Mama's eyes grew wide as if she were full of questions. "Your Amelia? The Amelia you haven't seen in more than a decade?" I couldn't tell if Mama was about to call me crazy or if she was as surprised as I was.
"Yes. She was with a man and two little girls," I told her.
"Well obviously, you talked to her," Mama said, her brows furrowing with confusion.
"No, Mama. She was happy. I couldn't interrupt that after what she had been through. I knew it was best to walk away."
Mama's eyes closed and she brought her folded hands up to her lips. "My sohn. Wise beyond your years, you are. Let me tell you something very important: If two people are meant to be together, the universe will not stand in the way."
"She was with a man, Mama. She was most likely happily married."
"You don't know that, Charlie. You don't know her story, and you don't know his." I listened to what Mama said, but in my heart and my head, I was sure of what I saw.
"I suppose," I said to appease her thoughts.
"Charlie, not everything is as it seems. I believe if you want to be with someone, you pave the way for that to happen, and if they are meant to be with you too, the rest will come at its own time. You see, the universe does not follow a clock. Life is full of lessons one must learn and conquer before the reward of receiving what we want."
"What about you?" I questioned. "You are dying, ja?"
Mama smiled and reached across the table to place her hand on my cheek. "I am dying, Charlie. I am dying to be reunited with your papa again. I have accomplished everything in this life, and soon, it will be time to move on."
Mama's words stuck with me. I dissected the meaning and once again tried to understand that forever was a defined period.
Maybe I should have approached Amelia. It was my one chance, but I followed my heart, just as I have always done.
"How old is Penny now?" Mama asked.
I glance up at the tiled ceiling in thought. "She turned nine a few months ago," I said.
"Claude's mother is crazy about that little girl. There are photographs all over her house. It makes me think of grandchildren …"
"I know. A family would be nice to have."
Juliette would never allow for an opportunity of tardiness. If there was one thing I could depend on, it was that they would always arrive on time whenever we had plans. Though typically, I would take a train to Connecticut as it's a bit tricky for them to make it to the city with Penny in tow, but they insisted on making the trip out to the city tonight for Mama's sake.
Mama jumped when the buzzer screamed through the apartment. "Ach du lieber Gott1!Oh my God. What is that wretched sound?"
I set up a cot for Mama in the television room so she could comfortably relax. However, she had made the bed look more like a couch after adding an array of throw blankets. She doesn't want to appear sick as she thinks it will frighten Penny.
"It's just the door buzzer," I tell Mama. I keep forgetting how new everything in the city is for her. I was sure it would be quite an adjustment. "I'm going to let them in. I'll be right back."
I open the front door for my friends, welcoming them with a smile. Penny is the first to throw herself at me, shouting, "Uncle Charlie!" I lift my goddaughter and swing her around. "I missed you, little princess."
"I drew you a picture, Uncle Charlie," she said. Penny was in a daisy-yellow pleated dress. "Oh, and Mommy bought this pretty new dress for me to wear tonight. Do you like it, Uncle Charlie?"
"Oh, Penny, I think it is the most beautiful dress I have ever seen," I crooned.
Juliette placed her hand on my shoulder and pressed up on her toes to kiss me on the cheek. "Hi honey," she said.
Claude slapped me on the back and marched ahead for the stairs. "I can't believe Mama is here," he said.
I carried Penny up the stairs as she attempted to braid the short strands of my hair. "We brought a roast for dinner," she told me. Penny could talk my ear off for an hour straight without taking a break.
Mama had tears in her eyes when I walked inside with Penny hanging from my neck. "You are already such a big girl," Mama cooed.
Penny placed her head down on my shoulder, acting a bit shy in Mama's presence. "It's okay, sweetheart. This is Uncle Charlie's mommy," Juliette explained.
Claude has Mama wrapped up tightly in his arms, squeezing her so hard I'm not sure she can breathe. "It has been so long," he said. "I have missed you so much."
