“He asked you to marry him as soon as he got home from his walk, remember?”
“It was more thana walk,” she fussed, “but I know, I know. You’ve always thought too highly of your father.”
“Don’t let him hear you say that.” He laughed and leaned back, stretching his legs and crossing them at the ankle.
"Anyway, tell me about this man you’ve fallen in love with.”
“I don’t love him,” he corrected. “That’s not what I said.”
“Leonidas.”
“His name is Andy.” He cleared his throat. “Andrew.”
“He’s not French, I assume.”
“He’s American.”
“Well.” His mother let out a breath. “Where did you meet him?”
“In the city,” he told her.
“Where is he now? When will you see him again?”
Leonidas chuckled and turned to stare at the closed door. “I’ll see him once I’m off the phone with you and out of the WC.”
She made a noise in the back of her throat that might have been disapproval; he wasn’t sure and he didn’t want to ask.
“Do you want advice? You only ever call me when you want advice these days. Never just to ask how I am or see how my day was.”
“How was your day, Mama?”
“I haven’t even eaten yet,” she reminded him. “I’m on the phone with my son before my coffee is even ready, and he’s talking in circles around me.”
“Then give me advice.” He took a big swallow of his coffee. It was dangerously close to room temperature and in desperate need of some sugar.
“Don’t be a liar,” she said simply. “Not to yourself, and not to that boy.”
“He’s not a boy,” Leonidas grumbled.
“Thatman,” she corrected. “But shame on you, you know who and what I meant.”
“I know.”
“Leonidas.”
“Mama.” He stood up and hooked his finger through the handle on his mug, staring at the doorknob.
“Give up your ideas for Spain and bring this boy…this man…home to meet me,” she tried again.
“Absolutely not.” He stood up, ignoring the way his left knee caught and popped as he straightened his leg. He wasn’t ready for the end yet.
“I’ll see you soon,” he promised her.
“Will you come home before Spain?”
“I’ll think about it.”
“You know,” she said, her voice full of cunning. “Aeliana would love to have you here for the birth.”
