He flat-out asked, “Mom, are you on medication?”
She sat next to him and burst out laughing. “God, you’d think so, wouldn’t you? Or that I need some. But no. Just a ton of vitamins, Evan.” She frowned. “Oh, now my eggs are cold.”
“We can get them warmed up.”
They signaled, and the waiter took her plate, poured them both more coffee, then discreetly left.
His mother sighed. “I owe you some explanations.”
“Please.”
“This has to do with your father.”
“Um, okay.” He had no idea where this was going.
“When he passed away six years ago, I thought I’d follow him. My life wasn’t worth living.”
He sat back and nodded. “I know how that feels. And I know it was awful for you because you and Dad had been together so long.” He swallowed. “I still miss him.”
She reached for his hand across the table, and he warmed when she clasped it tightly. “I know you do. I do too.” She sniffed. “See? This is why I’ve got the waterworks. I have feelings for Jerome. They came on suddenly, and they stayed. I never thought I’d find anyone else after your father. Heck, I wasn’t looking. Jerome and I just found each other, and it’s been magical. He wants to get married, have us live together.”
“And what do you want?”
She teared up. “I want that too, and it makes me feel awful.”
He handed her a napkin, and she blew her nose. “Mom, I hate to laugh, but did you hear what you just said?”
She smiled through tears. “I know. I’m messed up.”
“Tell me why being with Jerome makes you feel awful.”
“Because I feel disloyal to your father, that’s why.”
“That’s silly. Dad’s gone. He’d want you to be happy.” That was if this Jerome fellow turned out to be a decent man. Evan had yet to determine that.
“I know. At first, I resisted feeling anything for Jerome. But he’s kind and funny. He makes me laugh. And he’s not old. I mean, he’s sixty-seven, so he’s not young. But he doesn’t make me feel ancient. We do things together that make me feel young again.”
“That’s what life is about. Living.”
“I know. It just… It really hit me when he mentioned moving in together.” She paused. “He wants me to sell the house and move into his home. His summer home in Bainbridge Island. He’s been planning to sell his house in Magnolia for some time. But he wants me with him, for us to get married and live there year-round.”
“Do you trust him?”
“I know what you’re thinking, but he doesn’t want me for my money. Jerome is loaded. He has two other homes he’s signing over to his kids now so there’s no squabbling after he passes.”
Bainbridge Island wasn’t far, but it took a ferry to get there from the city unless one was feeling adventurous and took a two-and-a-half-hour drive around to get there. No thank you.
Evan had never thought about what it would be like to not have easy access to his mom. But if she moved to the island, he knew he wouldn’t see her as much.
She gripped his hand once more. “It’s been just you and me for a while, hasn’t it?” She smiled.
“Yeah.” He felt…weird. A little emotional himself. “I guess it has.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I love your cousins. But they’re pretty self-contained. Not unexpected when you consider Aunt Angela and Uncle Charles.”
He cringed. “No.”
“But you and I have always been close. And after Rita, we became even closer.” She reached out to wipe his cheek, and to his horror he realized a tear had slipped out. “I don’t want to lose you, sweetie.”
