I looked at him.
At that excited little face.
Then reached out, pulled him into my arms.
"Mommy?"
"It's nothing," I said, voice a bit hoarse. "I'm just—just really happy."
Leo nuzzled in my arms.
"I'm happy too."
The next two weeks, I started preparing to go back.
Put the flower shop in the hands of the old couple down the street—Pierre and Mary. They'd lived here for forty years, good people who'd helped me a lot these years.
"How long will you be gone?" Mary asked, face full of concern.
"About a month."
"That's wonderful." She smiled. "You should take a break. These five years, you haven't had a single day off."
"Thank you both."
"Don't mention it," Pierre said, patting my shoulder. "Go on. Have a good time."
I nodded.
When packing, Leo was beside himself with excitement, running around the room.
"Mommy, should I bring this?" He held up a toy car.
"Sure."
"What about this?" He held up a sketchbook.
"That too."
"And—"
"Leo," I said, couldn't help laughing. "The suitcase won't fit everything."
"Oh." He set down the giant toy dinosaur, disappointed. "Okay then, Mr. Dinosaur has to stay home and guard the house!"
I watched him.
That excited little face.
"Leo."
"Yeah?"
"When we get to America, we might meet some..." I paused, not knowing how to say it. "Some people Mommy knows."
"What people?"
"Just..." My throat tightened. "Friends from Mommy's past."
