“Twenty.”
“I apologized.”
“Which doesn’t mean shit coming from you.”
“I’ll never be good enough in your eyes.”
“You’re right, you won’t, but this meeting isn’t about you and me. It’s too late for us. If you’ve really changed your selfish ways, I’m willing to allow visitation with Mason.”
“You don’t know how happy you just made me.” She clasps her hands together in excitement.
“How long do you plan to stay in Orlando?”
“I’m meeting with a realtor after lunch to locate a permanent residence. I want to be close to Mason.”
My mother’s intentions are good, but I don’t trust her to keep her word.
“I’m only giving you this opportunity once. If you blow it, that’s it. Don’t reappear years from now asking for another chance.”
“Thank you so much, Art. I’m so thrilled you called me.”
“Your thanks are unfounded. If it wasn’t for Cin, this meeting would never have happened.”
“Oh, I remember hearing of her. Are you two together?”
“Something like that.”
“You love her. I can tell.”
“Love is a foreign concept to you. You wouldn’t know the first thing about it. Anyway, we aren’t here to talk about my love life.”
“Okay, you’re right. When can I see him?”
“You can either wait for the weekend or you can see him tomorrow night.”
“Tomorrow is great. I’ll take him to dinner.”
“No. You can visit with him at my place. If it goes well, then you can take him to dinner Wednesday night.”
“Right. I understand the need to ease him into this.”
“Be there by seven, on the dot.”
“I’ll be early. I promise.”
I wish I could believe her. “I need you to answer one question.”
“Sure.”
“Who’s his father?”
“It doesn’t—”
“Answer the fucking question,” I snap. “He deserves to know.”
“I only know his first name.” She suddenly finds the napkin in front of her interesting, too embarrassed to meet my gaze.
“Excuse me?”
