seventeen
Alessandra
I stepped slowly out of the wide-open gates, ignoring the crowds that moved around me. I was in a daze, but not so much that I didn’t notice the very familiar car parked outside. He must have seen me as well because Joshua stepped out of his car. I smiled and hurried over to him.
“You’re here,” I chirped, happily throwing myself into his arms.
Joshua chuckled. “I told you I’d be here for you, didn’t I? This is an important day for you, after all. You’re finally going to graduate! Congratulations.”
He ducked his head, and I tilted mine up to accept his kiss, but then I mock scowled at him.
“You do know I’m not done, right? The school part is finished, but I need to prepare for my bar exam. There’s still a long way before I can practice law.”
“Don’t worry about that. We’ll all be rooting for you. And you’re so smart; it shouldn’t take too long.”
He said it with full confidence, and I knew my parents would feel the same way. I didn’t think I deserved it, but I was happy knowing I had it nonetheless. It hit me again that after nearly two years I was finally going to graduate from law school, and I jumped him in another hug as I laughed.
This was a moment that I had been waiting on for so long. Graduation day was still some time ahead, but I had gotten back my final results, and I confirmed my name was on the graduation list. Then, I would have to start reading up for the bar exam, but in the meantime, I planned to look for an internship position.
It meant less time with Joshua and our son, but I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.
“Did you bring the little guy with you?” I asked, pulling away abruptly as I thought of our son.
I’d had to be focused on school. While I didn’t let it consume me, it still took up most of my time. There had been times when my parents couldn’t look after him while I was busy, but between Joshua and his mom, Trent had been sought after while I was working.
Now that I had time, I was going to spoil him to my heart’s content, until I found a position at a firm or office, and I’d have less time with him again.
I looked through the car window but didn’t see anything in the back seat.
“Sorry,” Joshua said when I looked back to him in disappointment. “I thought about bringing him, but then I thought we could go out to eat as a quick celebration, then I’ll take you home so you can see him. Wendy’s there, helping Mom look after the kids.”
I wanted to go and see our son immediately…but since I had Joshua right in front of me, I didn’t want to let him go, either. Besides, I had been so nervous this morning that I left home without breakfast, and a meal sounded terrific right about then.
“Where did you have in mind?” I asked.
“Hmm, there’s this nice little café I passed on the way here. Why don’t we stop by there? It l
ooked popular, so their stuff has to be good.”
I shrugged. “Fine by me.”
