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Or ever.
“Will she stay away like my mom?”
Not that question.Anythingbut that question. “I don’t know, Henry.”
“Marina said she was like my mother. Is that true?”
“Marinaisyour mother.”
He plucked a few puzzle pieces from the box. “No, she said Charlotte was like a mom to me. Or a babysitter.”
“You must be confused. I don’t think Marina meant that Charlotte would be your new mom.”
“Why not?”
WhywouldMarina mean that? Yesterday was the first time in years we had shared a conversation without us falling into a screaming match. It was weird. While it was relieving, too, it was also plain strange.
What would have changed if she had shown up three years ago instead of yesterday evening?
I wouldn’t have met Charlotte.
My brows furrowed together.
No, that’s not true, I corrected.I would have met Charlotte, but I wouldn’t have fallen for her.
“Dad?” Henry poked my arm. “Are you there?”
“I’m here.” But it didn’t feel like I was here. “What do you need, champ?”
“You’re hogging the puzzle pieces.”
I smiled bashfully while hanging over the box. “Sorry, kiddo.”
“Can we go see Charlotte?” he asked while picking through the cardboard cutout pieces. “She said she would make me so much food.”
I hummed. “She did say that, didn’t she?”
“I bet she’ll feed you if you’re nice.”
“Hey, I’m nice.”
He glanced at me with a questioning look. “She was sad yesterday. You said something that made her sad.”
“I didn’t say…” I ran my fingers through my hair. “Okay, Charlotte and I got into an argument while you were gone. It’s complicated, little man. You wouldn’t get it.”
“Say sorry.”
I frowned. “What?”
“You tell me to say sorry when I do something that hurts someone else. Did you say sorry to her yet?”
“Well…” My kid had a point. Pride swelled in my chest that he was schooling me about it, too. “No, I didn’t. That might help.”
He nodded. “It will help.”
“I’m glad you sound confident about it.”
“Charlotte is nice. She’ll understand.”
