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I shook my head. “No, but I am going to be meeting up with him before my interview today.”
Anne glanced up, and her eyes widened in surprise. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I’m nervous enough as it is, and I didn’t want to make it worse for myself.”
“Mar, this is a good thing. I know you’re afraid, and you have your doubts, but hopefully, it will end up working out.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
Anne shrugged. “Then you tried. Better to try and fail, right?”
I picked my purse up off the dresser and reached for my shoes. “I guess so. I’ll call you later.”
Anne gave me a quick hug on the way out. In the doorway, I ruffled Jimmy’s hair and sighed. A few bus stops later, my stomach was full of butterflies, and I was second-guessing my decision to meet with Albin in person. Then I saw him across the street, sitting at a table by himself, bathed in the soft glow of the early morning sun. He picked up his mug, took a few sips, and glanced around.
When his eyes landed on mine, I stopped breathing.
Someone jostled past me, and I stirred back to life, covering the distance between us. I weaved in and out of people, and when I saw him again, Albin stood up. He pulled out my chair and waited for me to sit down. As soon as I did, I set the purse down next to me and linked my fingers together.
“Do you want something to eat? Or drink?” Albin signaled to a waiter dressed in a black and white uniform. He gestured to me and waited. I scanned the menu and ordered a sandwich and a coffee before leaning back against my chair. Albin offered the waiter a smile and asked for a sandwich of his own.
Then the waiter disappeared, leaving us alone.
“I’m glad you called.”
I cleared my throat. “I wasn’t sure if I should, but Anne convinced me to.”
Albin sat up straighter, looking handsome in his button-down shirt and dark jeans. “She’s a smart woman.”
“She is.”
Silence stretched between us.
“I don’t know how I’m supposed to say this, so I’m just going to go ahead and say it.” I paused and sucked in a harsh breath. “Jimmy is your son.”
Albin’s face gave nothing away.
“I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to tell you, but I wasn’t sure how. However, I’ve had a lot of time to think the past few days, and I realized something.”
“What’s that?”
“Jimmy deserves to get to know his father. I’m not going to take that away from him,” I told Albin, my eyes never leaving his face. “He deserves to have a dad around, and he deserves that kind of love in his life.”
Albin’s expression softened. “I’m glad you think so.”
“I’m telling you all of this for Jimmy’s sake,” I continued as if I hadn’t heard him. My heart was hammering wildly against my chest, and I was afraid if I stopped, I wouldn’t be able to tell him everything I needed to say. With a pause, I reached for my glass of water and took a few sips.
“I don’t want my life to change, Albin. I like the way it is.”
Albin studied my face and leaned across the table. “I understand you’re afraid, Martha, but you don’t need to be. Fate brought us back together for a reason. You and I can finally be together.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I do care about you…”
“But?”
“But we’re not the same people we were when we met.”
Albin’s eyebrows knitted together. “I know that, but it doesn’t mean we can’t be together.”
