“I wanted to come up and say sorry about lunch.I know you’re fine on your own, but I worry if you’re happy.”
This is my moment.“Sorry for snapping too.Truth is…I am seeing someone.But it’s brand new.”
“Koby, right?”
Exasperated and amused, I throw my hands up.“How did you know?”
“Educated guess.But I’m really happy for you, Mum.Koby is great, and I’m happy to see you taking a step forward.Dad’s been gone for a while.I didn’t want you to miss out on finding someone special.”
“It means a lot to hear you say that, honey.I knew you wouldn’t have had an issue, but I wasn’t sure how to approach it.”I take a moment.“Well, that’s you and Jill who know.”
“Just embrace it, hey?Lean into it.”
“I will.”I smile at him and put my palm on his face.
It feels like only yesterday he was ten, sitting by my side, telling me about the latest console game he was playing.Enthusiastically informing me of his feat in progressing through the levels.Time passed by so quickly, but in the moment, it felt like it would never end.
“I’ll leave you and Aunty Jill to get back to your giggle party.”He leans over to hug me, giving me a kiss on the cheek.
“Love you, Louie.”
“Love you too, Mum,” he replies and gets off the bed and heads downstairs.
My phone buzzes on my bedside.Vibrating against the hardwood.
Forgot to tell you, hope you don’t mind, but Aria guessed we were seeing each other.
Ha!Jill worked it out when you left to drop off Aria, and I just told Louie.But he guessed too.I thought we were hiding it well?
How do you feel about them knowing?How do you want to go forward?
Looking away from my phone and thinking about the fact that people know, I’m filled with happiness.
Lifting my phone back up, I reply:
I’m happy they know.I don’t see a need to keep us hidden anymore.
Jill enters my room, and I beam up at her.
“That’s a happy smile.Things went well with Louie?”
“Really well.And Aria knows.”
“What does this mean?”
“Means we aren’t going to hide from everyone.”
We both turn when we hear the door on the opposite side of the landing creak open.Koby smiles at me, the doorframe encapsulating him.I smile back, seeing him clearly from my position.
“Oh, my goodness.You guys are fucking adorable.Go make out with him for a bit.I’ll pause the movie and wait for you.”
Getting up from my bed, I walk by Jill, who gives me a squeeze on the shoulder and a reassuring smile.I draw her in for an embrace.While she is my sister-in-law.There is no doubt in my mind that she is my sister.She has always accepted me from the moment I met her and was always there for me when Wesley passed away.I didn’t realise I needed her approval, but it feels ratified now that she knows about Koby and I.
“Get out of here.”She nods in Koby’s direction once we split from the embrace and steps to the side so I can walk through my door.She closes it behind me, and I make my way over to Koby.He steps to the side, giving me room to enter his room before he closes the door behind me.
“This doesn’t change anything.We progress our relationship as fast or slow as you want.Okay?”
I nod.“Okay.”
