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“Oh, that’s nice. So you’ve been dating for how long?”
“A year now.” Prescott meets my gaze. He must read the question on my face because he says: “Mom left Dad. She’s moving to Boston to live with her sister until she finds her own place.”
She left him?
Talk about a curveball.
“I just wanted to stop by and check in on Prescott. See how he’s doing.”
“That’s nice of you.”
“What it is, is long overdue.” Sadness creeps in her eyes for a moment, but she blinks it away. “Maybe we could have dinner sometime? After I’m settled in?”
I rub Prescott’s back as he processes her words. I know he hasn’t talked to either of his parents since he walked out on them for Christmas. Turning his back on his family was hard, but it was the right thing to do since they treated him the way they did.
“Yeah, maybe,” he finally rasps.
I give him a squeeze, letting him know I’m here.
His mom smiles and nods. “I’d love that. I want a chance to get to know you, Prescott. I missed out on so much, but… I’m here now. And I’m sorry.” She wipes under her eyes, her attention switching to me. “And you, Jade, of course.”
“That’s fine. I’m sure you two have a lot to catch up on.”
“Too much.” She tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Anyhow, I’ll let you continue with your work, but I’ll talk to you soon, Prescott?”
“Sounds good.”
“Okay.”
She shifts from one foot to the other. I can see it on her face. She wants to come in and hug him, but Prescott doesn’t let go of me, so in the end, she settles for a nod. “I’ll see you soon.”
We stay in our spot as we watch her walk to a black sedan and drive off. I hold onto Prescott, giving him time to process what just happened.
“Well, I’ll be damned.”
“Didn’t see that one coming?”
“Not in a hundred years.”
Letting my hand drop, I turn around, so we’re face to face. “Do you know what you are going to do about it?”
Prescott runs his hand over his face. His eyes were still fixed on where his mom had disappeared. “I have no fucking idea. I’ve been doing so good, I…”
“Hey…” I cup his cheek, returning his attention to me. “You don’t have to decide now. Hell, you have every right not to return her call and not to agree to meet her. Not if you’re not ready. Not if that’s not what you want. It’s your choice.”
“You’ll still love me if I don’t meet her?”
“Always.” I pull him down, brushing my mouth against his. “I’ll love you always.”
* * *
PENELOPE
A slobbery, wet ball is shoved into my palm. “You’re such a good boy, Henry,” I praise, wrapping my fingers around the tennis ball. I lift my hand in the air, tossing the ball once again.
There is the familiar sound of Henry’s feet as he dashes after the ball, so I wait. Soon enough, he’s back, his furry body brushing against the side of my leg as he lies down on the ground next to me, panting hard.
“Tired?”
