“Edward.” I blink away the moisture and hide the longing from my voice. “How are you? Tell me what you’ve done today.”
“Uncle Beck is taking me to an observatory!”
So, that’s where they’re going. The knot of worry in my gut releases slightly.
“That sounds so fun!”
“They have a huge telescope there! Bigger than the one I got for Christmas last year.”
“That’s amazing. You’ll have to tell me all about it.”
“We even get to stay overnight.”
“Oh, wow!”
That’s a big deal. Edward is reliant on our routines, and admittedly, I haven’t done much travelling with him. He’s not used to sleeping anywhere but his bedroom.
“I’m not scared, Mama.”
“My brave boy.” I hold back my sigh. “But it’s okay to feel scaredsometimes. Even if it’s about something exciting. Maybe bring Mr. Bunny?” A beloved stuffed rabbit he insists he’s outgrown but somehow ends up in his bedding every night. “I bet he would like to come on your trip.”
“Mom . . .” Edward laughs. “He’s just a toy.”
“I know.”
“I’m too big to play with toys.”
“No one is too old to play with toys. And I know you’re growing up, but even Mama likes to bring her favorite toys on vacation.”
I almost laugh out loud thinking about the sex toys in my suitcase. I packed every one that I own, more so Beckett wouldn’t find them.
“You do?”
“Of course.” I hope he can hear the earnestness in my words. “Even adults need something to remind them of home.”
“Maybe I’ll bring Mr. Bunny.” He sighs. “I wish you could come with us.”
“I know, baby.”
“How many days until you come home?”
“Three more sleeps. That’s not so bad, right?”
“Yeah.” Maybe I imagine it, but I swear there’s a quaver in his voice and it breaks my heart. This is the longest we’ve been away from each other. In all the other times Beckett has visited, I’ve stayed at the house too.
Beckett must say something, but he’s too far from the phone for me to make it out.
“Mama, I have to go.”
“Okay, I love you. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Have the best time, okay?”
“Okay, Mama.”
“Love you.”
“Love you. Bye!”
I hear him mutter something as he must hand the phone back to Beckett. I quickly end the call before Beckett speaks into the line. Yes, it’s immature and rude on my part. I should have waited to see ifhe had anything else to say. He’ll probably be offended I didn’t. I don’t care, though. I’d rather do anything else in this world than spend another minute speaking to that man.
