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Her eyes move to Andre one more time, but this time they’re a little more kind. She pats him on the shoulder and takes one last look at my mother before quietly slipping out the door.
Andre sits down in the chair beside the bed, resting one hand on my jean-clad leg.
Everyone else is gone and the room is quiet.
Peaceful.
I reach out to take Andre’s hand. He immediately pulls mine close, resting it against his lips as he holds it tight, clinging to me like I might disappear if he lets me go.
I don’t think I’ll be alone anytime soon and I’m okay with that.
I don’t think I want to be alone.
Right now I have a distraction, but at some point I’ll have to face down the emotions of what happened to me in that room with Frederick.
But today is not that day.
Today I will think of my mother.
Honor her.
Make her proud.
I tuck the blankets higher on her chest, knowing the action is for my benefit only. “Could you tell me about your mother?”
Andre lifts his head. He hesitates, expression pained, before finally offering me an answer. “She was poor. A prostitute.” He holds my gaze. “Just like yours.”
I should have known he would discover the truth of my mother’s past and I feel bad I didn’t do the same for his.
Because suddenly so much makes sense.
Andre didn’t just do all he did for my mother.
He was doing it for his too.
Someday I will tell him how much it all meant to me. How much I hope it meant to him.
But not today.
Today isn’t about me. It isn’t about him.
“What was her name?”
“Catherine.”
I try to imagine what she might have been like. Based on what he’s told me about his father, I would guess she was kind and quiet and calm.
Traits she passed to her son.
“How did she die?” Normally it would be a difficult question to ask, but I know it’s one I’ll have to answer soon myself, and that makes it feel less invasive.
Andre’s lips go back to my hand, pressing there for many long, silent seconds before he finally responds. “I’ll tell you another time.” He stands up, stroking down my face as his eyes hold mine. “I need to call Victor.”
I nod. “Okay.”
He leans in and presses a kiss to my lips. “I’ll be right outside if you need me.”
I watch him go before curling up on the bed next to my mother like I have so many times before.
