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“What do you think of the suite, buddy?”
Theo whips around and grins at me. “It’s amazing! Can I pick my room?”
I shrug. “I don’t see why not. They’re probably all pretty much the same.”
He runs to the room on the opposite side that’s on its own, then races past me to check out the other two before running back over to stand in front of me.
“What did you decide?”
He points at the room on the right of the two that are set together. “I want that one. It has blue pillows and blue is my favorite color.”
I nod. “Fair enough. Let’s get you unpacked then, and I’ll take the one over here”—I point behind me—“so that you can be in the room next to your dad.”
“Yay!” He rushes off to the blue bedroom and I follow.
When we’re both unpacked and ready to head out to explore the city, my phone rings in my purse. When I pull it out, I see that it’s Hannah making a video call.
This isn’t the first time I’ve seen Hannah on video since Brady and I picked up where we left off, and every time I feel more uncomfortable than the last. I know there’s not anything between them, but it still makes me uncomfortable, as though I’m hiding something from Theo’s mom.
I hit the green button on my screen and accept the call. “Hi, Hannah.”
“Hey, Violet. How are you today?”
“Great. How are things going over there?”
The bags under her eyes are darkening. “Same as always. Not enough people or resources to help, but we’re doing our best. Is Theo around? I don’t have that much time.”
“Of course, here he is.” When I look down at Theo, his hand is already outstretched, eager to talk to his mom.
“Hi, Mommy.” Theo takes the phone and sits on a nearby chair.
“Hey, buddy. How are you?”
“Awesome. Me and Violet are just going out to see what’s around here, then later we’re going to swim in the hotel pool.”
“Hotel?”
It’s clear by the way she says it that this is the first she’s heard of our trip. Brady said he would mention it to her, but I’m getting the impression that he didn’t.
“Yeah, we’re here to see Daddy’s game.”
I walk over and lean in so I appear on-screen. “We’re in Los Angeles to watch the preseason away game, Hannah. I thought Brady was going to mention it to you.”
She frowns for a beat. “We got cut off the last time I called him. Maybe he didn’t get the chance.”
“That’s probably it.” I put on my best “it’s no big deal” voice.
“I’ll bet you’re going to have so much fun.” I can hear in her voice that she wishes she were here. Whether that’s because she misses her son or she wishes this was something the three of them did together, I can’t tell.
“It’s going to be the best!” Sweet little Theo has no idea he’s rubbing salt in his mom’s wounds.
I lean back into the frame. “I’ll text you some pictures of our weekend so you can see what he’s up to.”
“That’d be great, thank you.” She looks over her shoulder, then turns back to the screen. “Okay, I have to go. But I’ll give you a call tomorrow when I get a chance.”
“Okay, Mommy. I love you.” Tears form in his eyes.
Theo’s been increasingly teary every time Hannah calls. I think at first maybe Theo didn’t realize how long three months was, and now that more time has passed, he’s having a harder time with it.
