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“How so?”
“Small doses at first until he gets used to having you around. Take the time to really get to know him and his interests. Participate in things he likes to do and make him see you’re no threat to him or his relationship with his dad.”
“I can do that.”
“Sure, you can. It’ll be fine, but it won’t happen overnight.”
“It’s strange how I hoped I’d see Max at the reunion, but I never thought for a second that he’d be a single father.”
“Did that change how you felt about him?”
“No, it only makes me admire him more. He’s done such a great job with Caden and has their lives running so smoothly. Part of me wonders if I should just leave them alone and focus on getting my own life back on track.”
“Why can’t you do both?”
“I can, it’s just that I want to be sure that Max is committed to bringing me into Caden’s life before we go any further. It can’t happen without him.”
“If you ask me, from what I saw of him, Max is very committed to you and to making this work.”
“I guess we’ll see. Sometimes I worry that it was too much to hope that we could just pick up where we left off and go forward like the last ten years didn’t happen.”
“You were both dealing with big things during those years. Now you can focus on what’s next together.”
“Is it that simple? Can we see each other twice in a decade and make this work long term?”
“If it’s what you both want, absolutely. I remember telling your dad when you and Max were first together that you were going to marry him someday. I kept waiting for you to tell us you’d taken a pass on Berkeley so you could stay with him.”
“I should’ve. Everything might’ve been different if I had.”
“You still would’ve gotten sick, and he might not have had Caden, which he would say was meant to be. Life gets in the way of plans all the time, and that’s what happened to you two, but I’ve always thought you and Max belonged together. Why do you think I encouraged you to go to the reunion? I was so hoping for exactly what’s happened.”
“Apparently, his family pushed him just as hard to go. I’m not sure if they were hoping he’d see me, but they wanted him there.”
“They were probably hoping you’d show up. No doubt they saw what we did with you two, a forever kind of love that happened long before either of you was ready for it.”
“I want this to work out so badly, Mom. Other than surviving my illness, I’ve never wanted anything the way I want him.”
“I know, sweetheart, and I have a good feeling you two will make a go of it. That’s a big reason why we want to be back in Butler, so we can be there to watch you live your happily ever after with him.”
“Your faith that it will happen is very reassuring.”
“Good.”
“What if…”
“What, honey?”
“What if we make a go of this and the cancer comes back?”
“It won’t.”
“And you know that for certain?”
“No, but I feel confident that you’ve beaten it, and I’ve chosen to believe the worst is behind us.”
“I probably can’t have kids, and he’ll want more.”
“You have the eggs frozen, and there’re other ways to have them besides the natural way. If I know Max at all, I’d bet he’d rather have you than six kids with someone else.”
