“Heath is my son. He means the world to me. I love him more than anything in this world. Since the moment I learned I was pregnant with him I started loving him. And when I held him in my arms I knew my heart no longer lived inside my chest but insidehim. I just wish he knew or I’d told him. Now he hates me.”
She sniffles and her bottom lip quivers.
Everything in me tells me to move forward and comfort her, but I’m a complete stranger to her. Besides, I’m not good at comforting people. I’m barely good at comforting myself.
Still, I open my mouth. “Heath doesn’t hate you.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.”
Her sad blue eyes meet mine. “How?”
“I just do. You have to believe me.” I try to sound convincing.
“I see,” she murmurs, watching me.
“I know?—”
A waitress stops by our table to let us know that our orders are ready and then goes away.
We both stand up.Taking out a tissue from her purse, she dabs away the tears from her cheeks and inhales a long, deep breath. She smiles up at me. “I feel a bit better knowing he doesn’t hate me.”
I eagerly nod. “He doesn’t. You should talk to him. I think he’d love that.”
Her eyes widen and excitement rings in her next words. “Really? Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
We walk to the counter, collect our orders and then walk out. A black SUV is parked at the curb with Derek waiting next toit. When he sees me, he narrows his gaze and then glances at Heath’s mother.
Fortunately, she doesn’t notice that he knows me.
Averting his gaze, he opens the door for her and she moves to get inside but then turns her head and says to me, “You didn’t tell me your name.”
“Hope.”
She grins. “It was lovely meeting you, Hope. Would you come home after school with Heath sometime?”
I’m pretty sure after I tell Heath about this interaction he’d try even harder to keep me away from her.
“I’m not sure. I have a few tests this week that I need to study for.”
“You can study with Heath and when you’re done, maybe you can help me talk to him.” She looks so hopeful.
Seeing that look on her face pulls my heart strings.
There’s no way I can refuse her.
“I’ll try to come,” I reply.
A smile tugs on her lips. “Excellent. I’ll be waiting for you.”
With that she gets inside and Derek closes the door. He then faces me and sends me a mean glare before getting in the car and driving away.
Marie pulls over a minute later and blares her horn to tell me to get inside the car.
I set the drinks in my lap, careful that they don’t spill, then turn to her.
